Clause 3
Originally, the number of Representatives for each state was to be determined by adding together the total number of free people, temporarily indentured servants, and then adding three-fifths for any others. This was known as the Three-Fifths Compromise. It was rendered obsolete by the 13th Amendment in 1865. The counting of people in each state every ten years is known as the census. The first one was taken in 1790, three years after the first meeting of Congress. As enumerated, there will not be more representatives than one for every thiry-thousand constituents. The Reapportionment Act of 1929 changed this by setting the permanent size of the House at 435 members, each state having at least one Representative. The list of States and numbers of Representatives was meant as a temporary measure until the first census could be taken.
Clause 4
If a member of the House were to die or vacate his office before his term is finished, then the executive authority, referring to the governor of the State, must announce a special election to fill the vacancy.
Clause 5
The House of Representatives elects their Speaker, usually a member of the Majority Party. The House has the sole power of impeachment. They are the only ones who can formally accuse a government officer. The Senate may then try the accused according to Article I, Section 3.
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© Copyright 1997 Jonathan Chin & Alan Stern
