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of representatives, open all the certificates,* and the votes shall then be counted; the person having the greatest number of votes for president shall be the president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed. And if no person have such majority, then, from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as president, the house of representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the president; but in choosing the president the votes shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice; and if the house of representatives shall not choose a president, whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the vice-president shall act as president, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the president. The person having the greatest number of votes as vice-president, shall be the vice-president, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have a majority, then, from the two highest numbers on the list, the senate shall choose the vice-president; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of president, shall be eligible to that of vice-president of the United States.

* On the second Wednesday in February, by the same act.

[The following article was proposed by congress to the several states for their adoption as part of the constitution, and has been ratified by the state of Pennsylvania, and some of the other states, but had not, in March, 1825, been ratified by the number of states required by the fifth article of the constitution, and is therefore, as yet, no part of the constitution of the United States.]

Eleventh Congress, Second Session, November 27th, 1809.

Art. 13. If any citizen of the United States shall accept, claim, receive, or retain any title of nobility or honour, or shall, without the consent of congress, accept and retain any present, pension, office, or emolument of any kind whatever, from any emperor, king, prince, or foreign power, such person shall cease to be a citizen of the United States, and shall be incapable of holding any office of trust or profit under them, or either of them. [See Const. U. S. Art. 1, s. ix. p. 13.]

OPENING

OF THE

UNITED STATES SENATE.

The United States senators assemble at Washington, on the first Monday in December, in each year, in their chamber, at 12 o'clock, meridian. The Vice President, to

wards the close of the session, usually withdraws; when a president pro tempore is chosen. This is done to meet any contingency that may happen, either from the death of the President, or the death or absence of the Vice President. At the convening of the senators, if the Vice President is absent, the president pro tempore of course takes the chair, and proceeds to open the session forthwith. The secretary calls over the names of the senators present. The certificates of election of such gentlemen as meet for the first time, or upon re-election, being read, the new senators are requested by the president to approach the chair and take the oath, which he administers in the following form:-" I, A. B., do solemnly swear, (or affirm, as the case may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States."

The new senators having been duly quali

fied, and a quorum being in attendance, it is customary to adopt the following resolutions:

Resolved, That the secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to proceed to business.

Resolved, That a committee be appointed, to join such committee as may be appointed by the House of Representatives, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that quorums of the two houses have assembled, and that the two houses are ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make.

[The standing rules of the Senate direct that the committees shall be appointed by ballot, but the senators, not having time to elect the committee to wait on the President, it is the practice for some senator to move to suspend the rule relative to balloting, and that the president name the committee, which being agreed to, he asks of what number the committee shall consist. "Two" being named, he says, "the committee will consist of two." The president of course names the mover of the resolution, and associates some other senator with him.]

Resolved, That each senator be supplied during the present session, with three such newspapers, printed within the United States, as he may choose; provided the same be fur

nished at the usual rate for the annual charge of newspapers; and provided that, if any senator shall choose to take any newspaper other than daily, he shall be supplied with as many such papers as shall not exceed the price of three daily papers.

The second day, the president takes the chair at the hour to which the Senate stands adjourned; and a quorum being present, he says, "There is a quorum of senators present; the secretary will read the minutes of yesterday." The journal is read, to the end that any mistake may be corrected that shall be made in the entries.

The House of Representatives sends the following communication by their clerk :

Who says, "Mr. President, I am directed to inform the Senate, that a quorum of the House of Representatives has assembled: that one of the representatives from the State of has been duly elected Speaker thereof, and that it is now ready to proceed to business." The clerk also informs the Senate, that the House of Representatives concur in the resolution of the Senate, for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that quorums of both Houses have assembled, and that Congress is ready to receive any communications he may be pleased to make: and have

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