president are elected, shall, in all cases, commence on the fourth day of March, next succeeding the day on which the votes of the electors shall have been given. This day was probably fixed upon for the commencement of the presidential term, because the term for which the house of representatives and one third of the senate are elected, expires on the third day of March, in every second year; and the term of each new congress consequently begins on the fourth of March.

170. The term for which the president is elected, is deemed sufficiently long for the purpose of making him feel firm and independent in the discharge of his duties, and to give stability to his administration; and yet short enough to place him under a due sense of dependence upon the public approbation. The president may be reelected after the expiration of the term for which he was elected; but no one has yet consented to be a candidate for a third election.

171. For the election of president, each state is required to appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof directs, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of senators and representatives, to which the state may be entitled in congress. The manner of appointing electors is not uniform throughout the states. In some of the states, the electors are appointed by the legislature. In others, they are chosen by districts. By this mode, a number of electors, equal to the number of members of the house of representatives, to which a state is entitled, are chosen by the people in the same manner in which representatives are elected. These electors, so chosen, then meet, and choose the remaining two electors, corresponding with the number of senators to which the state is entitled in congress. Another mode, and that

his office? When does the term of a president and vice president commence? Why was this day fixed upon? 170. What considerations prevailed in determining upon four years for the presidential term? 171. How are the electors of president and vice president appointed? What number is necessary? What are the different modes adopted in different states for choosing the electors

which prevails at present in a majority of the states, is by general ticket. According to this system, the names of a number of candidates, equal to the whole number of electors to be chosen, are placed on a single ballot; and such number of candidates are voted for throughout the

state.

172. No senator or representative, or person holding any office of trust or profit under the United States, may be appointed an elector. This is to prevent the person in office from having an improper influence in procuring his re-election, by his ordinary agency in the government. Persons thus holding offices under the government, whose continuance in such offices depends on the will of the executive, if chosen to be electors, might be tempted to vote for that candidate for president, whose favor they would be most likely to secure, without due regard to his fitness for the office.

173. The election of president by a small number of electors, chosen in each state for that purpose, was intended to prevent the evils that were apprehended from an election by the people at large. It was feared that an election in which the people of the entire union should participate, would produce a contest too violent and tumultuous for the public virtue and tranquillity. Another object of the present mode was to preserve the state sovereignties, and to prevent the entire consolidation of the government, in organizing the executive department. There are, however, at the present day, many advocates for referring the election of president directly to the people.

174. Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. This provision was meant to close, as far as possible, the opportunity for bargain and intrigue in the

of president and vice president? 172 Who may not be appointed an elector? What is the object of this restriction? 173. Why was not the election of president referred directly to the people? 174. What is the time determined by congress for choosing the

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election. Congress has accordingly enacted, that the electors shall be chosen within thirty-four days preceding the day on which they shall give their votes; and that the day on which their votes shall be given, shall be the first Wednesday in December, in every fourth year after the last election.

175. The electors in each state meet at the place appointed by the legislature thereof, which is usually at the seat of the state government, and vote by ballot for president and vice president, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with the electors. They name, in their ballots, the person voted for as president, and in distinct ballots, the person voted for as vice president; and they make distinct lists of all persons thus voted for, and the number of votes given for each. These lists they sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of government of the United States, directed to the president of the senate.

176. By an act of congress, the electors in each state are required to make and sign three certificates of all the votes by them given, and to seal up the same. One of these certificates is directed to be sent by a person duly appointed by them for that purpose, to the president of the senate, at the seat of government, before the first day of January next ensuing. Another of these certificates is ordered to be forwarded, by the post office, also directed to the president of the senate; and the other certificate is to be delivered to the judge of the district in which the electors are assembled. The day appointed for opening the certificates and counting the votes, is the second Wednesday in February succeeding the election.

177. The president of the senate, on the day appointed, in the presence of both houses, opens all the certificates received by him; and the votes are then counted: the

electors? What the time for the electors to choose the president? 175. At what place do the electors meet to vote for president? How are the candidates voted for? 176. How does the law regulate the signing and disposing of the certificates of votes? On what day are the votes counted? 177. How is the election determined? If the

person having the greatest number of votes for president, is president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; but if no person has such majority, then, from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as president, the house of representatives shall immediately choose, by ballot, the president.

178. But when the choice of president devolves on the house of representatives, the votes are taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote. A quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two thirds of the states; and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the house of representatives shall not choose a president, before the fourth day of March following, then the vice president shall act as president, as in case of the death or other constitutional disability of the president.

179. The person having the greatest number of votes as vice president, is vice president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person has a majority, then, from the two highest numbers on the list, the senate chooses the vice president. A quorum for this purpose shall consist of two thirds of the whole number of senators; and a majority of the whole number is necessary to a choice.

180. No person, except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the constitution, is eligible to the office as president. The qualification of birth cuts off all inducements from abroad to corruption and negotiation. As the president is required to be a native citizen of the United States, ambitious foreigners cannot intrigue for the office.

181.

Neither is any person eligible to the office of president, who has not attained to the age of thirty-five

electors fail to make choice, who chooses the president? 178. How, in this case, are the votes taken? What is necessary to a choice? If no choice be made, who is to act as president? 179. How is the vice president chosen when the electors fail to elect? 180, 181. What qualifications must a president possess? What are the objects of

years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. The age required, is sufficient for a person to have formed his public and private character; and a long domestic residence is intended to afford his fellow citizens the opportunity to attain a correct knowledge of his principles and capacity, and to enable him to acquire habits of attachment and obedience to the laws, and of devotion to the public welfare.

182. The same qualifications are necessary to render a person eligible to the office of vice president, as are required for the office of president.

183. In case of the removal of the president from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same devolves on the vice president, and congress may, by law, provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the president and vice president, declaring what officer shall then act as president; and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a president be elected.

184. Congress has provided by law, that, in case these supposed vacancies shall happen, the president of the senate pro tempore shall act as president; and, in case there should be no president pro tempore, the speaker of the house shall so act, until the vacancy be supplied. And as it may become a question on whom the office would devolve after the expiration of the congress for which the speaker was chosen, it is usual for the vice president to withdraw from the senate previously to the adjournment of the session, to afford an opportunity to the senate to choose a president pro tempore, who would, in that case, act as president.

185. If the vice president succeed to the office of president, he continues in it till the expiration of the term for

these restrictions? 182. What are the qualifications of a vice president? 183. How does the constitution provide for filling a vacancy in the office of president? 184. How has further provision been made to supply casual vacancies? 185. When the vice president succeeds to the office of president, how long does he hold it?