CHAPTER VII. PRACTICAL OPERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. In this chapter will be given some account of the workings of the government under the Constitution. The more important offices in the different departments will be mentioned, with the duties, compensation, mode of appointment, etc. THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. The Constitution provides, as has been seen, for a Congress, composed of a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senators are elected by the State legislatures, and hold their office for six years; the Representatives are elected by the people of their several districts, for the term of two years. The members of the two Houses receive the same compensation, $5000 a year, with mileage at the rate of "twenty cents a mile, to be estimated by the nearest route usually traveled in going to and returning from each regular session." THE SENATE. The Vice-President of the United States is the President of the Senate. He gives the casting vote when the Senate is equally divided, and signs all bills and resolutions that are passed by the Senate. His salary was originally $5000. In 1853 it was raised to $8000, in 1873 to $10,000, and in 1874 reduced to $8000. The following is the list of Vice-Presidents: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, 1789 to 1797. 1797 to 1801. There is no provision in the Constitution or by statute for filling a vacancy in the office of Vice-President. From March 4th, 1853, to March 4th, 1857, there was no Vice-President, Mr. W. R. King having died before taking the oath of office. When the Vice-President becomes President, the Senate choose a President pro tempore, but this does not constitute him Vice-President. The Secretary of the Senate receives $4896; the Sergeantat-arms, $4320; the Chaplain, $900. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The presiding officer, called the Speaker, is chosen. by the House. The term had its origin when legislative bodies were addressed by the chief executive, and 1 Died April 20th, 1812. 2 Resigned December 28th, 1832. 3 Became President April 6th, 1841, on the death of Pres. Harrison. 4 Became President July 9th, 1850, on the death of President Taylor. 5 Never took the oath of office. Died April 18th, 1853. 6 Became President April 15th, 1865, on the death of Pres. Lincoln. 7 Died November 23d, 1875. their presiding officer was expected to respond. As he spoke for the body he was called the Speaker. He signs all bills and joint resolutions passed by the House, and, under the rules of the House, appoints its committees. If both the President and Vice-President are incapacitated to perform the duties of President, and there is no President pro tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House acts as President. He is required to vote in case of ballot, and he may vote on other occasions. His salary is $8,000. The Speakers have been: 1st Congress, F. A. Muhlenberg, Penn. John W. Taylor, Andrew Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson, Andrew Stevenson, The Clerk receives $4500, the Sergeant-at-arms $4000, the Doorkeeper $2500, the Chaplain $900. PRACTICAL LEGISLATION. In each House there are Standing Committees, to whom are referred the various matters of business for examination and report. It has been usual for the Speaker to appoint the House Committees, while in the Senate they are chosen by ballot. In the Forty-fourth Congress the Senate had twentyeight Standing Committees, besides a number of Select Committees and Joint Committees. The House had forty-three Standing Committees. The principal Committees are those on Ways and Means, Appropriations, Judiciary, Foreign Relations, Elections, Banking and Currency, Commerce, Post-office, Claims, Pacific Railroad, Indian Affairs, Public Lands, District of Columbia, Public Expenditures, Naval Affairs, Territories, Military Affairs, Mines and Mining, Freedmen's Affairs, Education and Labor, Revision of the Laws, Patents, Coinage etc., Manufactures, Agriculture, Pensions, Public Buildings. In the Senate, a Standing Committee usually consists of nine members, and in the House, of eleven. As "all bills for raising Revenue" must originate in the House, the Senate has no Committee of Ways and Means. This Committee is regarded as the most important, and the place of Chairman is held to be next to that of Speaker in honor.1 The House often resolves itself into a Committee of the Whole, when the Speaker leaves the chair and a chairman is appointed. This gives opportunity for free discussion without the restraint of the strict rules of the House. When this committee closes its session, in technical terms rises, the Speaker resumes the chair, and the chairman of the committee reports its proceedings. A bill introduced into either House is supposed to be read three times, and at each reading to be formally acted upon by the House. But usually, if no objection is made, the bill is read twice by its title, referred to the appropriate committee, and ordered to be printed. When a bill has been reported from the committee, it is ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, when the vote is taken upon its passage. After having passed both Houses it is enrolled on parchment, and carefully examined by the committee on enrolled bills, who make their report, when the bill is signed by the 1 There are three Joint Committees: on Public Printing, on Enrolled Bills, and on the Library. These consist of three members from each House. |