The Constitution. After the close of the Revolution, The Articles of Confederation were no longer sufficient for the government of the United States. Congress was powerless to collect taxes for the payment of the immense war debt; even the States themselves had difficulty in collecting their own taxes, as Shay's Rebellion showed. All that Congress had power to do under The Articles of Confederation was to recommend measures to the States; it could not demand anything of them. A trade convention met at Annapolis, September, 1786, to consider a better system of commercial regulations for the States. This convention, composed of delegates from only six States, did a great thing for the United States; for, besides attending to the business stated in the call, it suggested that another convention meet for the purpose of revising The Articles of Confederation. Accordingly, in May, 1787, all the States but Rhode Island sent delegates to Philadelphia, where the convention assembled in Independence Hall, with George Washington as president. It soon appeared that a revision of The Articles of Confederation was out of the question; and so the convention framed the present Constitution, which was finally adopted September 17, 1787. By July 26, 1788, eleven States had ratified it, two more than necessary to make it binding-and it went into effect March 4, 1789. North Carolina and Rhode Island followed respectively November 21, 1789, and May 29, 1790.

THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

THE SENATE.

Number of Members.-There are at present ninety Senators, two being chosen from each State by the Legislature thereof, for a term of six years.

Qualifications of a Senator.-A Senator must be at least thirty years old; he must have been a citizen of the United States for nine years; when elected he must be an inhabitant of the State from which he is chosen.

Classes of Senators.-Senators are divided into three classes as nearly equal as possible. The terms of onethird of them expire on March 4th of each odd year. In order that their terms may expire at different times, Senators of the same State are assigned to separate classes.

Presiding Officers.-The Vice-President of the United States is the regular presiding officer of the Senate. He has no voice in its deliberations, except in case of a tie vote. A president pro tempore is chosen to preside during the absence of the Vice-President. Being a member of the Senate, he may vote on all questions while presiding.

Trial on Impeachment.-The Senate has the sole power to try impeachments. To convict, two-thirds of the members present must favor conviction. If the President of the United States is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides.

Vacancies.-Vacancies in the Senate are filled by the State Legislature when in session, or by the Governor of the State when the Legislature is not in session.

Compensation.-The salary of a Senator is $5,000 a year. The president pro tempore is paid at the rate of the Vice-President's salary-$8,000 per year-if he takes the latter's place any length of time.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Number of Members.-There are now three hundred and fifty-seven Representatives. They are chosen every second

year. The qualifications required to vote for a Representative in Congress are the same as those required to vote for a member of the more numerous branch of the State Legislature. The term of the Representatives begins March 4th of each odd year. The sessions of Congress are held at least once a year-beginning on the first Monday of December.

Qualifications of a Representative.-A Representative must be at least twenty-five years old. He must have been a citizen of the United States seven years, and must, at the time of his election, be an inhabitant of the State from which he is chosen.

Apportionment.-Representatives and direct taxes are apportioned among the States according to their population. For convenience, the States are divided into congressional districts each having one Representative. The ratio of representation is one Representative for every 173,901 people in the United States, as shown by the census of 1890. It is sometimes found inconvenient to adjust the boundaries of Representative districts in a State when its number of Representatives has been increased. Pennsylvania had twenty-eight Representatives for the ten years preceding 1893. The census of 1890 gave the State thirty Representatives, but instead of changing the number of Representative districts, the additional members are chosen from the State as a whole. The Representatives chosen in this way are known as the Representatives-at-large.

The Officers.-The House of Representatives chooses its Speaker from its own members, and appoints other necessary officers. The Speaker has a vote on all questions because he is a member of the House. He is the third officer of the Government in point of rank, and the

second in point of power. As he names all the committees of the House, he shapes the legislation of that body to a great extent.

Vacancies. When vacancies occur by death, resignation or otherwise, they are filled by a special election for that purpose, ordered by the Governor of the State.

Compensation.-A Representative gets $5,000 a year; the Speaker, $8,000 a year. Mileage of twenty cents a mile to and from the Capital, once for each session, is allowed.

Exclusive Powers.-All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments. Revenue is tax. A direct tax, which is either a tax on land or a poll tax, can not be levied upon the States except in proportion to the population as shown by the last census. Direct taxation is resorted to only in times of war, when the expenses of the government are very great. In ordinary times all the revenue is raised by indirect taxation; that is, from certain imported goods and from certain articles manufactured at home.

The House of Representatives has also the sole power of impeachment; and the Senate, the sole power to try impeachments. There have been seven cases of impeachment brought before the Senate by the House; one was not tried for want of jurisdiction, that of a United States Senator (Blount), an office held not to be included in the term "civil officers"; five resulted in acquittal, the most noted of which was President Johnson; and one resulted in conviction, that of Judge Humphries of the United States district court.

For the powers of Congress, which may be exercised by either House, see Article I., Section 8, of the Consti

tution; and for the powers denied to Congress and to the States, see Sections 9 and 10 of the same Article.

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

Powers and Duties.-The executive power is vested in a President. To him is entrusted the enforcement of the laws of Congress. By means of annual messages to Congress, he informs the people of the condition of the Nation and suggests any legislation that he may deem necessary. On extraordinary occasions he calls Congress together in extra session and fixes the time for their adjournment, in case both houses can not agree upon such time.

He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy, and of the militia of the several States when called into actual service of the United States. He also has the power to make treaties with other nations, by and with the advice of the Senate, two-thirds of the members present concurring. He appoints ambassadors and other public ministers (and receives those of foreign countries), and consuls, cabinet officers, judges of the federal courts, and others as required by law. All such appointments, except subordinate officers, must be approved by the Senate. It requires about 200,000 persons to do all the executive business of our government at home and in foreign lands.

Term of Office.-The term of office is four years, and there is nothing said in the Constitution about re-election. Eight Presidents have been honored with a second term; and an effort was made to nominate one-President Grantfor a third term.

Qualifications. No person is eligible to the office of President unless he has attained the age of thirty-five