U.S. Constitution · Article I, Section 5

Powers and Procedures of Each House

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Live in the VFA record

Cited in 1 VFA SI Solution and 96 grades this month.

320 public items cite this provision or its parts · 97 in October 2026 (last month: 7)

Week of 2026-08-03: 2Week of 2026-08-10: 1Week of 2026-08-17: 0Week of 2026-08-24: 0Week of 2026-08-31: 4Week of 2026-09-07: 0Week of 2026-09-14: 2Week of 2026-09-21: 0Week of 2026-09-28: 1Week of 2026-10-05: 83Week of 2026-10-12: 14Week of 2026-10-19: 0

Citations per week, last 12 weeks

The text

  1. Article I, Section 5, Clause 1 · Judging Clause; Quorum Clause 3 cites

    Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections, Returns and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smaller Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner, and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

  2. Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 · Rules of Proceedings Clause; Expulsion Clause 282 cites

    Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with the Concurrence of two thirds, expel a Member.

  3. Article I, Section 5, Clause 3 · Journal Clause 3 cites

    Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of one fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.

  4. Article I, Section 5, Clause 4 · Adjournment Clause

    Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, without the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

National Archives transcription (public domain; original spelling and capitalization). archives.gov

In the founders’ words

  • “But such a power, so summary, and at the same time so subversive of the rights of the people, it was foreseen, might be exerted for mere purposes of faction or party, to remove a patriot, or to aid a corrupt measure; and it has therefore been wisely guarded by the restriction, that there shall be a concurrence of two thirds of the members, to justify an expulsion.” Joseph Story, Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, sections 831-46 (1833-01-01)

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grades (96)

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roll-call votes (217)

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Cite this page

Values for America Constitution Explorer, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution (text: National Archives transcription, public domain), Article I, Section 5, https://www.valuesforamerica.com/constitution/article-1/section-5

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