Article 1 of the Constitution

The Constitution of the United States of America is where the United States Federal Government derives its power. The Constitution is considered to be the supreme law of the United States. The first three Articles of the Constitution define what was to become the three branches of Government in the United States, with each addressing each branch. The First Article of the Constitution provides for the structure of the Legislative Branch. It also delineates the powers and responsibilities that the Legislative Branch is to have.

The First Article is divided into ten sections, each addressing aspects of the Legislative Branch in terms of composition, member eligibility, and duties. Article I establishes Congress, which is to become the ruling body of the Legislative Branch. Congress is a bicameral legislature, consisting of two Houses, known as the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The legislative process requires that both Houses act together, for any procedure requires approval of both. Congress, as it is constructed in the First Article, is a deviation from the Congress of Confederation that was set up by the Articles of Confederation in 1781. The Congress of Confederation was a unicameral legislative body that had minimal authority when compared to the power granted to the States. The reason that this structure was implemented was out of the fear and prevention to allow a central body of government to maintain all the power and authority, thus creating for the possibility of a tyrannical government.

After the American Revolution, an oppressive and all-controlling government is exactly what the United States wanted to avoid. However, a unicameral legislative branch proved to be ineffective. The Constitution's First Article would call for a bicameral legislature, in which each House would have specific and unique powers and authority in order to maintain a balance.

The House of Representatives, also referred to as the lower House of Congress, was created to provide for representation in the Federal Government that would be proportional to each state's population. For example, California currently has the highest population in the United States, and therefore, has the most representatives in House with 53 representatives. The House of Representatives is to be comprised of no more than 435 members, with each state having at least one representative.

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House, who is elected by the other members. The Constitution allows for the specific powers to initiate revenue bills, the authority to impeach officials, and elect the President of the United States in case there is a discrepancy or stalemate in the Electoral College. However, the most important power granted to the House by Article I of the Constitution is the ability to pass legislation at the Federal level which will have effects on the nation as a whole. However, bills must also be approved by the Senate and the President before being enacted into law.

The United States Senate, which is also known as the upper House of Congress, is also implemented with the idea of allowing for state representation at the Federal level. Unlike the House of Representatives, however, representation is not contingent upon population numbers of each state.

In the Senate, each state is represented by two senators. The leader of the Senate is called the President of the Senate, but is actually also the Vice President of the United States. However, the Vice President does not have the authority to vote on matters unless there is a tie in the polling process.

Article I of the Constitution grants certain powers to the Senate which are not given to the House. Generally speaking, it is considered for the Senate to be more prestigious because of the fact that there are less members and offers for more deliberative decisions. The Senate has the power to approve treaties as a condition for ratification, as well as the approval of Federal officials, such as Cabinet secretaries, Federal judges, military officers, and other Federal uniformed officers. The Senate also has the power to try Federal officials that are impeached by the House of Representatives.

Another important factor of the First Article of the Constitution, besides creating and enumerating powers for Congress, is that it also implements limits of power of the States. The States are explicitly prohibited from making their own money, taxing goods from other states, and entering into treaties, alliances, or confederations. The States are also not allowed to create their own navies nor enter into war. It is also addressed in Article I of the Constitution that any limits placed on Congress, such as suspension of habeas corpus, titles of nobility, and ex post facto laws, are also prohibited to the states.

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