634 THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FACTS 



Salary. Fixed by law at $7,500 per year; the Speaker, $12,000 per year. 

 Powers of the House of Representatives: . 



Elects its Speaker (presiding officer) and its other officers. 



Elects President of the United States if the regular election fails. 



Prosecutes Impeachments before the Senate. 



Originates all bills for raising revenue. 



THE CONGRESS 



Consisting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives as coordinate bodies. 



Duration. The term of each Congress is for two years, commencing March 4th of the odd years. 

 Regular Sessions. Annual, beginning the first Monday in December. 

 Special Sessions. At the call of the President. 



Membership. Each House is the judge of the elections and qualifications of its own members. 

 Congress has General Powers of Legislation: 



To provide for the raising and disbursement of revenue. 



To borrow money; to coin money and to regulate its value; and to fix the standard of weights 

 and measures. 



To regulate foreign and interstate commerce. 



To declare war, and to maintain an army and navy. 



To establish post-offices and post roads. 



To enact patent and copyright laws. 



To enact uniform naturalization and bankruptcy laws. 



To provide for the punishment of crimes against the United States. 



To establish courts inferior to the Supreme Court. 



To provide for organizing and calling out the militia. 



To admit new States into the Union. 



To provide for the government of the Territories. 



To exercise exclusive jurisdiction over the District of Columbia, public lands, public buildings, 

 forts, and navy yards. 



To enact all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution all the powers vested by 

 the Constitution in the government of the United States. 



THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 



THE PRESIDENT 

 How Elected. The several steps in the election of the President are : 



State Electors are chosen at a General Election held on the Tuesday following the first Monday 

 of November of every fourth year; the number of Electors of each State being equal to the 

 number of Senators and Representatives to which the State is entitled in Congress. 

 The Electors meet in their respective States on the second Monday in January following their 

 election, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President ; and at the same time make 

 certificates of their vote and transmit the same to the President of the Senate. 

 The Senate and House of Representatives meet together on the second Wednesday of February 

 next ensuing, and count the votes of the State Electors, when, if there is an election, the 

 President of the Senate declares who is elected President and Vice-President. 

 In case there is no choice by the State Electors, the President is elected by the House of Repre- 

 sentatives from the three candidates who received the most electoral votes for President; 

 in which election the vote is taken by States, each State having but one vote, and a majority 

 of all the States being necessary to a choice. 

 Term of Office. Four years. 

 Eligibility. A natural born citizen ; resident of the United States fourteen years ; minimum 



age. 35 years. 



Salary. Fixed by law at $50,000 per year. 

 Powers and Duties of the President: 



Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. 

 Communicates with Congress by message. 

 Approves or disapproves Acts of Congress. 

 Makes treaties with advice and consent of the Senate. 

 Appoints Public Officers with the advice and consent of the Senate. 

 Commissions Public Officers of the United States. 

 Grants reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States. 

 The Vice-President: 



Elected by State Electors the same as the President; or 

 By the Senate, in case there is no choice by the State Electors. 

 Term of Office, same as for the President. 

 Eligibility, same as required of the President. 

 Salary, fixed by law at $12,000 per year. 



The Presidential Succession: In case of the removal, death, resignation, or inability 

 Of the President, the Vice-President takes the President's place. 

 Of both President and Vice-President, the heads of the Executive Departments succeed to 



