and, as in the case of the President, he draws his salary in monthly instalments from the United States treasury. 188. The President Accessible.-Although the President is the ruler of a mighty nation and is burdened with responsibility and official duties, he is easily reached by the humblest citizen. Unlike the rulers of foreign lands, who are hedged about by ranks of officials both civil and military, our chief magistrate frequently meets the people at public or at private receptions. The death of two of our Presidents by assassination has led many to believe that the President of the United States should be protected by a guard. The President is constantly sought by persons soliciting appointment to office. In order to relieve. the President from the crowd of officeseekers, and also to secure competent public servants in the lower grades of administrative offices, the greater number of Government employés in clerical positions are appointed by the heads of the executive departments, with the approval of the President. 189. Duties of the President.-All the duties of the President are summed in the language of the Constitution: "He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed." 190. Powers of the President.-The President is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States when it is called into the national service. He is not obliged to take command of the national forces in person, but may place them under command of such officers as he may choose. He has power to grant reprieves and pardons, as well before trial and conviction as afterward, for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. The exception of impeachment cases is taken from the custom in England, where the king's pardon cannot be pleaded in case of impeachment before the House of Commons. He has power, by and with the consent of the Senate, to make treaties with foreign states, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur. He nominates, and by and with the consent of the Senate he appoints, ambassadors, other public ministers, consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointment is not otherwise provided for by law. He has power to fill all vacancies in Government offices that may happen during the recess of the Senate by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of the next session. In 1831, President Jackson during a recess of the Senate appointed Martin Van Buren minister to England, but the Senate refused to confirm the appointment, and Mr. Van Buren, who had already gone to the court of St. James, was compelled to return. He has power on extraordinary occasions to convene both houses of Congress or either of them, and, in case of disagreement between them with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he thinks proper, but not for a longer time than the day fixed for the assembling of the next session of Congress. He appoints the members of his own Cabinet, who compose the heads of the executive departments, and he may require of them at any time an opinion in writing upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices. He receives ambassadors from foreign powers and other public ministers, and commissions all the officers of the United States. 191. Removal from Office.-The President, the VicePresident and all civil officers of the United States are subject to removal from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. 192. The President's Message.-In his annual message, when Congress assembles, the President gives to that body "information of the state of the Union." In this message he reviews the history of the year, comments upon events, makes suggestions concerning legislation, and expresses his opinions on such subjects as he thinks proper. At any time he may send to Congress a special message directing attention to matters requiring immediate consideration. 193. The President as Law-maker.-The President is an essential part of the law-making power under the Constitution, and signs or vetoes all bills and resolutions. passed by Congress, except a resolution to adjourn. 194. The President as Politician.-He is elected by a political party for the purpose of carrying out party principles of government. His term of office is known politically as an administration. He is the head or leader of his party, and usually makes all official appointments out of his own party. The number of appointments he can make is about one hundred and fifteen thousand; sometimes these men use their personal and official influence to re-elect the President who appointed them to office, but the spirit of our institutions is against such action. 195. Rules of the Executive Mansion.-The Cabinet meets on Tuesdays and Fridays. Mondays are reserved by the President for the transaction of public business requiring his uninterrupted attention. Senators and Representatives in Congress have access to the President on all days, except when he holds a Cabinet meeting. Other persons are received by him at designated hours, except on Mondays and Cabinet days. Those having no business, but who desire simply to pay respect to the President, are received by him in the East Room at a designated hour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 196. The President as the Head of the Nation.— The President is the only Federal officer who is directly responsible to the nation for the administration of the Government. He is President of the whole country, and should be above the biassed prejudices of the mere political partisan. He is the nation's man, and not a party man. If he fails to rise to the lofty plane of national duty, he sinks into the obscurity of the mere candidate for office and the distributer of the spoils of office. The burden of his responsibility is too heavy to be borne long, and Washington set the example of retiring from the Presidency at the close of a second term. It has often been said that responsibility makes men serious; the responsibilities incident to the office of President of the United States have called into exercise noble qualities from all our Presidents. From the excitement of the campaign to the cares of the White House is a transformation likely to change the leader of a party into the head of the nation.* * For Table of Presidents of the United States, see p. 212. CHAPTER XI. THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS. 197. The Executive Departments.-The executive business of the Federal Government is committed to eight departments, each of which has for its chief officer a Cabinet minister appointed by the President by and with the consent of the Senate. The departments, in the order of their creation by act of Congress, are The Department of State, July 27, 1789; The Treasury Department, September 2, 1789; The Department of the Navy, outlined by the act of The Department of Agriculture, February 12, 1889. Each member of the Cabinet is in political accord with the President and receives an annual salary of $8000. He holds his appointment at the will of the President, and is directly responsible to him for the management of the department of which he is the principal officer. The President is responsible to the people of the United States for the conduct of business in all the departments.* * The Cabinet meets at the executive mansion at the direction of the President, who presides over its consultations and directs them. Its proceedings are not recorded, and it has no legal authority as a body. |