of the affairs of the state, and calls the attention of the legis lature to such subjects as he thinks ought to be acted on.

§ 2. Soon after the legislature has commenced its business, the committees of each house are appointed. A committee consists of one or more persons appointed or chosen to consider and to act upon any matter intrusted to them. A legislative committee generally consists of either three, five, or seven members. The committees are numerous, and are usually appointed by the presiding officer of each house; sometimes, however, by the house itself. There is a committee on agriculture; another on banks; another on railroads and canals; another on the division of towns and counties; another on colleges, academies and common schools; and a committee on almost every other subject of a general nature.

§ 3. The object of appointing these committees is to save the time of the house, and to hasten the transaction of business. To show the utility of committees, suppose that the people from different parts of the state apply to the legislature to enact laws authorizing the making of canals, the incorporation of banks, and the division of counties; for these things cannot be done unless authorized by law. It would be unwise for a legislature to pass laws simply because they were asked for; for although some persons might be benefited by such laws, many more might be injured by them. The objects desired must therefore be inquired into, to ascertain whether they are necessary or not.

4. Now if there were no committees to which these several subjects might be referred, the time of the whole house. must be spent upon each object of inquiry. And as hundreds of things are asked for at every session of the legisla ture, there would not be time enough in the whole year to dispose of them. But now every subject is referred to its appropriate committee. Petitions for canals are referred to the committee on canals; those for banks, to the committee on banks; and those for new counties, to the committee on the division of towns and counties; and so of every other ness? What then does he do? What does the message contain? $2. What is a committee? Of what number does it consist? 3. Why are legislative committees appointed? Explain the utility of committees. $4. How are petitions referred? What are petitions? What is a standing commit

petition. If any subject arises for which there is no appro priate standing committee, there is one appointed for the special purpose of considering such subject, and is called a select committee.

§ 5. The members of each committee meet from time to time at some place during hours when the house is not in session, to consider the subjects referred to them. They hear what is to be said in favor of the desired objects, by those who have come to urge the passage of the laws asked for, and also what is to be said on the other side by those who have come to oppose such measures. And frequently it is necessary for the committee to write to persons in distant parts of the state for further information.

§ 6. After due inquiry and consideration, committees make their reports to the house. A report of a committee contains a statement of the facts that have been ascertained, and of the reasons why the law prayed for ought or ought not to be passed. If a committee reports against a measure, the house generally dismisses the subject: if the committee reports in favor of such measure, it usually brings in a bill with the report. A bill is a draft or form of an intended law. Bills, however, are not always reported by commitAn individual member of the house may introduce a bill, by leave of the house, if he shall have given at least one day's notice beforehand of his intention to introduce it.

tees.

§ 7. A bill, after it is brought before the house, must go through many different stages and forms of action, all of which it is not deemed important to mention in this place. Before it is passed, it must be read three times; but not oftener than once on the same day without the consent of the whole house. Nor can it be altered or amended before its second reading. After it has been twice read, and fully discussed and amended, it is proposed to read it on a given day the third time.

§ 8. When the vote of the house is to be taken upon a bill, the speaker or chairman puts the question, "Shall the bill pass ?" If a majority of the members present vote in

tee? A select committee? 5. State the labors of a committee. $6. When and what do committees report to the house? What is a bill? Are all bills reported by committees? 7. How often must a bill be read before it is passed? 8. By whom is the question put to the house? What is af

the affirmative, the bill is passed; but if a majority vote in the negative, the bill is lost. If the yeas and nays happen to be equal, there is said to be a tie; in which case the chairman decides the question by his vote, which is called the casting vote. If he is in favor of the bill, it is carried; if against it, it is lost.

§ 9. When a bill has passed one house, it is sent to the other, where it is to be acted on in the same manner; and if agreed to or amended by that house, it is in either case sent back to the house from which it was received. Some bills are sent several times from one house to the other, with amendments, before they are agreed to by both. If both nouses do not agree to a bill, it is lost.

10. When a bill has passed both houses, it is sent to the governor to be approved and signed by him. If he signs it, it is a law; if not, it is no law. This power of the governor to negative a bill, that is, to prevent its becoming a law by withholding from it his signature, is called veto, which is a Latin word signifying I forbid.

