Page:Debates in the Several State Conventions, v5.djvu/156

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130
DEBATES IN THE
[May,

"In each House, a majority shall constitute a quorum to do business. Freedom of speech and debate in the legislature shall not be impeached, or questioned, in any place out of it; and the members of both Houses shall, in all cases, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be free from arrest during their attendance on Congress, and in going to and returning from it Both Houses shall keep Journals of their proceedings, and publish them, except on secret occasions; and the yeas and nays may be entered thereon at the desire of one ——— of the members present. Neither House, without the consent of the other, shall adjourn for more than ——— days, nor to any place but where they are sitting.

"The members of each House shall not be eligible to, or capable of holding, any office under the Union, during the time for which they have been respectively elected; nor the members of the Senate for one year after. The members of each House shall be paid for their services by the states which they represent Every bill which shall have passed the legislature shall be presented to the President of the United States for his revision; if he approves it, he shall sign it; but if he does not approve it, he shall return it, with his objections, to the House it originated in; which House, if two-thirds of the members present, notwithstanding the President's objections, agree to pass it shall send it to the other House, with the President's objections; where if two-thirds of the members present also agree to pass it, the same shall become a law; and all bills sent to the President, and not returned by him within ——— days, shall be laws, unless the legislature, by their adjournment, prevent their return; in which case they shall not be laws.

"Art. VI.—The legislature of the United States shall have the power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises;

"To regulate commerce with all nations, and among the several states;

"To borrow money, and emit bills of credit;

"To establish post-offices;

"To raise armies;

"To build and equip fleets;

"To pass laws for arming, organizing, and disciplining the militia of the United States;

"To subdue a rebellion in any state, on application of its legislature;

"To coin money, and regulate the value of all coins, and fix the standard of weights and measures;

"To provide such dockyards and arsenals, and erect such fortifications, as may be necessary for the United States, and to exercise exclusive jurisdiction therein;

"To appoint a treasurer, by ballot;

"To constitute tribunals inferior to the supreme court;

"To establish post and military roads;

"To establish and provide for a national university at the seat of government of the United States;

"To establish uniform rules of naturalization;

"To provide for the establishment of a seat of government for the United States, not exceeding ——— miles square, in which they shall have exclusive jurisdiction;

"To make rules concerning captures from an enemy;

"To declare the law and punishment of piracies and felonies at sea, and of counterfeiting coin, and of all offences against the laws of nations;

"To call forth the aid of the militia to execute the laws of the Union, enforce treaties, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions;

"And to make all laws for carrying the foregoing powers into execution.

"The legislature of the United States shall have the power to declare the punishment of treason, which shall consist only in levying war against the United States, or any of them, or in adhering to their enemies. No person shall be convicted of treason but by the testimony of two witnesses.

"The proportion of direct taxation shall be regulated by the whole number of inhabitants of every description; which number shall, within ——— years after the first meeting of the legislature, and within the term of every ——— year after, be taken in the manner to be prescribed by the legislature.

"No tax shall be laid on articles exported from the states; nor capitation tax, but in proportion to the census before directed.

"All laws regulating commerce shall require the assent of two thirds of the members present in each house. The United States shall not grant any title of nobility.