POWERS OF EACH HOUSE. Each house is the judge of the election returns, and qualifications of its own members. This power must be lodged somewhere, or the halls of congress would be liable to be filled with impostors. If it were lodged in any other body it would be dangerous to the legislative department. A majority of each house constitutes a quorum. A smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members. "Each house determines the rules of its proceedings, punishes its members for disorderly behavior, and by a vote of two-thirds may expel a member.” No assembly of men can transact business with order and deliberation, without the power of making and enforcing its own rules. This is necessary for its own dignity and self-preservation. JOURNALS OF CONGRESS. Each house keeps a Journal, which is published from time to time, except such parts as the welfare of the country requires should be kept secret. Who is the judge of elections? How many constitute a quorum? What is meant by a quorum? Who makes the rules for each house? How many votes are required to expel a member? Does each house keep a journal of their proceedings? A journal is simply a record. At the request of one-fifth of the members present, in either house, the yeas and nays must be entered on the record. That is, the names of all the members voting for a measure, are written down together under the head of "yeas," and the names of those voting against it under the head of "nays." By this means, the votes of all the members, on the most important questions, are preserved on record. This has a tendency to make each member careful not to give his sanction to any measure of doubtful utility, for he knows that his vote is recorded, and that the record may rise up in judgment against him at any future time. ADJOURNMENT. Neither house, during the session of congress, can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. As it requires both houses to enact a law, it was necessary that some provision be made to prevent one house from obstructing the action of the other. What is a journal? At the request of how many members are the yeas and nays put on the record? For how long can one house adjourn without the consent of the other? PAY OF MEMBERS. The president of the senate pro tempore, and speaker of the house, each, receives sixteen dollars per day for his services. The senators and representatives receive eight dollars per day during their attendance in congress, and also eight dollars for every twenty miles travel. These sums are paid out of the public treasury the United States. of The members of the British parliament at present, receive no pay. If our legislators were not paid, the halls of congress would be filled almost exclusively with the wealthy, and those not the most worthy or best qualified for the station. In this speculating, money-making age, few men of talent would sacrifice their time and money merely for the public good, with no hope of reward but empty fame. And those who would be willing to do so, might be too poor to spend three or six months a year at Washington at their own expense. On the other hand, the compensation is so small as to offer little pecuniary inducement for money speculators to scramble for it. What pay do the president of the senate pro tempore and the speaker of the house receive? What pay do the senators and representatives receive? Where is the money obtained? Do the members of the British parliament receive any pay? PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. "In all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, members of congress are privileged from arrest, during their attendance at the session, and in going to and returning from the same." Both houses of the British parliament have enjoyed the same privilege from time immemorial. Parties and witnesses in a court of justice are protected in the same way, much more ought the representatives of the interests of thousands, or the senator of a state, to be preserved from interruption in the discharge of his important duties by a petty question of dollars and cents. No member of congress can be questioned in any other place for any speech or debate in either house. The same privilege is enjoyed by the legislature of every state in the union, and also by the British parliament. This is necessary in order to secure freedom of debate. This privilege does not give any member a right to publish a speech, in which he defames and abuses others, under pretence of performing his duty; for such species of defamation, a member of congress What peculiar privileges have members of congress? Does this give any member a right to defame and abuse others? is just as liable to the penalties of the law as any other man. No member of congress during the time for which he has been elected, can be appointed to any civil office in the United States which has been created, or the emoluments of which have been increased during that time. No person holding any office under the United States, can be a member of either house of congress during his continuance in office. If he wishes to be elected to congress, he must resign the other office. This is a necessary provision, in order to prevent legislators from holding offices inconsistent with the proper discharge of their duties as legislators. It also prevents the intermingling of departments which ought to be kept distinct. REVENUE. Revenue is the money received from taxes, duties, imposts, sales of public lands, rents, &c., which is collected by the nation or states for public use. All bills for raising revenue must originate in the house of representatives. The representatives are chosen directly by the peo Can a member of congress hold any other office under the United States? Why is this necessary? What is revenue? In which house must bills of revenue originate? |