CHAPTER IV.

The President.

1. "THE executive powers of the government shall be vested in a President of the United States of America." Thus reads the first line of the first section of the second article of the Constitution. This article is devoted exclusively to the highest officer in the government. The Executive and the President are in the Constitution synonymous terms. He is likewise denominated "the chief magistrate of the nation." He is himself one of the co-ordinate Branches of the government. These are three in number; first, the Legislative [Congress]; second, the Executive [the President]; third, the Judiciary [the Judges of the United States Courts.] These constitute the whole civil power of the nation. Congress enacts the laws, and the President must see that they are faithfully executed; which he does through the various executive departments, and the different courts. He and the Senate appoint the heads of these departments, and the judges of the courts, and they execute the laws. The heads of departments act under the general direction of the President.

2. The Presidents are elected for four years, and are eligible to re-election. Several times they have been re-elected, and have consequently held the office eight years. The term always commences on the fourth day of March, and terminates on the same day of the month. The presidential elections, the most important and exciting of all elections, occur every four years, and now take place in all the States on the same day, early in November. It is said the President is chosen by the people, and yet they do not directly vote for him at all.

The people elect Electors, and these elect the Presi dent and Vice-President. Turn to the third section of the second article of the Constitution, and then to the twelfth article of the Amendments of it, where you will find the whole process properly described. He must be a native citizen of the United States, and must be thirty-five years of age when elected. And in case of his death, removal, resignation, or any disability to discharge the duties of the office, the Vice President then becomes President.

He receives a salary of $25,000 a year for his services, besides the use of the presidential mansion, (commonly called the White House,) and the furniture in it, and is debarred from the receipt of any other emolument.

4. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he must take the following oath or affirmation :

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

In addition to his civil power, he is Commander-in

Chief both of the Army and Navy, and may grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

He-by and with the advice and consent of twothirds of the Senate-may make treaties with foreign powers. He has the power, and it is his duty to nominate, and by the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint ambassadors and other public ministers, consuls, judges, and in short all other officers of the government, whose appointments are not otherwise provided for.

5. It is also made his duty from time to time, to lay before Congress information respecting the state of the country, and to recommend to their notice such measures as he may deem proper and beneficial to the interests of the nation. His principal and most important communication, however, is that made to Congress at the commencement of each session. This is called the "President's Message," and is always looked for with much interest, both at home and abroad; for it, more than any other public document, shows the condition of the government and the country, both in their domestic affairs and in their foreign relations. At other times the President sends messages to Congress upon some special matter, which he considers it important for that body to know, or which he is requested to lay before it for information.

He may call extra sessions of Congress on extraordinary occasions. And when it passes any bill which he does not approve, and he refuses to sign it, it cannot become a law unless it goes back to Congress, and is

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again passed by two-thirds of both Houses. This is called his "veto power."

6. He, with all civil officers of the United States,may be impeached, and removed from office, for treason, bribery, and other high crimes.

The foregoing powers and duties are conferred upon the President by the Constitution; but Congress has, at every session it has ever held, increased these powers and duties until he is overwhelmed with them; and we cannot but think that he now possesses more power than the framers of the Constitution ever designed to trust in any one man's hand.

The following are the names of all the Presidents, from Washington, the first, down to the present incumbent :

George Washington, Va., 30th April, 1789, to 4th March, 1797-8 years.

John Adams, Mass., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 1801-4 years.

Thomas Jefferson, Va., 4th March, 1801, to 4th March, 1809-8 years.

James Madison, Va., 4th March, 1809 to 4th March, 1817-8 years.

James Monroe, Va., 4th March, 1817, to 4th March, 1825 -8 years.

John Quincy Adams, Mass., 4th March, 1825, to 4th March, 1829-4 years.

Andrew Jackson, Tenn., 4th March, 1829, to 4th March, 1837-8 years.

Martin Van Buren, N.Y., 4th March, 1837 to 4th March, 1841-4 years.

William H. Harrison, O., 4th March, 1841, to 4th April, 1841-1 month.