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Term of Service: Senate
The whole legislative power is vested by the Constitution in a Congress, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate consists of two members from each State, chosen by the State Legislatures for six years. Senators must be not less than thirty years of age; must have been citizens of the United States for nine years; and be residents in the States for which they are chosen. Besides its legislative capacity, the Senate is entrusted with the power of ratifying or rejecting all treaties made by the President with foreign powers, a two-thirds majority of senators present being required for ratification. The Senate is also invested with the power of confirming or rejecting all appointments to office made by the President, and its members constitute a High Court of Impeachment. The judgment in the latter case extends only to removal from office and disqualification. Representatives have the sole power of impreachment.
The House of Representatives is composed of members elected every second year by the vote of the male citizens over the age of 21 of the several States of the Union who are duly qualified and registered in accordance with the laws of their respective States. By the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, neither race nor color affects the right of citizens. The franchise is not absolutely universal; residence for at least one year in most States (in Michigan and Maine three months) is necessary; in some States the payment of taxes, in others registration. Untaxed Indians are excluded from the franchise, in most States convicts, in some States duellists and fraudulent voters; in Massachusetts voters are required to be able to read English. The number of members to which each State is entitled is determined by the census taken every ten years. By the Apportionment Bill consequent on the census of 1890, the number of representatives was 356, distributed as follows : Alabama. 9 Maine.. 4 Ohio 21 Arkansas 6 Maryland 6 Oregon 2 California. 7 Massachusetts 13 Colorado 2 Michigan I2 Pennsylvania Rhode Island. ..
Connecticut. 4 Minnesota 7 South Carolina.
Delaware I Mississippi 7 South Dakota.
Florida. 2 Missouri 15 Tennessee.
Georgia II Montana I Texas Idaho..
I Nebraska.
Illinois 22 Nevada..
I Indiana. 13 New Hampshire. 2 Iowa.
II New Jersey..
Kansas 8 New York. 34 Kentucky.
II North Carolina.. 9 6 Vermont Virginia Washington. 8 West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming..
Louisiana. 6 North Dakota I 30 2 .. 7 2 IO 13 2 IO 2 4 IO I Total 356 This is 31 more than in the previous decade.
On the basis of the last census there is one representative to every 173,900 inhabitants. The popular vote for President in 1888 was about 11,378,000, or somewhat under one in five of the entire population.
According to the terms of the Constitution, representatives must not be less than twenty-five years of age, must have been citizens of the United States for seven years, and be residents in the States from which they are chosen. In addition to the representatives from the States, the House admits a "delegate" from each organised Territory, who has the right to speak on any subject and to make motions, but not to vote. The delegates are elected in the same manner as the representatives. In Wyoming and Utah the franchise is accorded to women.
Every bill that has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate must, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States; if not approved, he may return it, with his objections, to the House in which it originated. If after reconsideration two-thirds of that House agree to pass the bill, it must be sent, together with the objections, to the other House, by which it must be likewise reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House it becomes a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses are determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill are entered on the journal of each House. Should the President fail to return any Act presented to him for approval to the House of Congress in which it originated, within ten days prescribed by the Constitution, it becomes a law without his approval.