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made with any officer of the United States, or with any person authorized to make contracts on the part of the United States. Upon conviction for a violation of this law, a member is adjudged guilty of high misdemeanor, and fined three thousand dollars; and such contract shall be void.

CHAPTER V.

Of the Manner of Enacting Laws.

157. EACH house may determine the rules of its proceedings. These rules, in both houses, are substantially the same. Soon after the meeting of congress, standing committees are appointed for the session, upon all subjects which usually receive the action of congress. Committees are also appointed, from time to time, upon special subjects as they arise: these are called select committees. Both standing and select committees are appointed in the house of representatives by the speaker; in the senate, they are generally appointed by ballot, but sometimes by the president of the senate. The object of the appointment of committees is the despatch of business. So great a variety and number of subjects require the deliberation of congress at every session, that but a very small portion of them could be disposed of, if the attention of the whole house were confined, during the whole session, to a single subject at a time.

158. When a committee to whom a subject has been referred, has duly investigated it, such committee makes a report to the house to which it belongs. When a committee reports in favor of any measure which it has had under consideration, it usually introduces a bill with such

157. When, and how are standing and select committees appointed? What is the object of their appointment? 158. What is a

report. A bill is the draft or project of a law. Bills may also be introduced by an individual member upon leave being granted on motion, after due notice of his intention to move the house to grant it.

159. A bill, before it can be passed by either house, must be read three times; and these several readings must be on different days, unless otherwise ordered by the unanimous consent of the house. No bill can be committed or amended until it shall have been read twice. It is then declared to be ready for commitment or for engrossment. To engross a bill, is to copy it in a large, fair hand, after the amendments have been made to it. If the bill be committed either to a standing or select committee, or to a committee of the whole house; or if the bill be ordered to be engrossed, the house appoints the day on which it shall be read the third time. When the house resolves itself into a committee of the whole to consider a bill thus committed, the speaker appoints another member to preside as chairman; and the speaker may take a part in the debates as an ordinary member.

160. Bills of unusual importance are usually referred to a committee of the whole house; and all propositions for taxes, and for appropriations of money, must first be discussed in committee of the whole. Matters are referred to a committee of the whole, because the rules of either house, when the proceeding is in the house itself, do not allow so great a degree of freedom in discussing the merits of any question, or of settling its details, as is allowed in committee of the whole.

161. All bills for raising revenue must originate in the house of representatives; but the senate may propose, or concur with, amendments, as on other bills. According to the practice of congress, bills for raising revenue are those only which provide for levying taxes, in the strict sense of the term. Bills, therefore, which indirectly

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increase or create revenues, are not considered as revenue bills within the meaning of the constitution.

162. A bill may, at any time before its passage, be re-committed for further consideration; and when it has been reported on by a committee, or after it has been fully discussed and amended in the house, it is then proposed to be engrossed and read a third time. Then is the proper time for those opposed to the bill, to take their stand against it.

163. If a bill has passed one house, it is sent for concurrence to the other, in which it must go through similar forms of examination and discussion. Whether it be agreed to, or amended, or wholly rejected, by the house to which it has been transmitted for concurrence, it is returned to the house in which it originated, with a message communicating the result. If amendments have been made in one house which are not agreed to in the other, a message to that effect is sent to the former. If the two houses cannot agree to the amendments, a committee of conference is appointed in each house. If, after receiving the report of the committees of conference, an agreement or compromise be not effected, the bill is lost.

164. When a bill has passed both houses, it is presented to the president of the United States; if he approves, he signs it; but if not, he returns it, with his objections, to the house in which it originated, which enters the objections at large on its journal, and proceeds to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two thirds of the house agree to pass the bill, it is sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it is likewise re-considered, and, if approved by two thirds of that house, it becomes a law. If any bill be not returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted,) after it has been presented to him, it shall be a law, in like manner as if

of the whole house? 161. What bills must originate in the house of representatives? What are revenue bills? 162. When is a bill proposed to be engrossed? 163. What is the course of action on a bill, after it has passed one house? 164. After its passage by both

he had signed it, unless congress, by its adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.

165. The provision giving to the president power to negative bills which shall have passed both houses, otherwise called the veto power, was not adopted without much discussion. It was opposed, on the ground that the action of congress upon any subject ought to be regarded as the act of the people, and must be presumed to be the expres sion of their will; and that, with this power, a single individual might defeat the represented will of a majority of the people. On the other hand, it was believed to be improbable that a president would ever so far forget his responsibility to the people, as to abuse this power. This power was meant to afford additional security against the passage of improper laws through want of due reflection; but it was thought necessary chiefly to defend the executive department against usurpation by the legislative power. Without this check, the president might gradually be stripped of his authority.

166. Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the senate and house of representatives may be necessary, (except on a question of adjournment,) must be presented to the president of the United States, and, before the same shall take effect, be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, must be passed by two-thirds of the senate and house of representatives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the case of a bill.

[The enumeration of the general powers of congress comes next in order in the constitution; but as the subjects of these powers will come under review in another place, they are here omitted. These powers extend generally to all subjects of a national nature, and are expressed in the 8th section of the 1st article of the constitution.]

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houses, what is necessary to its becoming a law? 165. What is meant by the negative, or veto power? What is the object of this power? 166. In what cases is the approval of the president necessary?

CHAPTER IV.

Executive Power.-President's Term of Office-Mode of Election Qualifications.

167. THE executive power is vested in a president of the United States of America. The object of the executive department is the execution of the laws; and to ensure promptitude, decision and force, in the administration of this department, the executive authority is limited to a single person. Experience had convinced the framers of the constitution of the inefficiency and weakness of a compound executive. The project of executive councils had been tried, and abandoned, and single executives were created. Unity increases not only the efficacy, but the responsibility of the executive power. As every act can be traced and brought home upon the proper agent, there will be less temptation to depart from duty, and greater solicitude for reputation, than when there are partners to share the public censure, or to divide the public approbation.

168. When a law has been duly made and promulgated, it is the duty of the executive officer to see that it be faithfully executed. It is not for him to deliberate and decide upon the wisdom or expediency of a law, after it has passed through all the forms of deliberation prescribed in the constitution. It should then receive prompt obedience, until repealed by the legislature, or pronounced by the judicial department to be repugnant to the consti-* tution.

169. The president holds his office during the term of four years, and is elected with the vice president, who is chosen for the same term. It is provided by law, that the term of four years for which a president and vice

167. In what is the executive power vested? What is the object of this department? What are the benefits of a single executive? 168. What is the duty of the executive, after a law has been duly made and promulgated? 169. How long does the president boid

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