Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/161

Rh president of the senate ex officio, and the senate elects a president pro tempore to serve in his absence; the vice president has only a casting vote. A senator must be 30 years of age, nine years a citizen of the United States, and at the time of his election resident within the state for which he is chosen. The senate has sole power to try all impeachments. The house of representatives is composed of members chosen for two years by the people of each state; they must be 25 years of age, seven years citizens of the United States, and at the time of their election resident within the states for which they are chosen. The number of representatives in congress is fixed by the law of 1872 at 292, and they are apportioned among the several states according to their representative population, excluding Indians not taxed. The number of representatives in congress and of electoral votes of each state are as follows:

The admission of Colorado as a state with one representative and two senators will add three to the total number of electoral votes. Every state is entitled to at least one representative. New states admitted after the apportionment (which is made after each decennial census) elect representatives in addition to the limited number of 292, but such excess continues only till the next apportionment. There are also delegates, one from each organized territory, who are entitled to speak in the house, but not to vote. The election for representatives and delegates to congress is held biennially on the Tuesday next after the first Monday of November in even years. The house of representatives chooses its own speaker and other officers; has the sole power of impeachment; and originates all bills relating to revenue. Members of both senate and house receive $5,000 a year, and mileage at the rate of 20 cents for each mile of travel in going to and returning from the seat of government. The pay of the speaker of the house is $8,000 a year. The regular sessions of congress begin on the first Monday of December in each year, and extra sessions may be called by the president whenever he deems it necessary. The term of office of representatives, and consequently the duration of each congress, expires by law on the 4th day of March of every odd year. Congress has power to lay and collect taxes, imposts, and excises, which must be uniform throughout the United States; to borrow money on the credit of the United States; to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with the Indian tribes; to coin money; to define and punish piracy and offences against the law of nations; to declare war; to raise and support an army and navy; to provide for calling forth the militia when required; and to exercise exclusive legislation over the District of Columbia. Congress can make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. It has passed general laws of bankruptcy and for the protection of inventions, copyrights, and trade marks. (See, , , and .) The judiciary comprises a supreme court, circuit courts, district courts, and the court of claims. There are also the supreme court of the District of Columbia and the territorial courts, the judges of which are appointed by the president. The former has jurisdiction corresponding to that of the state courts and also that of the federal district courts; the jurisdiction of the latter is specially defined by the acts providing for their creation. Besides these, each state has its own independent judiciary. The supreme court consists of a chief justice (salary $10,500) and eight associate justices (salary $10,000 each). It holds one session annually in Washington, beginning on the second Monday in October. The United States is divided into nine judicial circuits, as follows: 1, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island; 2, Vermont, Connecticut, and New York; 3, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; 4, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina; 5, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas; 6, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee; 7, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin; 8, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas; 9, California, Oregon, and Nevada. There is a circuit judge (salary $6,000) resident in each circuit, and a justice of the supreme court visits each circuit for the purpose of holding circuit court. Circuit courts are held by the justice of the supreme court assigned to the circuit, or by the circuit judge of the circuit, or by the district judge of the district, or by any two of them sitting together. The United States is also divided into 57 districts, in each of which there is a district court composed of one