NOMOLOGY. 



powers ; State rights and restrictions ; and United States Statutes and 

 Treaties. 



1. The Legislative powers of the United States, are vested in a 

 Congress, consisting of a Senate, and House of Representatives. 

 The Representatives, are chosen every second year, by the people 

 of the several states; among whom they are apportioned. They 

 must be at least 25 years of age ; must have been seven years citizens 

 of the United States ; and must be inhabitants of the state from which 

 they are chosen. The House of Representatives chooses its own 

 Speaker, Clerk, and other officers. The Senate, is composed of two 

 members from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six 

 years ; provision having been made that about one-third of the num- 

 ber shall be elected every two years, in place of those whose terms 

 expire. A Senator must be at least 30 years of age ; must have been 

 nine years a citizen of the United States ; and must, when elected, be 

 an inhabitant of the state for which he is chosen. The Vice Presi- 

 dent of the United States is President of the Senate ; but has only a 

 casting vote, in cases where the Senators are equally divided. The 

 Senate chooses its other officers, and a President pro tempore, when 

 necessary. It has judicial power only in cases of impeachment : but 

 the power of impeaching officers of the general government, or 

 arraigning them before the Senate, belongs solely to the House of 

 Representatives. 



Congress must assemble annually on the first Monday in Decem- 

 ber, unless it shall by law appoint some other day. Each house 

 judges of the election and qualifications of its own members ; and 

 makes rules for its own proceedings, of which it is required to keep 

 a journal. Neither house can adjourn for more than three days, nor 

 change its place of session, without the consent of the other. Both 

 senators and representatives are paid by law ; and privileged from 

 arrest in civil cases ; but they are inhibited from appointment to any 

 office which may have been created, or enhanced in value, during their 

 term of service ; nor can they hold any office from the executive, 

 while they retain their seats. All bills for raising revenue, must ori- 

 ginate in the House of Representatives ; and every bill or resolution 

 passed in Congress, except for adjournment, must be approved and 

 signed by the President, before it can become a law, unless it be again 

 passed by two-thirds of both houses, respectively. 



The chief powers of Congress, are, to lay and collect taxes, duties, 

 &c. for revenue ; to pay the debts, and provide for the common defence 

 and general welfare of the United States ; to regulate commerce ; to coin 

 money, and punish counterfeiters ; to establish post offices and post 

 roads ; to grant copyrights and patents ; to constitute tribunals, inferior 

 to the Supreme Court ; to declare war ; to raise and support armies ; to 

 provide and maintain a navy ; to give efficiency to the militia ; to 

 exercise exclusive legislation over a district not more than ten miles 

 square, as the seat of government, and over sites for forts and other 

 public works, purchased with the consent of the states ; to sell the 

 public lands, and admit new states into the union ; and to make any 

 laws necessary for accomplishing these objects ; subject to some 

 restrictions, which we have no room here to mention. 



