xiv CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

ARTICLE XII.

The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by
ballot for president and vice-president, one of whom, at least,
shall not bean inhabitant of the same state with themselves;
they shall name in their ballots the person voted for as presi-
dent, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as vice-presi-
dent; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for
as president, and of all persons voted for as vice-president, and
of the number of votes for each ; which lists they shall sign
and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government
of the United States, directed to the president of the senate:
the president of the senate shall, in presence of the senate and
house of representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes
shall then be counted : the person having the greatest number
of votes for president shall be the president, if such number be
a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if
no person have such majority, then, from the persons having
the highest numbers not exceeding three, on the list of those
voted for as president, the house of representatives shall choose,
immediately, by ballot, the president. But, in choosing the
president, the votes shall be taken by states, the representation
from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose
shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the
states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a
choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a
president whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon
them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the
vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death
or other constitutional disability of the president.

The person having the greatest number of votes as vice-
president, shall be the vice-president, if such number be a
majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no
person have a majority, then, from the two highest numbers on
the list, the senate shall choose the vice-president: a quorum
for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number
of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be
necessary to a choice.

But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of pre-
sident, shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United
States.