The article discusses Article One of the United States Constitution, which establishes the legislative branch of the federal government, known as the United States Congress. Here is a concise summary:
**Key Points:**
1. **Legislative Branch**: Article One vests all federal legislative power in Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives[3][4][5].
2. **Composition**: The House of Representatives is composed of members elected every two years, with seats apportioned based on state population. The Senate consists of two senators from each state, serving six-year terms[3][4][5].
3. **Powers**: Congress has various enumerated powers, including:
– Laying and collecting taxes, duties, and excises[3][5].
– Providing for the common defense and general welfare[3][5].
– Regulating commerce with foreign nations and among states[3][5].
– Establishing a uniform rule of naturalization and bankruptcy laws[3][5].
– Coining money and regulating its value[3][5].
– Providing for the punishment of counterfeiting[3][5].
– Establishing post offices and post roads[3][5].
– Promoting science and useful arts by securing exclusive rights to authors and inventors[3][5].
– Constituting tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court[3][5].
– Defining and punishing piracies and felonies committed on the high seas and offenses against the law of nations[3][5].
– Declaring war, granting letters of marque and reprisal, and making rules concerning captures on land and water[3][5].
– Raising and supporting armies and maintaining a navy[3][5].
– Providing for the militia and governing it[3][5].
– Exercising exclusive legislation over the District of Columbia and other places ceded by states[3][5].
4. **Separation of Powers**: The Constitution separates powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, ensuring that each branch exercises only its own constitutional powers[3][5].
5. **Limitations**: Congress is prohibited from delegating its legislative authority to other branches and is restricted from certain practices like passing bills of attainder and impairing contracts[3][5].
This summary highlights the foundational structure and powers of the legislative branch as outlined in Article One of the United States Constitution.
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