GOVERNMENT AND LAW. 



13 



this new fundamental law was completed by 

 the fourteenth and fifteenth Amendments of 

 the Constitution, adopted in 1868 and 1870, 

 which gave to the former slaves all the rights 

 and privileges of citizenship. 



Under an act of Congress approved Jan. 20, 

 1874, the salary of a senator, representative, 

 or delegate in Congress is $5,000 per annum 

 with traveling expenses calculated at the rate 

 of twenty cents per mile, by the most direct 

 route of usual travel, and similar return, once 

 for each session of Congress. There is also 

 an annual allowance of $125 for stationery, 

 etc., for each member. The salary of the 

 Speaker of the House of Representatives is, 

 under the same Act of Congress, $8,000 per 

 annum. 



No senator or representative can, during the 

 time for which he is elected, be appointed to 

 any civil office under authority of the United 

 States which shall have been created or the 

 emoluments of which shall have been increased 

 during such time; and no person holding any 

 office under the United States can be a member 

 of either house during his continuance in 

 office. No religious test is required as a quali- 

 fication to any office or public trust under the 

 United States. 



The period usually termed "a Congress" 

 in legislative language continues for two years ; 

 as, for example, from noon, March 4, 1899, 

 until March 4, 1901, at which latter time the 

 term of the representatives to the Fifty-sixth 

 Congress expires, and the term of the new 

 House of Representatives commences ; but a 

 new Congress does not assemble, unless called 

 together by the President in special session, 

 until the first Monday in December following, 

 and the organization of the House, that is, the 

 election of the Speaker and other officers, takes 

 place on the first assembling, whether in special 

 session after the 4th of March of every second 

 year, as stated, or on the first Monday in De- 

 cember after its term begins. While the 

 sessions of the Senate are held contemporane- 

 ously with those of the House, its organization 

 may continue from Congress to Congress. 



There are usually two sessions of each Con- 

 gress the first or long session, which may hold 

 until adjourned by resolution of the two Houses, 

 and the short session, which is the closing one, 

 and which expires on the 4th of March every 

 second year, the new Congress beginning its 

 term the same day. 



Neither house of Congress can adjourn for 

 more than three days at any one time without 

 the joint action of both. In case of a disagree- 

 ment of the two houses as to adjournment, the 

 President has the right to prorogue the 

 Congress: 



The Vice-President of the United States, ag 

 before stated, is President of the Senate, but 

 he has no vote unless there is a tie. The 

 Senate has the sole power to try all impeach- 

 ments, and it acts upon the nominations for 

 appointment by the President ; it also acts 

 upon treaties submitted to it by the adminis- 

 tration. The Senate rnay be called in extra 

 session for these purposes by the President 

 without the Congress being called together. 



All bills for raising revenue must originate 

 in the House of Representatives, but the Senate 

 may propose or concur with amendments to 

 such bills, as on all other bills. 



Judiciary. The judicial system, like the 

 executive and legislative systems, is dual. The 

 Federal Government maintains courts for the 

 trial of civil causes arising out of the admiralty, 

 patent, banking, and other laws of the United 

 States ; of certain causes between citizens of 

 different States ; and of crimes against the 

 United States. These crimes are few in num- 

 ber, and the criminal jurisdiction of United 

 States courts is comparatively insignificant, 

 extending only to piracy, murder on the high 

 seas, offenses against the postal and revenue 

 laws, and the like. Almost all offenses against 

 the person and against property are dealt with 

 by the State courts ; also all civil causes where 

 the parties are residents of the same State, and 

 matters of probate, divorce, and bankruptcy. 



In the separate States the lowest courts are 

 those held by Justices of the Peace, or, in 

 towns and cities, by Police Judges. In the 

 counties courts of record are held, some by 

 local county officers, "others by District or 

 Circuit Judges, who go from county to county. 

 In these courts there are usually the grand and 

 petty jury. The highest court in each State 

 is the Supreme Court, or Court of Final Ap- 

 peal, with a Chief Justice and Associate 

 Judges. These judges are usually elected by 

 the people, but sometimes appointed by the 

 Governor, with or without the Senate or Coun- 

 cil; they usually hold office for terms of years, 

 but sometimes practically for life or during 

 good behavior. Their salaries vary from $2,500 

 to $7,500. 



Of the Federal Courts the lowest are those 

 of the districts, of which there are about sixty, 

 each State forming one or more districts. 

 These courts may try any case of crime against 

 the United States not punishable with death. 

 Above these are nine Circuit Courts, each with 

 a Circuit Judge, with or without the local Dis- 

 trict Judge ; but one or two District Judges 

 may by themselves hold a Circuit Court. The 

 Circuit Court Judges appoint commissioners, 

 whose duty it is to arrest, examine, and com- 

 mit persons accused of crime against the 



