Skip to main content
Constitution

The US Constitution: Article I, Section 7

Gives House of Representatives powers to introduce revenue bills.

Share
Article 1  Section 7

This part of the Constitution gives the House of Representatives sole power to introduce any bill that raises revenue and lays out how a bill becomes a law.

Article I, Section 7

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the United States; and before the Same shall take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations prescribed in the Case of a Bill.

Because “Taxation without representation” was central to the colonies’ decision to declare their independence from Britain, the Framers believed that giving the House of Representatives control over tax laws would ensure taxation remained under the people’s control since they elected the representatives.

The “Order, Resolution, or Vote” clause was added as a safeguard to keep Congress from sidestepping rules by passing laws under various names, such as “resolution” or “orders.” Eventually, Congress decided that only measures that make law must be sent to the president.

Share

Know someone who should read this?

Written by

Generation Liberty Staff

Read next

The US Constitution: Article I, Section 8

News, civics, and history for the next generation, grounded in America’s founding principles.

Donor Supported

Generation Liberty is free because people who value its purpose pay for it.

You can donate, too.

Donate
© 2026 A Project of One Generation Away