of immense practical importance in the lives of the people. Are the people of New York City governed by other laws and ordinances than those made by the State Legislature and the Municipal Assembly? They are also subject to Federal laws made at Washington, the capital of the United States. Who makes the Federal laws? They are made in the two Houses of Congress, the Senate and House of Representatives. A new Congress begins on the 4th of March in every odd-numbered year. The SENATE is composed of 90 Senators, two from each of the 45 States of the Union, elected for six years by the State Legislature of their respective States. One-third of the Senators are chosen every two years. The HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES is composed of 357 members, elected by the voters of the 45 States, for two years, on the basis of one Representative for about 174,000 of the population at the present time. How many Representatives are elected in New York State? Thirty-four: one from each of the Congressional Districts into which the State is divided. The United States census is taken once in ten years, on the years ending in a cipher, and thereafter each State has allotted to it its quota of Representatives according to its population. The congressional districts are then laid out by the Legislature in such a way as to divide the population equally as may be among the congressional districts, but no county is divided unless to make two or more congressional districts within the county. The districts are known by number. Those in New York State were last apportioned under an act of 1892. Once in two years, in the even-numbered years, the electors within every congressional district, at the general election, elect a Representative in Congress from their district. The area of a congressional district depends on the density of its population; if the population be sparse it includes several counties; but counties containing large cities embrace several congressional districts, as does New York County. What persons are eligible to Congress? A Senator must be at least 30 years old, and must have been nine years a citizen of the United States. A Representative must be at least 25 years old, and must have been seven years a citizen of the United States. Both must be, when elected, an inhabitant of the State represented. Who pays the salaries to Congressmen? They are paid from the treasury of the United States $5000 a year to each, and an allowance of 20 cents a mile for travelling expenses, and $125 for stationery. The ordinary outlay of the Government is from three to four hundred millions a year, obtained mainly from the tariff on imported goods. How can one learn the names of Congressmen from New York? A printed list of all members may be obtained from the Secretary of State at WashingThe full list is usually printed also in all the large almanacs for the current year. ton. What other persons are elected in this State? Thirty-six of the 447 Electors who elect the President and Vice-President of the United States. |