Thoughts on the Constitution: Article I
Article I 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. Legislative power is the power to make law (from Latin, lex, legis ). It is significant that the first article outlines the process by which laws are to be made. This is clearly one of the most important functions of government. A just, free, and prosperous society depends upon the rule of law, impartially administered. Under the Constitution the legislative power is entrusted to Congress, which consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. [1] We find here another division of power. In order for a law to be passed, it has to be approved by both chambers of Congress. Although both are involved in making law, they represent different interests—at least this was true under the original form of the Constitution. Originally, Senators were chosen by their state’s legislatu...