Citizenship Part 2

The term of office of only one-third of the Senators expires at the same time, so at least two-thirds of the Senate is not new.

The Senate must confirm all appointments made by the President and must ratify all treaties made by him with a two-thirds vote.

Bills originate in the Senate in the same way as in the House, referred to a committee and their course is directly the same. When pa.s.sed by both Houses the President has ten days to sign or veto them.

Without his signature they become a law, unless Congress by adjourning prevents the return within ten days.

The committees of the Senate are elected by its members.

Bills are pa.s.sed in Congress similar to that in the legislature of a state. They are introduced by a member in either house and must pa.s.s both houses, then signed by the presiding officers and clerks and go to the President for his signature or veto.

The sessions are yearly, beginning on the first Monday in December, and last until March 4th; this is known as the short session. The long session occurs in odd numbered years and continues until it is adjourned. The President has the power to call special sessions of Congress.

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.

The Federal courts derive their powers and jurisdiction from the Const.i.tution and laws of the United States.

"The judicial powers of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as Congress may from time to time establish."

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest and most powerful judicial body in the world.

It holds its regular sessions at Was.h.i.+ngton, sitting from October to July.

The chief justice and eight a.s.sociate justices const.i.tute the Supreme Court of the United States, and are appointed for life by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.

The salary of the chief justice is $15,000.00 per year, and of the a.s.sociate justices $14,000.00 per year.

Six judges must be present in the trial of a case and a majority is necessary in rendering a decision.

The district judges receive a salary of $6,000.00 annually and the judges of the appeals court $7,000.00 annually.

The judges cannot be removed except for cause, and then they are impeached in the House of Representatives and tried in the United States Senate.

The princ.i.p.al Federal courts that have been organized by Congress are: The Supreme Court, the Circuit Court of Appeals, the Circuit Court, the District Court.

A United States judge if he has served ten years may retire on full salary when seventy years old.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

The most important offices in the United States are the President and Vice President. They are legally elected by electors chosen by the voters of the forty-eight states.

The President of the United States must be a natural born citizen living in this country for fourteen years at least, and must be thirty-five years old.

He is elected for four years and receives a salary of $75,000.00 annually and residence. Congress makes other allowances for expenses.

The President is the Commander in Chief of the army and navy. He appoints every administrative officer except the Vice President. He may call extra sessions, and may veto bills, which Congress can pa.s.s over his veto with a two-thirds majority in each House. He represents the United States in all dealings with foreign powers.

The President appoints the members of his cabinet, but said appointments must be approved by the United States Senate.

The Cabinet consist of a Secretary of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Interior, the Attorney General and Postmaster General.

Each member of the Cabinet receives a salary of $12,000.00 annually.

The Secretary of State is the first in rank among the Cabinet officers, and in case of the death of the President and Vice President would succeed to the office of President.

The financial manager of the national government is the Secretary of the Treasury.

The Secretary of War has charge of the military affairs of the nation under the direction of the President. He also looks after river and harbor improvements, and all obstructions to navigation.

The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the government.

The Postmaster General has charge of the Post Office Department.

The Secretary of Navy has charge of the construction and equipment of vessels of war.

The Secretary of Interior has charge of matters pertaining to the internal welfare of the nation, as public lands, care of national parks, the giving of patents for inventions, Indian affairs, education, etc.

The Secretary of Agriculture promotes the general agricultural interests of the country.

The Secretary of Commerce promotes the commercial interest of the nation.

The Secretary of Labor promotes and develops the welfare of the wage earner of the United States, by improving the working conditions and advancing their opportunities for better employment.

The Vice President of the United States must have the same qualifications as the President.

He receives a salary of $12,000.00 annually.

TREATIES.

The framers of the National Const.i.tution gave the United States Senate two important executive powers especially--first, approving treaties.

Second, confirming appointments made by the President. All treaties in order to be ratified must receive a two-thirds vote of the Senators present when the vote was taken.

When a treaty has been drawn up the President consults with the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate. "Treaties are considered in secret session. The Senate may approve or reject a treaty as a whole; or they may ratify it in part by recommending additional articles as amendments, but the treaty does not become a law until the President and the foreign power agree to the amendment."

While the Senate may approve, reject or change the terms of a treaty, all changes must be agreed to by the President and the nation interested. When accepted by both nations duplicate parchment copies are made, and both copies are signed by the chief officers of each country and then exchanged. This is called the "exchange of ratification." Each nation secures an official copy of the treaty. The President publishes the treaty followed by a proclamation.

The Const.i.tution gives the President the power to negotiate treaties and conventions with foreign countries. He conducts the negotiation through the department of Secretary of State. The President keeps in touch and consults with the Committee on Foreign Relations and with the majority of the leaders in the Senate during negotiations.

"The President shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur."

The Federal Const.i.tution makes treaties a part of the supreme law of the land. Any conflicting provision of a state law or Const.i.tution is repealed.

The League of Nations having failed to get the necessary two-thirds vote in the United States Senate so far has not become a law. It is opposed by a few senators which prevented it receiving the two-thirds vote.

CIVIL SERVICE.