Article 1 - Establishes the first of the three branches, The Legislative Branch
Article 1 creates a bicameral legislature, or a legislature with two organizations, the Senate based on equal representation for each state, and the House of Representatives with representation based on population. Section 2 of this Article establishes rules for the House of Representatives. Some of these rules include: Elections for each position will be held every two years. Representatives must be at least 25 years old and a citizen of the United States for at least seven years. Representation is based on population as determined every ten years (The Constitutional provision known as the 3/5 compromise was nullified by the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution. The 3/5 compromise counted slaves as 3/5 of a person for apportionment purposes. Most of the founding fathers were anti-slavery and hoped to end the institution immediately). If vacancies occur, the governor of the affected state will call an election to fill the vacancy. The House of Representatives will choose its officers and speaker. The House of Representatives has full power of impeachment. Section 3 of Article 1 of the Constitution establishes rules for the United States Senate. Two senators are elected by each state's legislative body. The election of Senators was changed to popular vote by the 17th amendment to the Constitution. Senators serve 6-year terms, with 1/3 of Senate seats being contested every two years. Senators must be at least thirty years old and a citizen of the United States for nine years. The Vice President presides over the Senate but does not have a vote unless there is a tie. The Senate chooses its officers and a president pro tempore to fill in for an absent vice president. The Senate tries all impeachments. Impeachments jurisdiction only extends to removal from office.