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MECHANICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Plate V gives an idea of the United States and the workings of the government according to the constitution. The explanations of the diagram can be studied with profit.

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Congressional Globe (1850–1861) ......... ....... .....

History of the United States, Vol. I.....

History of the United States...

Life of Madison, Vol. II..

Life of Gerry....................

Life of Burr.......

Authorities Under Bank Controversies, Anti-Federal Party,

Federal Party....................

IN GENERAL.

Life of Washington..........

History of the United States......

History of the United States.......

.Schouler.

.Holmes.

Rives.

.Austin.

Parton..

....Sparks.

..Lossing.

.Patton.

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LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS.

John Muhlenburgh............Speaker of the House...........

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CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

Objects.

PREAMBLE.

We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of Legislative Pow- the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

ers.

SECTION II.

1st Clause. The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

House of Representatives.

2d Clause. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven Qualification of years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, Representatives. when elected, be an inhabitant of the state in which he shall be chosen.

Apportionment of Representatives.

3d Clause.-Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, threefifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one

for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

4th Clause.-When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs Vacancies, how of election to fill such vacancies. filled.

5th Clause.-The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers; and shall have the sole power of Speaker, how impeachment.

SECTION III.

1st Clause. The Senate of the United States shall be senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have

one vote.

appointed.

composed of two
Number of Sen-
ators from
each State.
in consequence

Classification of
Senators.

2d Clause.-Immediately after they shall be assembled of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, and of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation, or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. 3d Clause.-No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. 4th Clause. The Vice-President of the United States of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided.

Qualification of
Senators.

shall be President Presiding officer of the Senate.

5th Clause. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States.

Senate, a court

6th Clause. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the chief-justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

for trial of impeachments.

7th Clause.--Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to Judgment in case hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit unof Conviction. der the United States; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law.

Elections of Sen

SECTION IV.

1st Clause. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing senators.

ators and Representatives.

2d Clause.-The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day.

Meeting of Congress.

Organization of
Congress.

SECTION V.

1st Clause. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. 2d Clause.--Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, Rules of Proceed- punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

ing.

3d Clause. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in their judgment require secrecy, and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be

Journal of Congress.

entered upon the journal.

4th Clause. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

Adjournment of
Congress.

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