368 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



of Representatives. The senate is appointed by the state legislatures 

 for six years, with a biennial rotation of one third, and the representa- 

 tives are elected by the people at large, for two years. Each state 

 sends two members to the senate, and representatives, in proportion 

 to its population. From the adoption of the constitution to the year 

 1810 the apportionment of representatives was one to 33,000. After 

 the census ot that year, the ratio was fixed by congress at one to 

 35,000. Slave holders are entitled to three votes for every five 

 slaves. 



The Congress has power to lay and collect taxes, Sec. to borrow 

 money; regulate commerce; coin money; establish post offices and 

 post roads; constitute tribunals of justice inferior to the supreme 

 court ; declare war ; raise and support armies ; provide and maintain 

 a navy ; and to make all laws which shall be necessary for carrying 

 into execution the foregoing powers, or any other powers vested in 

 the government of the United States. 



The members of Congress, as well as those of the state legisla- 

 tures, are judges of their own elections, and guardians of their own 

 privileges. Their persons are secured from arrest, except for trea- 

 son, felony, or breach of the peace, during their attendance at a ses- 

 sion, as well as in going and returning; and they possess this immu- 

 nity in a higher degree than even the members of the British parlia- 

 ment, for the latter may be arrested for debt during the sitting of 

 parliament. 



The executive authority is vested in a president, who is elected for 

 four years, and may be re-elected without any limitation. He is the 

 commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and 

 has a qualified negative on the legislature. He has a power to grant 

 reprieves and pardons in all cases, except in those of impeachment; 

 fill vacancies in office, during the recess of the senate ; make treaties 

 with foreign nations; nominate ambassadors, consuls, judges, and 

 other officers : but the confirmation of the senate is necessary to give 

 validity to these acts. He is bound to take care that the laws be 

 faithfully executed, and from time to time communicate to Congress 

 all the information that is necessary, respecting the state of the com- 

 monwealth. 



The senate consists at present of thirty six, and the house of repre- 

 sentatives of one hundred and eighty two members. 



Each particular state is debarred from entering into any treaty, or 

 alliance with any foreign nation ; coining money, or laying duties on 

 imports or exports, but what may be absolutely necessary, and the 

 nett produce of such duties shall be for the use of the general trea- 

 sury, and subject to the revision and control of congress. All the 

 judiciary officers of the United States are appointed by the presi- 

 dent; they hold their commissions during good behaviour; and their 

 salaries are unalterable while they continue in office. 



The judiciary powers extend to all cases in law and equity, arising 

 from the constitution and laws of the United States ; to treaties with 

 foreign nations, to their ambassadors and public ministers; to cases 

 of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to disputes between two or 

 more states; between citizens of different states, or of the same 

 state claiming under different states; and to all cases where the Uni- 

 ted States are a party. The laws generally correspond with those of 



