S50 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



The executive power is vested in a President, who is cho" 

 sen every fourth year by electors appointed in the methods 

 prescribed by the constitutions or legislatures of the separate 

 states. If no person have a majority of the votes of the elec- 

 tors, then from the persons having the highest numbers not 

 exceeding three on the list of those voted for, the house of 

 representatives shall choose the president by ballot. But in 

 choosing the president, the votes must be taken by states, 

 the representatives from each state having one vote. If no 

 person have a majority of the votes of the whole number of 

 electors for vice-president, then from the two highest num- 

 bers on the list, the senate shall choose the vice-president. 



The president must be thirty-five years of age, and he 

 may be re-elected as often as the people please. He is liable 

 to be impeached and removed from office for misbehaviour. 

 He is the commander in chief of the army and navy : and 

 by and with the advice and consent of the senate, makes 

 treaties, appoints judges, foreign ministers, and other officers. 

 If the president disapprove of any bil*' presented to him, after 

 having had the concurrence of both houses, he must give 

 his objections to it ; and if two thirds of each house still 

 abide by their first vote, the bill passes into a law, notwith- 

 standing his rejection of it. 



Besides the general government, whose power for many 

 purposes extends over the whole union, each state has a se- 

 parate local government, whose jurisdiction is confined to 

 the regulation of its own concerns. These separate govern- 

 ments are all republican, and consist generally of a governor, 

 and two legislative branches, though the powers of the diffe- 

 rent departments are variously modelled in the several states. 



Questions. — 1. When did the people of the United States first 

 form a government ? 2. What served to render this government de- 

 ficient ? 3. When did a convention meet to form our present consti- 

 tution ? 4. Under what advantages did the members deliberate ? 5. 

 How do the people of the United States exercise their power .^ 6. 

 What power has the legislative branch of government ? 7. Of what 

 does this consist in the United States ? 8. Describe the senate. 9. 

 House of representatives. 10. Where is the judicial power vested ? 

 11. The executive ? 12. Describe the manner of choosing the pre- 

 sident and vice-president. 13. What are some of the powers which 

 the constitution gives the president ? 14. What is said of the go- 

 vernments of the separate states ? [Note. The principal subordinate 

 officers in the executive department, are the secretaries of state, of tha 

 treasury, of war, and of the navy.] 



