KINDS OF GOVERNMENT.
For convenience the United States is divided into forty-eight states
and each state is divided into counties. Kentucky has one hundred and
twenty counties.
We have National, State, county, town and city government.
FEDERAL OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
The Federal or National government, as in state government, is divided
into three parts. The legislative which makes the laws. The judicial
which interprets or explains the laws. The executive which enforces
the laws.
Legislative: The legislative department is called the Congress and is
composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The members of the House of Representatives are elected every two
years.
The number of representatives in a state is apportioned according to
population, and the congressional district from which a member is
elected is determined by the legislature of each state.
Kentucky has eleven congressional districts, therefore eleven
congressmen elected by the people.
To be a member of the House of Representatives in Congress the man or
woman must be twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United States at
least seven years, and a resident of the state from which he is
chosen. He receives a salary of $7,500 per year, and an allowance for
clerk, stationery and traveling expenses.
Every state is entitled to at least one representative. There are now
four hundred and thirty-five members in the House of Representatives
in Congress.
When the members of a new House of Representatives meet the clerk of
the previous House calls them to order and the roll is called by
states. If a quorum is present they elect a speaker from among the
members of the House who takes his seat immediately. The other
officers are elected as the clerk, sergeant-at-arms and doorkeeper.
The rules of the House define the duties of the speaker.
The work of the House of Representatives is done through committees.
When a bill is introduced it is referred to a committee and this
committee may report it back to the House either favorably or
unfavorably, or they may not report it at all. If reported favorably
it has a chance of receiving consideration.
Much of the work of Congress is done in the committee rooms. This is
why the selection of committees is so important.
When a bill is reported favorably by a committee it is placed upon the
calendar which is a register of bills. Then the fate of the bill rests
with the rules committee of the House.
The committee on rules, as other committees, is elected by the House.
The party in power usually determines the selection of this committee.
Impeachment: If a high official is charged with misconduct in office
the House of Representatives would impeach him and if found guilty,
the impeachment is carried to the Senate to be tried. The U. S. Senate
sits as a court of justice.
Six judges, one President and one Secretary of War have been impeached
by the House of Representatives.
Revenue: All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of
Representatives.
UNITED STATES SENATE.
The Senate has ninety-six members, two from every state in the union,
and are elected for six years, receiving a salary of $7,500 a year.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President of the
United States.
The United States Senators are elected by the direct voice of the
voters of the state according to the 17th amendment to the National
Constitution passed in 1913.
A United States Senator must be thirty years old, a citizen of the
United States for nine years, and must live in the state from which he
is elected.
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
passed 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 passed in Congress similar to that in the legislature of a
state. They are introduced by a member in either house and must pass
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
Constitution 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 Washington, sitting from October to
July.
The chief justice and eight associate justices constitute 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
associate 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 principal 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 pass
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 Constitution 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 Constitution 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 Constitution makes treaties a part of the supreme law of
the land. Any conflicting provision of a state law or Constitution 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.
A great number of our offices of government are appointed and not
elected. Over 300,000 positions are filled under the national
government appointment. On January 16th, 1883, Congress passed the
Civil Service law which established a United States Civil Service
Commission composed of three members, of which not more than two
should belong to the same political party. The commission is appointed
by the President with the consent of the Senate.
The ordinary "Civil Service" examinations are held twice a year at
different places in the country designated by the commission.
This commission appoints boards of examiners who hold examinations at
least twice a year at Washington, D. C., and in the states and
territories.
The commission encourages efficiency by promotion from lower to higher
grades of public service. Some of the places that come under the civil
service system are clerks in Washington connected with the national
government, officials in the postal service, the letter carriers and
clerks in post offices and railway mail service, employees in custom
houses, government printing office, Indian service and revenue
service.
Senators and representatives are not allowed to recommend any
applicant to the board of examiners appointed by the commission.
The examinations are practical and the questions pertain to the nature
of the work the applicant is to do.
Persons employed in such public service are under obligations not to
contribute to any political fund, or to render service to any
political party.