Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/598

 562 UNITED STATES.

Constitution, by the 5th article of the same. The article orders that the Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary to propose amendments to the Constitution, or on the ap- plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing the amendments, which in either case shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Con- stitution when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or other mode of ratification may be proposed by Congress.

Under the law of July 28, 1866, the salary of a senator, repre- sentative, or delegate in Congress is 10,000 dollars for each Con- gress, or at the rate of 5,000 dollars per annum, and mileage at the rate of one dollar for every five miles of estimated distance by the most usual road from his place of residence to the seat of Congress, at the commencement and at the end of every session ; but this mileage is allowed for two sessions only in each Congress. The salary of the Vice-President of the Senate, and of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is 8,000 dollars per annum, under the same law.

The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives are prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but Congress may at any time by law alter such regu- lations, or make new ones, except as to the places of choosing senators. No senator or representative can, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under authority of the United States, which shall have been created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United States can be a member of either House during his continuance in office.

According to the sixth article of the. Constitution, ' the senators and representatives, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.'

The period usually termed ' a Congress,' in legislative language, continues for two years; as, for example, from noon March 4, 1867, until noon March 4, 1869, at which latter time the term of the representatives to the Fortieth Congress expired, and the term of the new House of Representatives commenced. Congresses always commence and expire in years terminating with odd numbers. The term of the First Congress was from 1789 to 1791, and the term of the Forty-first Congress from 1869 to 1871.

By the tenth amendment of the Constitution of the United States,