Why does article 1 section 7 of the US Constitution require that tax bills?

Asked by: Prof. Nathaniel Rohan DVM  |  Last update: February 10, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (14 votes)

Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution requires tax (revenue) bills to start in the House of Representatives to ensure accountability to the people, echoing the "No Taxation Without Representation" principle from the American Revolution and giving the branch closest to citizens greater control over finances, while the Senate can still amend them, preserving checks and balances.

Why does article one section 7 of the U.S. Constitution require that tax bills be introduced in the House of Representatives?

The Framers borrowed this practice, hoping that it would confer the “power of the purse” on the legislative body most responsive to the people—the House of Representatives. As such, only the House may introduce bills “for raising revenue,” although the Senate is explicitly empowered to amend House-originated bills.

Why must revenue bills originate in the House?

Vesting the authority to originate revenue measures in the House exclusively was one aspect of the compromise whereby delegates from small and large states agreed in principle to a bicameral Congress. What role each chamber would play, and what authority each would exercise, was not easily arrived at.

Where should tax laws originate according to Article 1 Section 7?

Article I, Section 7, Clause 1: 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.

What are the main points of articles 1, 7 of the Constitution?

The Articles

  • Article I. Legislative Branch.
  • Article II. Executive Branch.
  • Article III. Judicial Branch.
  • Article IV. States, Citizenship, New States.
  • Article V. Amendment Process.
  • Article VI. Debts, Supremacy, Oaths, Religious Tests.
  • Article VII. Ratification.

Constitution Line by Line: Article 1, Section 7, Clause 1- Revenue Bills

29 related questions found

What does article 1 section 7 of the Constitution explain brainly?

Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution primarily explains the process for creating a law. This section outlines how a bill becomes law once it is proposed, passes through both houses of Congress, and is then either signed by the President or overridden by Congress if the President vetoes it.

What is article 1 section 7 about?

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.

Where in the Constitution does it talk about tax bills?

Article I, Section 8, Clause 1: The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; . . .

Where do all tax bills have to originate?

Short Version -- This is a summary of the important issues covered in this section of the U.S Constitution. All tax bills must originate in the House of Representatives. The Senate may propose amendments to tax bills.

Why does section 7 direct that all tax laws originate in the House of Representatives?

Explaining that the Origination Clause was an intentional tool to protect against government abuses. Arguing that the Framers gave the House of Representatives, instead of the Senate, the power of the purse to keep monetary matters as close to the voters as possible.

Why do tax bills start in the House of Representatives?

The Origination Clause, sometimes called the Revenue Clause, is Article I, Section 7, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The clause says that all bills for raising revenue must start in the U.S. House of Representatives, but the U.S. Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as in the case of other bills.

Can the President spend money without Congress?

Similarly: presidents cannot spend beyond what has been enacted into law or otherwise ignore spending laws. As the Constitution clearly stipulates, the president cannot spend money that Congress has not appropriated—nor can they override spending laws to pursue their own funding priorities.

Why do Revenue bills have to originate in the House of Representatives?

The provision was part of a compromise between the large and small states. Smaller states, which would be over-represented in the Senate, would concede the power to originate money bills to the House, where states with larger populations would have greater control.

What does article one section 7 of the Constitution explain in Quizlet?

Article 1: Section 7. details how bills become law. First, any bill for raising money (such as by taxes or fees) must start out in the House. All bills must pass both houses of Congress in the exact same form. Bills that pass both houses are sent to the President.

Does the Constitution say we need to pay taxes?

In the Constitution's original writing, the Taxing Clause in Article I grants Congress the general authority to “lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imports, and Excises.” For “direct” taxes, Article I commands that they must be collected based on the population of the states.

Can I legally refuse to pay taxes?

No, you generally cannot legally choose not to pay taxes if you meet the filing requirements, as the obligation to pay is mandatory under U.S. law, but you can legally reduce your tax burden through deductions, credits, and living below the filing threshold; however, intentionally evading taxes is a crime with severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, while making frivolous legal arguments against paying taxes is also prosecuted. 

Should we stop paying taxes?

Newsom is not suggesting people stop paying their taxes, said Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for the governor. But she said the state is considering “whether there are potential options that would allow it to retain some of the funding it typically sends the federal government.”

What is Article 1 of the Constitution about?

Article I of the U.S. Constitution establishes the Legislative Branch—Congress—making it the "First Branch" of government, detailing its bicameral structure (Senate and House of Representatives), how members are elected, its law-making process, and its specific powers and limitations, emphasizing checks and balances and the separation of powers. 

What does article 7 of the Constitution mean in simple terms?

The text of Article VII declares that the Constitution shall become the official law of the ratifying states when nine states ratified the document. When New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify on June 21, 1788, the Constitution became good law.

What is Section 1 Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution?

According to Article VII Section I of the 1987 Constitution, “Executive Power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.” The position of the President is of paramount importance as it functions as the head of the executive branch of government responsible for the faithful execution of laws.

What does section 7 mean?

A Section 7 Interview and Section 7 Report refers to Section 7 of the Children Act 1989 and gives the Court the power to request that a Court Officer (Cafcass, a Welsh Family Proceedings Officer, or a Local Authority Social Services) to report to the court on matters relating to the welfare of the child or children.

Is God mentioned in the US Constitution?

No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or Christianity; its framework is secular, focusing on governmental structure, though it mentions "religion" in the First Amendment to protect religious freedom and prohibit an established religion. The only divine reference is in the signing date, "in the Year of our Lord," a common phrase of the era, not a theological statement, notes TCU Magazine.
 

Is the 7th Amendment still $20 dollars?

Yes, the Seventh Amendment's "$20" threshold for federal civil jury trials technically still exists in the Constitution, but it's functionally ignored due to inflation, meaning it doesn't really apply to modern cases; it applies to federal civil cases, not state ones, and the real minimum for federal court jurisdiction is now much higher (often $75,000). The $20 back in 1791 was significant, but today it's tiny, so courts focus on larger disputes, effectively making the $20 clause obsolete in practice, though it hasn't been formally removed. 

What is chapter 7 of the Constitution?

This chapter describes the status, powers, functions and composition of local government/municipalities. It explains the makeup of local government, its powers and functions. Local governments make decisions and laws for their municipal areas.