Article I Sections 1-4
By dark_joev
@dark_joev (3034)
United States
June 15, 2011 8:36pm CST
Well I decided to start this up another myloter said that they thought it would be a good idea to start a discussion on what does the United States Constitution actually say so I decided to start it off I will also the last part of the first Article.
So what does the Constitution say to you at least what does this part of the constitution state and what limits are put for?
What do you believe the goal and meaning behind this part of the Constitution?
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.
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. 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. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one Representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the Representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of impeachment.
Section 3.
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 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. The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose 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. 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. 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 choosing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.
1 person likes this
1 response
@BalthasarTheRat (656)
• United States
16 Jun 11
I guess nobody wants to respond.
I hope everyone realizes the greatness of this document: So perfect in it's simplicity. It sets up a government, then, unlike every similar document ever since, it leaves specifics up to the people in power at the time. Newer Constitutions are flooded with details and verbosity so there is no room for confusion, but what they accomplish is an inflexible, bulky system.
Here at then beginning we see the Two House system that one would assume was stolen from the British System, but here it was used as a compromise (Boy, remember when politics was about compromise. Another great thing about this document.). The more populous states wanted representation based on population, of course, but the other states wanted an equal representation as State-entities. Thus we have a House for each.
We also see rules for Impeachment so that no one person would ever hold supreme power under this Constitution.
And just so they don't get lazy, the Constitution even provides the Congress MUST meet every year. I don't recall any discussion of why the founding fathers felt this was important to include, but other countries had problems sitting their Congresses and the ancient Roman system was more on call than routine so they probably wanted to avoid that.
Unfortunately, we also see the appearance of the phrase "free persons", indicating we were still in an age of slavery and indentured servitude. The one thing this document couldn't do right away was change the fact that so many people relied on slavery, even if they had their doubts about the humanity of it. It is sad that it took a Civil War, over State's Rights no less (still a hot topic*), to change the cultural of slavery.
* the Federal System won, get over it! And yes I'm talking to those who favor a smaller federal government, not just the proud Southern Cross-flying friends of mine.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
17 Jun 11
Yeah I thought more people would respond but oh well I mean what can you really do?
I personally am a State Rights person I would rather have a small Central Government with powerful states that are United for the Common Defense of each other as the Constitution originally set up. As for the Slavery part yeah it is interesting to read the constitution then to realize we had to have a war to change our ways from this where other countries didn't require that. But oh well and well thanks for the response.
@BalthasarTheRat (656)
• United States
18 Jun 11
I've been able to see your state's rights side in your postings. I don't disagree with you theoretically, but I do think the historical evidence shows we are a stronger country and stronger economy with a stronger central government.
I sometimes think the fear of the strong federal system makes people irrational. So far I would not put you in that category, though :)
I guess we(us as individuals and the country as a whole) will continue to struggle on state's rights one issue at a time and see where we end up. After all, this debate is basically what the country was founded upon and the Founding Fathers made The Constitution flexible enough to accommodate changes based on how the debate was swinging at any given time.
It's Alexander Hamilton vs Thomas Jefferson all over again, though I'd rather be Ben Franklin :)


