128 LEGISLATIVE PEEKS. 



which is renewed every two years. To be a senator the conditions 

 are, 1st. to be thirty years of age; 2dly. to have been a citizen of the 

 United States nine years anterior to nomination ; and, lastly, to 

 be an inhabitant of the state in which he is elected. The vice-pre- 

 sident of the United States is the president of the chamber, but he 

 has no vote. The senate can alone take cognizance of all cases of 

 high treason, and a majority of two-thirds of its members are requi- 

 site to convict. The legislature of each state prescribes the mode, the 

 place, and the period of the elections of senators as well as repre- 

 sentatives ; but the Congress has also the right of making regula- 

 tions upon this point. The senators receive an indemnity from the 

 public treasury. They cannot be arrested during the sitting of 

 Congress except on a charge of high treason. No senator can, during 

 the term of his functions, be appointed to any civil office under 

 government ; and no citizen in any way dependent upon the govern- 

 ment is eligible to be elected a member of either chamber. The 

 particular constitution of each state is, with few exceptions, based 

 upon these principles. The states of Vermont, New Jersey, and 

 Connecticut have only one legislative body. 



The federal constitution of Mexico, of 1824, is based upon the 

 same principles as that of the United States. It establishes a Con- 

 gress, divided into two bodies a senate and a chamber of deputies, 

 both elective. The constitution of the republic of Guatemala is also 

 similar in every respect. By the constitution of Haiti, of 1806, and 

 now in force in that republic, the legislative power resides in a 

 chamber of representatives and in a senate. The senate is composed 

 of only twenty-four members, and can never exceed that number. The 

 senators are appointed for a term of nine years by the chamber of 

 representatives, from three lists of candidates presented by the execu- 

 tive. Senators must have attained the age of one-and-thirty, and 

 must be invested with no public function otherwise than military. 

 The senators to be elected can in no one case be taken from the 

 chamber of representatives actually sitting they may be re-elected 

 after an interval of three years. The sittings of the senate are per- 

 manent : its members receive from the treasury an indemnity of 1600 

 dollars. The senate may reject any measure sent up to them from 

 the lower chamber without alleging their motives. 



The constitution of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, of 

 1819, establishes a national congress, composed of two chambers. 

 The first, or senate, is formed by one senator for every province, of 

 three military senators, of four ecclesiastics, of one senator for every 

 university, and of the presidents of the state on the cessation of their 

 functions. Each senator must have attained his thirtieth year, must 

 possess a certain capital, or an equivalent income, or honourable pro- 

 fession, and must have been a citizen of the republic for nine years. 

 They are elected for the space of 12 years, and one- third of their 

 number go out every four years. The provincial senators are elected by 

 the municipalities. The military senators are appointed by the director 

 or president, and the ecclesiastical by the clergy. Every legislative 

 measure may emanate with the senate, excepting those of finance. 

 This constitution, born amid civil dissensions, has since been altered 

 by several acts. 



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