§ 11. Hence it appears, that if no laws could be enacted without the consent of the governor, we should not be in a much better condition than the people of the colonies were while subject to Great Britain, or than the people are in a monarchy, where one man makes the laws; for the gov ernor might prevent the passage of every law that did not please him.

§ 12. But the people have by their constitution provided for the enactment of laws without the governor's assent. If he refuses to sign a bill, he must return it to the house in which it originated, stating his objections to it. The house then proceeds to reconsider the bill; and if after having duly reconsidered it, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass it, it is sent, with the governor's objections, to the other house; and if two-thirds of the members of that house also agree to pass the bill, it becomes a law without the governor's name. Or if the governor should not return a bill within ten days after it is presented to him, it would be

firmative and negative? A tie? How is it decided? 9. After a bill has passed one house, what? When agreed to or amended by the other, what? 10. When agreed to by both houses, is it a law? Who must sign it? What is veto 12. How may a bill become a law without the governor's

a law, though not signed by him, and without being again acted upon by the legislature.

§ 13. It may be asked, why send a bill to the governor? Why not let the legislature alone enact the laws? In reply it may be asked, why does a legislature consist of two branches? Why may not a single body of representatives make the laws as well as two? The reason is this: one house may pass a bill without discovering all its imperfections, and the people would be very likely to get many bad laws; but if the bill has to be examined in another body, any mistake or oversight committed by the first house may be detected in the second, where the bill may be either amended or wholly rejected.

§ 14. But it may, and sometimes does happen, that errors are committed by both houses. In order therefore to guard still more effectually against the enactment of bad laws, it was provided that the governor also shall examine and approve a bill. But that it may not depend on one man what laws we shall have, or whether we shall have any laws at all, the governor is required to return to the legislature all bills which he does not approve, that they may be passed, if they can be, in the manner stated, by two-thirds of both houses.

§ 15. Members of the legislature are paid for their services three dollars a day; and they are allowed three dollars for every twenty miles of the distance they travel from their homes to the place of meeting, to be computed both for going to, and returning from the same. The clerk of the senate receives a yearly salary of $1200, and the clerk of the assembly, $1800; from which each provides his own assistants and clerks. The sergeant-at-arms and door. keeper of each house, and the assistant door-keeper of the assembly, receive, for each day's attendance, the same compensation as members of the legislature.

§ 16. The clerks of the senate and assembly provide furniture for the senate and assembly chambers, stationary,

14.

approval? 13. Why is the legislature divided into two branches? Why are bills submitted to the governor for his approval? 15. How much do members of the legislature receive for their services? How much the clerks of both houses? The sergeant-at-arms, and door-keepers?

fire-wood, and other articles, for the use of the legislature, the expenses of which are paid out of the treasury.

CHAPTER X.

Of the Executive Department, and of the general Administration of the Government of the State.-Governor and Lieutenant-Governor.

§ 1. Having treated of the legislative department, and shown how its officers are elected, and how their power is exercised in making the laws; I shall proceed to give a description of the executive department, of the election and appointment of its officers, and of their powers and duties in executing the laws and administering the government of the

state.

§ 2. By the constitution, the executive power is vested in a governor. He is assisted by numerous subordinate executive officers. The governor and lieutenant-governor are elected at the annual election in November, and hold their offices for the term of two years. A person, to be qualified for the office of governor, must be a native citizen of the United States, a freeholder, thirty years of age; and he must have been a resident of the state five years.

§ 3. The governor has many powers to exercise, and many important duties to perform. A few of those mentioned in the constitution are the following: He sends to the legislature at the beginning of every session, a message, containing a statement of the general affairs of the state, and recommending such measures as he shall judge to be expedient. It is his duty also to see that the laws are executed, and to transact all necessary business with the officers of gov

ernment.

§ 4. The governor has power to grant reprieves and pardons. If a person has been found guilty of murder, or of

§ 1. What is the business of the executive department? $ 2. In whom is the executive power vested? When, and for what term are the governor and lieutenant-governor elected? State the qualifications of governor. § 3. What are some of his duties? 4. Who grants reprieves and pardons?