How are members of the House of Representatives Elected? They are elected every even year by the voters of the several States, the voters of each Congressional District electing one member.

What is their Term of office?

The term of office is 2 years, and begins on the 4th of March following the election.

What is a Congressman-at-Large?

He is a member elected by the voters of the entire State.

After a new apportionment by Congress, some States will have a larger number of Representatives than during the preceding decade. For instance, New York had one additional Representative by the apportionment of 1882. The Legislature failed to re-district the State in 1882, and as there were but 33 Congressional districts to elect 34 Representatives, one had to be elected by the voters of the entire State.

Had there been two additional Representatives, there would have been two Congressmen-at-Large at the election of 1882.

The State is now re-districted, and there are as many districts as there are Representatives. See page 101.

What special Qualifications must a Representative possess ?

I. He must be 25 years of age, an inhabitant of the State in which elected, and 7 years a citizen of the United States.

NOTE:-By the term citizen here is meant, that an alien must have been naturalized 7 years before he can hold this office.

II. He cannot hold any other office under the United States during his continuance in this office.

III. He shall not be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during his term of office.

How are Vacancies in this office filled?

By special election in the district in which the vacancy exists; such election being ordered by the Governor of the State.

NOTE. The person elected at such special election serves only for the unexpired term.

What are some of the Duties of Representatives?

I. To take the oath of office. (See page 145.)

NOTE.-The oath is administered to the members before taking their seats, by the last Clerk of the House of Representatives, whose duty it is to act as presiding officer until a Speaker shall be elected.

II. To elect from their number a presiding officer, who is called "Speaker."

III. To clect from outside their number other officers, as Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, and Post

master.

IV. A majority constitute a quorum for doing business; judge of the elections, return, and qualifications of their own members; compel the attendance of absent members; determine their own rules of proceedings; punish members for disorderly behavior; and expel a member by a two-thirds' vote.

V. They may not adjourn for more than three days, or to any other place than that in which the Senate also is sitting, without the consent of the Senate. The same rule applies to Senators.

VI. To have co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Senate in enacting laws.

VII. To have the sole power of originating impeachments.

NOTE.-An impeachment is a specific accusation (and is in the form of an indictment) against a public officer, charging him with a crime or misdemeanor sufficient to put the accused on trial at the bar of the Senate. When a majority of the members of the House has impeached an officer, appoints a committee to lay the whole matter before the Senate, and to represent the House in its prosecution. The duties of the House of Representatives end here.

VIII. All bills for revenue must originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur in amendments as in other bills.

IX. To select a President of the United States, when the electors fail to elect one. (Sce pages 91-92.)

This has occurred twice. Thomas Jefferson was elected in 1801, and John Quincy Adams in 1825. (See page v.)

How are Territories represented?

Each Territory is entitled to one delegate, who has the privilege of presenting the claims of his Territory; but has no vote. (See page 73.)

THE SENATE.

How are United States Senators elected?

By the Legislatures of the several States, for a term

of 6 years.

NOTE.-When a Senator is to be elected, each body of a Legislature by a viva voce vote of each member present on the second Tuesday after the meeting and organization' thereof, names a candidate for Senator,

The two houses meet in joint assembly, the day following, and if the same person has received a majority of all the votes cast in each house (a quorum being present) he is declared duly elected Senator of the United States.

If no person has received such majority, then the joint assembly proceeds by viva voce vote to elect a Senator, and continues to vote at least once each day during the session, or until a Senator shall be elected. For manner of viva voce voting see page 56.

How were Senators Classified according to the Constitution, at the first meeting?

I. There were only 19 Senators at the opening. The names of 6 were put into one class, 7 into another, and 6 into another.

II. No two Senators' names from the same State were put into one class.

III. Three papers of equal size numbered one, two, and three, were rolled up and put into a box, and drawn by a committee of three persons chosen for this purpose in behalf of the respective classes in which each of them was placed.

IV. Senators of the first class were to vacate their seats in 2 years; of the second, in 4 years; of the third, in 6 years.

V. By a resolution of Congress in 1789, it was decided that when Senators take their seats from States that have not before appointed Senators, they shall be placed by lot in the foregoing classes in such manner as shall keep the classes as nearly equal as may be in numbers.

VI. Two or four years will intervene between two successive expirations of Senatorial terms in any State. What special Qualifications must a Senator possess?

I. He must be 30 years of age, an inhabitant of the State in which elected, and 9 years a citizen of the United States.

II. He must be free from the restrictions in regard to holding office heretofore given for Representatives. What are they?

How are Vacancies in this office filled?

I. If a vacancy occurs during the recess of a Legislature of any State, the Governor of such State may make