a Board of Canvassers, and proceed to examine the statements sent from the inspectors.

Sometimes a county has more than one Senatorial or Representative district. In such case each district has a Board of Canvassers, so far as the canvass relates to Senators and Representatives, consisting of the inspectors representing the towns in such districts.

The County Canvassers are required to make a separate statement, containing the whole number of votes given in such county for the State officers, and the names of the persons for whom such votes were given, and the number of votes given for each; another, of the votes given for Representative in Congress. Copies of these statements are sent to the Governor, Secretary of State, and State Treasurer; and the result of the canvass for members of the Legislature is certified to, and delivered to the persons elected.

Questions-When the polls are closed, how are the votes canvassed? Who constitute the Board of County Canvassers? What are their duties? State how the votes are canvassed for Senators and Representatives where the district is less than a whole county. To what persons are the results of the canvass sent?

CHAPTER XX.

OF ELECTIONS, CONTINUED PROCEEDINGS IN CASE OF TIE VOTE CANVASSERS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

In each election district, for the election of a Senator or Representative, or where, in elections for county officers or members of the Legislature, two or more persons receive an

equal number of votes for the same office, as many strips of paper as there are such persons, are prepared, and on one of the strips is written the word "Elected," and on the others "Not Elected." These are placed in a box and each of the aforesaid persons draws one of the slips therefrom, and the person drawing the slip on which is the word "Elected," is deemed elected to the office in question.

In each election district, of a Senator or Representative, in the State Legislature, the limits of which are greater than those of a county, there is a Board of District Canvassers, composed of the clerks of the several counties within the district, the Judge of Probate and the Sheriff of the county in which the meetings of the Board are held. The result of their canvass is filed with the clerk of the county where their meeting is held, and such clerk sends a copy thereof to the Secretary of State, and another copy to the person elected.

The Secretary of State, the State Treasurer, and the Commissioner of the State Land Office constitute the Board of State Canvassers. These canvassers determine from the returns sent by the county clerks, who are elected State officers and Representatives in Congress, to whom the Secretary of State sends certificates of election. They also determine who are elected Electors of President and Vice-President.

The Legislature sometimes proposes amendments to the constitution, and submits them to the people, who at the general election vote thereon. The State canvassers determine the vote of the people, on such measures.

Questions-In the election of county officers and members of the Legislature, what course is pursued when two or more persons receive an equal number of votes for the same office? Who compose the board of canvassers, where the limits of the Senatorial and Represen tative districts are greater than a county? What disposition is made with the statement of the result of the canvass in such cases? What officers constitute the Board of State Canvassers? What are their duties?

CHAPTER XXI.

HOW THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ARE ELECTED.

The people do not vote directly for President and VicePresident of the United States, but the voters of each State choose a number of men equal to the number of Senators and Representatives to which it is entitled in Congress. These are called Presidential Electors. The State of Michigan is entitled to two Senators and nine Representatives in Congress. Hence we choose eleven Electors.

These Electors convene at the State Capitol, on the first Wednesday in December next after the election, and vote for President and Vice-President, and make a list of the persons voted for, and the number of votes for each, which is sent to the President of the United States Senate.

On the second Wednesday of February, the President of the Senate, in the presence of all the Senators and Representatives, opens all the certificates, and the votes are counted. The persons having a majority of all the Electoral votes for President and Vice-President are declared elected.

In case a person receives a plurality of the Electoral votes for President, but not a majority, the House of Representatives elects a President.

Suppose there are three candidates for the office, and that of the 359 electoral votes, one candidate should receive 150 votes, another 130 votes, and the other 79. Now, a majority of 359 cannot be less than 180; consequently neither would be elected. In such case the House of Representatives

would elect a President, the members of each State voting by themselves, and the candidate receiving a majority of the Representatives of a State, has one vote for such majority; that is, there are as many Presidential votes as there are States, and the person who receives the votes of a majority of the States is elected.

If the Electors fail to elect a Vice-President, the Senate, in a body, chooses one from the two having the highest number of Electoral votes.

Questions-How do people vote for President and Vice-President of the United States? To how many Presidential Electors is the State of Michigan entitled? What is done with the statement of the vote of the electors? When and where is the vote of the various States counted and the result declared? In case no person receives a majority of all the votes cast for President, how is the President elected? What is the difference between a plurality and a majority? In case the Electors fail to elect a Vice-President, how is that officer .elected?

We have already seen how Senators and Representatives in the State Legislature are elected.

The Legislative power is vested in a Senate and House of Representatives.

Senators and Representatives must be citizens of the United States, and qualified electors in the respective Counties and Districts which they represent.

The Legislature meets every two years, at the State

Capitol at Lansing, on the first Wednesday in January. The room in which the Senators meet is called the Senate Chamber, and the room in which the Representatives meet is called the Representative Hall, or Hall of Representatives.

Every Senator and every Representative takes an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Michigan, and that he will faithfully discharge the duties of his office, according to the best of his ability.

A majority of each House constitutes a quorum. Each House determines the rules of its proceedings, and judges of the qualifications, election, and returns of its members. Each House keeps a journal of its proceedings, and publishes the same, except such parts as may require secrecy. The yeas and nays, that is, the way in which members vote on any question, must be entered on the journal, at the request of one-fifth of the members elected. The House of Representatives chooses one of its members to preside over it, who is called a Speaker. The Lieutenant-Governor is the presiding officer in the Senate, and is called a President.

The presiding officer preserves order, and sees that the business of the House is properly attended to. When a question is to be decided, the presiding officer "puts it to vote;" that is, requests the members to express their judgment in favor of or against the measure. Those who favor the measure, say "aye;" those who oppose it, say "no."

The officers of the Senate consist of a President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Assistant Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Janitors, Clerks of Committees, and Messengers.

The officers of the House of Representatives consist of a Speaker, Clerk, Corresponding Clerk, Journal Clerk, Engross