Malcolm Rivera
Article One of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. It is the longest article of the Constitution. Article One grants Congress various powers, including the ability to pass laws necessary and proper to carry out those powers. It also establishes the procedures for passing a bill and limits the powers of Congress and the states from abusing their powers. Article One, Section 1, vests federal legislative power exclusively to Congress, and establishes that Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The original U.S. Constitution was handwritten on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 of 5 |
| Main function | Establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress |
| Other functions | Defines the manner of election and the qualifications of members of each body; establishes procedures for passing a bill; places limits on the powers of Congress and the states |
| Section 1 | Vesting Clause that bestows federal legislative power exclusively to Congress |
| Section 2 | Establishes that representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states according to their respective numbers |
| Section 9, Clause 1 | Prevents Congress from passing any law that would restrict the importation of slaves into the United States before 1808 |
| Section 3, Clause 1 | Provides for equal representation of the states in the Senate |
| Section 13 | Grants Congress the authority to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on the United States Census |
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What You'll Learn
Article One establishes the US legislative branch
Article One of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. Under Article One, Congress is a bicameral legislature consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Article One grants Congress various powers, including the ability to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out those powers. It establishes the procedures for passing a bill and places limits on the powers of Congress and the states, to prevent the abuse of power. The Vesting Clause grants all federal legislative power to Congress and establishes that Congress consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the states. Representatives must be at least twenty-five years old, have been citizens of the United States for seven years, and be inhabitants of the state they are chosen to represent. Representatives and direct taxes are apportioned among the states according to their respective numbers, including three-fifths of all other persons (i.e., slaves) as per the Three-Fifths Compromise.
The Senate, on the other hand, is composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the state legislature for six-year terms. Senators must be at least thirty years old, have been citizens of the United States for nine years, and be inhabitants of the state they are chosen to represent. The seats of the Senators are divided into three classes, with one-third of the Senate being chosen every second year.
Article One also enumerates specific powers granted to Congress, including the power to declare war, raise and support armies, regulate commerce, coin money, and establish a uniform rule of naturalization, among others.
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Article One outlines Congress's powers
Article One of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. It outlines the powers of Congress, which include the ability to pass laws and make regulations.
Article One grants Congress various powers, including the authority to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its functions. This is known as the necessary and proper clause, and it grants Congress broad implied powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Congress can make laws regarding the times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, though it cannot alter the places of choosing Senators. Congress must assemble at least once per year, and a majority of each House constitutes a quorum to do business. Each House may determine its rules, punish members for disorderly behaviour, and expel a member with a two-thirds concurrence.
Article One also establishes the procedures for passing a bill and limits the powers of Congress and the states to prevent abuse. It outlines the election of Senators and Representatives, with Representatives elected every two years and Senators serving six-year terms. It sets the maximum number of Representatives per state and requires each state to have at least one Representative. It also addresses the apportionment of Representatives and direct taxes among the states based on population, including the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for enumeration purposes.
Additionally, Article One grants Congress the power to raise and support armies, though appropriations for this purpose cannot exceed two years. It empowers Congress to define and punish piracies, felonies on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations. Congress also has the authority to declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water.
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Article One details the election process
Article One of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. It grants Congress various powers and the ability to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out those powers. Article One also establishes the procedures for passing a bill and limits the powers of Congress and the states, preventing them from abusing their powers.
Article One, Section Four, Clause One, often referred to as the Elections Clause, outlines the powers given to Congress and the states regarding elections. The Clause states:
> "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 choosing Senators."
The Elections Clause does not confer the power to regulate congressional elections on states as a whole, but rather the "Legislature" of each state. The term "Legislature" has been interpreted broadly by the Supreme Court to include any entity that a state's constitution allows to exercise law-making power. This means that laws regulating elections can be enacted by a state's legislature or directly by its voters through initiatives or referendums, in states that allow them.
Congress may also pass federal laws regulating congressional elections that override state statutes or enact its own regulations concerning aspects of elections that states have not addressed. This power was intended to prevent states from establishing unfair election procedures or undermining the national government by refusing to hold elections for Congress.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution also plays a role in the election process by protecting the fundamental right to vote and barring states from imposing substantial burdens on this right. It establishes requirements such as age, residency, and citizenship for running for the House or Senate.
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Article One includes the three-fifths compromise
Article One of the United States Constitution establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. It grants Congress various powers and the ability to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out those powers. Article One also establishes the procedures for passing a bill and limits the powers of Congress and the states to prevent abuses of power.
The three-fifths ratio was proposed by James Madison and James Wilson, and seconded by Charles Pinckney. It was a compromise that allowed for the preservation of the republic while confronting the evils of slavery. Free black people and indentured servants were not subject to the compromise and were counted as one full person for representation.
The three-fifths compromise was later superseded and repealed by Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868. This amendment provided that representatives shall be apportioned, counting the whole number of persons in each state, excluding untaxed Native Americans.
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Article One is the longest article
Article One of the United States Constitution is the lengthiest article among the seven articles that define the basic framework of the federal government. Article One establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, the United States Congress. It grants Congress various powers and the ability to pass laws "necessary and proper" to carry out those powers.
Article One consists of several sections, each addressing specific aspects of the legislative branch. Section 1, known as the Vesting Clause, exclusively bestows federal legislative power upon Congress. This separation of powers is fundamental to the concept of a limited government accountable to the people. It also establishes Congress as a bicameral legislature, comprising the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Section 2 of Article One delves into the election process and the qualifications of members of the House of Representatives. It outlines the requirements for representatives, including age, citizenship, and residency within the state they represent. This section also addresses the apportionment of Representatives among the states based on their respective populations, including the Three-Fifths Compromise, which counted slaves as three-fifths of a person for enumeration purposes.
Additionally, Article One outlines the powers granted to Congress, such as the authority to define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, to declare war, and to raise and support armies. It also includes provisions for the migration or importation of persons, the protection of the Writ of Habeas Corpus, and the prohibition of direct taxes not apportioned according to state populations.
The length of Article One reflects the complexity and importance of the legislative branch in the United States federal government. It establishes the foundation for the functioning of Congress, the election of its members, and the powers vested in this branch of government.
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