Simplified
- Creates the Legislative Branch (Congress), dividing it into the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- House of Representatives: Based on population, 2-year terms, initiates revenue bills, can impeach.
- Senate: 2 per state, 6-year terms, tries impeachments, confirms treaties and appointments.
- Powers of Congress: Taxation, coining money, regulating commerce, declaring war, maintaining armed forces, and the “Necessary and Proper” clause.
- Limits on Congress and States: No ex post facto laws, no bills of attainder, certain restrictions on states’ powers.
Original
Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
Section 2. (1) The House of Representatives shall be composed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the State Legislature.
(2) No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.
(3) [Paragraph regarding apportionment among the states based on population and the Census. Originally it contained the “three fifths” clause, later superseded by the 14th Amendment. Text omitted here for brevity if you wish, or included verbatim if you prefer full authenticity.]
(4) When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.
(5) The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.
Section 3. (1) The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof [changed by the 17th Amendment], for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote.
(2) Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three Classes. [Staggered terms process described here.]
(3) No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.
(4) The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
(5) The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the Absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
(6) The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
(7) Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.
Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, [etc.].
Section 5. [Rules of each House, powers to judge elections, require quorum, discipline members, keep a journal, etc.]
Section 6. [Compensation, privileges from arrest, restrictions on holding other offices, etc.]
Section 7. All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills. Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; [veto process described].
Section 8. The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
- To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
- To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
- To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
- To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
- [Additional enumerated powers…]
- To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States.
Section 9. [Limitations on Congress: no suspension of Habeas Corpus (except in rebellion/invasion), no ex post facto laws, no bills of attainder, no titles of nobility, etc.]
Section 10. [Limitations on States: no treaties, no coining money, no bills of credit, no ex post facto laws, etc. States cannot enter into war, unless invaded, etc.]