Sometimes these three great powers are exercised by one and the same person. Such a government is

called a despotism.

Thus, Darius established a decree, that if any one asked a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of the king, he should be cast into the den of lions. This was a legislative act.

Daniel was soon after brought before the same Darius, who heard the evidence, and pronounced sentence against him. This was a judicial act.

Then the king commanded Daniel to be brought and cast into the den of lions. This was an executive act.

Therefore, the whole sovereignty of the Medo-Persian Empire was invested in this one man, king Darius. His government was therefore a despotism.

If these three great powers are exclusively vested in the principal persons of the state, such a government is called an aristocracy. Such was the government of Athens, when under the thirty tyrants.

If these powers are exercised by the people themselves, and those appointed by them, the government is a democracy.

In the constitution of the United States, the three great powers are intrusted to separate persons, and are entirely distinct from each other, or nearly so.

Are the three great powers of government ever vested in one person?

What example is given?

What is an aristocracy?

How are the three great powers distributed in the constitution of the United States?

Liberty of the people can exist only where these powers are thus kept distinct.

If either one of these three great powers encroaches upon the others, liberty is in danger. And the result is equally dangerous, whichever of the powers absorbs the other.

If the judicial power absorbs or encroaches upon the executive or legislative, or if the legislative encroaches upon the executive or judicial, the result is as fatal to liberty as if the executive absorbed the judicial and legislative.

Liberty can only be preserved by having these three great powers intrusted to different persons, who are wholly independent of each other. And yet, they should not be absolutely disconnected, but should be so arranged as to operate as a check upon each other. Let us examine each of these powers separately. And first, as to the legislative power.

CONGRESS.

All the legislative or law-making power granted by the constitution of the United States, is vested in a congress. This Congress is composed of two

What is the effect if one of these powers encroaches upon the others?

How only can liberty be preserved?

In what is the legislative power in the United States vested?
Of how many branches is congress composed?

branches, one of them is called the Senate, and the other the House of Representatives.

These legislative branches are separate and independent bodies, and yet every act of the United States must pass both branches before it can become a law, and, in ordinary cases, it must also receive the signature of the president.

The two branches of the legislature operate as a check on each other, and thus tend to prevent the encroachment of the legislative upon the other pow

ers.

This division of the legislature prevents rash and hasty legislation, for after one branch has passed an act, it must go to the other branch, and there too must it pass before it can become a law. This gives time for reflection and examination, and cool and candid investigation. If one branch passes an injudicious act, the other branch may refuse to concur, and thus the act is prevented from becoming a law.

This division of the legislative power, also prevents demagogues from acquiring that influence which they otherwise would acquire. For, however much influence one might gain in one house, it would be next to impossible that he could exert a similar influence in the other house.

What are they called?

Must every law of the United States pass both houses?

How do the two branches of the legislature operate as to each other?

What other advantages are mentioned?

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A Representative is one who represents another, that is, stands in his place, acts in his name, and for him, and does every thing which he himself could do if he were present. And the one in whose name he acts, is as firmly bound by his acts as if they were done by himself. It would be impossible for all the people of the United States to meet together and pass laws. All laws of the United States, are therefore necessarily made by Representatives, that is to say, by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled. The latter body representing the people directly, and the former body representing the states directly, and the people indirectly.

At present, each state sends one representative for every 93,423 inhabitants. The people meet on a day, and at places appointed, and vote directly for persons to represent them in the house of representatives. These representatives, therefore, are chosen directly by the people, and are responsible to them for the manner in which they perform their duty. For they act in the place of the people, and all constitutional acts done by them, are as much the acts of the people, and are as binding upon all, as if they were passed by the whole nation assembled together.

What is a representative?

How are all laws of the United States passed?

Do the senate and house both represent the people?

Are the acts of representatives binding on the people whom they represent?

The ratio of representation has varied with the increase of population. At first, the house was composed of only 65 members. In 1793, it was composed of 105 members, that is, one for every 33,000 inhabitants. In 1803, it was composed of 141, one for 33,000. In 1813, of 181, one for 35,000. In 1823, of 212, one for 40,000. In 1833, of 242, one for 47,700. In 1854, of 234, one for 93,423, which is the present ratio of representation.

The representatives are chosen for two years. They may then be re-elected for another two years, and so on, as long as the people of the districts which they represent choose to re-elect them.

Every one who is entitled to vote for a representative to the legislature of the state in which he resides, is also entitled to vote for a representative to congress.

QUALIFICATIONS OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In order to prevent improper persons from being elected as representatives, the constitution has speci

How has the ratio of representation varied?

Of how many members was the house at first composed?
Of how many members is the house now (1854) composed?
What is now (1854) the ratio of representation?

For how long are representatives chosen?

Can they be re-elected?

Who is entitled to vote for representatives to congress?