the House represent the people who elect them, not by States, but in proportion to the population. The State legislature divides the State into congressional districts. If the population of the State should be 173,901 or over, more than the product of this number multiplied by the number of districts (which often happens), then the people of the entire State elect one or more congressmen-at-large to represent these increments of population.

The Senate consists of two senators from each State; thus the House represents the people in general, the Senate, the States; the representation of all the States in the Senate is equal, each having the same number-two-no matter how large or how small. Texas and Rhode Island have equal representation.

Qualifications.—A representative must be twentyfive years old, must have been a citizen for seven years, and must live in the State which elects him, though not in the district he represents. A senator must be thirty years of age, must have been a citizen for nine years, and must live in the State which he represents. Representatives are chosen for two years; senators for six.

Presiding Officers.-The House chooses all its own officers, and has the sole right of impeachment. The Vice-President of the United States is the chairman of the Senate, and can only vote when his vote will "break a tie." The Senate acts as court of judgment in all cases of impeachment.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT (Continued).

Sessions of Congress.-Congress meets every year in December. A Congress comprises all the sessions held in the two years of a representative's term. Usually two sessions are held. The long session begins on the first Monday in December of odd years and adjourns at its own pleasure. The short session begins on the first Monday in December of the even years and continues until noon of the 4th of March following.

A Committee is a subordinate body appointed, in the House of Representatives by the chairman, in the Senate by vote of the whole body. It consists of varying numbers selected from the membership of the body appointing. The duty of these bodies is to consider and report upon certain matters previous to the action of the House to which they belong. Their actions are subject to the will of their House in all cases. A bill may originate in either House, and after passing that House must go to the other. Then it passes to the President, who either signs or vetoes it. But revenue bills must originate in the lower House, and the Senate may amend them as well as others. A vetoed bill may be passed "over the President's veto" by a second vote of both Houses, if there is a two thirds majority in favor of passing the bill.

The special powers, privileges, and restrictions of

Congress are enumerated in the Constitution, and all powers not here delegated to the United States government are considered by the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution as being reserved to the several States, or to the people.

Salaries.-The salaries of representatives and senators are fixed by Congress itself, and are paid out of the national treasury. That of a member of the lower House is $5,000; that of a senator is the same. The Speaker of the lower House gets $8,000; the VicePresident, or Speaker of the Senate, also gets $8,000. The number of representatives from the State of Pennsylvania is at present (1893) 30; the whole number in the House of Representatives being 356 (1890 to 1900). The whole number of senators at present is 88.

CHAPTER XXIX.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

The Executive Department of the government applies the laws after they have been made by the legislative and interpreted by the judicial departments. The executive power is vested in a President or chief executive, and a cabinet composed of the heads of certain departments and commissions established by Congress at different times to assist the President in performing the duties devolving upon him as head of this department in the government of the nation.

Qualifications.-The President must be a nativeborn citizen of the United States, and must have attained the age of thirty-five years, besides having the ordinary qualifications of an elector. A President is elected every four years by a body of presidential electors who are chosen by the people on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. This body of electors constitutes what is called the Electoral College. It is composed of as many delegates from each State as that State has senators and representatives in Congress. These electors meet on the second Monday of January, usually in their respective State capitals, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President. Three lists are then made which are called "returns.” These are signed and certified and two of them transmitted sealed to the President of the Senate at Washington, and one is left with the judges of the United States District Court where the electors met. These lists are opened in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, and the votes counted on the second Wednesday of February. The ones who receive the greatest number of votes are declared to be elected provided the number of votes received be a majority of all the electors appointed. If no person receive such a majority then the duty of electing the President falls upon the House of Representatives, and that of Vice-President devolves upon the Senate.

The President sees that the laws are properly ex

ecuted, acts as commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the nation, and the militia of the several States when in the service of the United States; makes treaties, and appoints ambassadors, consuls, foreign ministers, judges of the Supreme Court, cabinet officers, and other inferior officers, as postmasters, etc., with the consent of two thirds of the Senate; sends messages to Congress; convenes extra sessions of Congress; and receives foreign ministers. His salary is $50,000 a year.

CHAPTER XXX.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT (Continued).

The Vice-President must have the same qualifications as the President. He is the presiding officer of the Senate; he becomes President if, on account of death, resignation, or other constitutional disability of the President, the executive chair becomes vacant. It will be seen that the Vice-President is not a regular executive officer unless he becomes President; his duties as chairman of the Senate are of a legislative character. His salary is $8,000 a year.

The Cabinet Officers are: Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of the Navy, Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Postmaster General, and Attorney General. These officers are at the head of their respective departments, and they have charge of all matters re