secretary shall take the decision of the president.

In filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall be first put.

When the reading of a paper is called for, and the same is objected to by any member, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate, and without debate.

The unfinished business in which the Senate was engaged at the last preceding adjournment, shall have the precedence in the special orders of the day.

When the yeas and nays shall be called for by one-fifth of the members present, each member called upon shall, unless for special reason he be excused by the Senate, declare openly, and without debate, his assent or dissent to the question. In taking the yeas and nays, and upon a call of the House, the names of the members shall be taken alphabetically.

When the yeas and nays shall be taken upon any question, in pursuance of the above rule, no member shall be permitted, under any circumstances whatever, to vote after the decision is announced from the chair.

On motion made and seconded to shut the doors of the senate, on the discussion of any business which may, in the opinion of a member, require secrecy, the president shall direct the gallery to be cleared; and, during

the discussion of such motion, the doors shall remain shut.

When a question has been once made and carried in the affirmative or negative, it shall be in order for any member of the majority to move for the re-consideration thereof: but no motion for re-consideration of any vote shall be in order after a bill, resolution, message, report, amendment, or motion, upon which the vote was taken, shall have gone out of the possession of the Senate, announcing their decision: nor shall any motion for re-consideration be in order, unless made on the same day on which the vote was taken, or within the two next days of actual session thereafter.

No motion shall be debated until the same be seconded.

When a motion shall be made and seconded, it shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the president, or any member, and delivered in at the table, and read before the same shall be debated.

When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to adjourn, to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a day certain, to commit, or to amend; which several motions shall have precedence in the order they stand arranged: and the motion for adjournment shall always

be in order, and be decided without debate.

When a member shall be called to order by the president, or a senator, he shall sit down; and every question out of order shall be decided by the president, without debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate; and the president may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order.

If a member be called to order by a senator for words spoken, the exceptionable words shall immediately be taken down in writing, that the president may be better enabled to judge of the matter.

The two houses appoint a joint committee on the library.

The president of the Senate pro tempore, and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall, during their services respectively, receive eight dollars per diem, in addition to their compensation as members of congress, for every day's attendance on their respective Houses.

The senators and representatives, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States, and of the several states, shall be bound, by oath or affirmation, to support the Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any of

fice or public trust under the United States. Con. art. 6, clause 3.

The following is the form of the oath prescribed by the act of congress of 1789.

I, A. B., do solemnly swear, or affirm (as the case may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States.

The two Houses appoint joint committees to ascertain and report a mode of examining the votes of President and Vice President, and of notifying the persons elected. They make report to each House. The following is the usual form of the resolution: Resolved, That the two Houses shall assemble in the chamber of the House of Representatives on Wednesday next, (second Wednesday in February succeeding every meeting of electors,) at 12 o'clock, and the president of the Senate shall be the presiding officer: that one person be appointed a teller on the part of the Senate, and two on the part of the House of Representatives, to make a list of the votes as they shall be declared: that the result shall be delivered to the president of the Senate, who shall announce the state of the vote, and the persons elected, to the two Houses assembled, as aforesaid; which shall be deemed a declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States; and, together with a list of votes, be entered on the journal of the two Houses,

On the day and hour appointed by the two Houses for opening the returns, the clerk of the House waits upon the Senate, and notifies that body that the House of Representatives is ready to receive the Senate, and proceed to opening the certificates, and counting the votes of the electors for President and Vice President. Whereupon the senators repair to the chamber of the House of Representatives, and the president opens the certificates, and delivers them to the tellers, who read the same; and thus the number of votes is ascertained for the different candidates. A tabular list of the votes for the candidates is made out, and the votes added up, and announced.

This list of votes is reported to each House, and entered upon the journal. A joint committee is then appointed to notify the PresiIdent and Vice President of their election. The President elect announces to the president of the Senate his intention to take the oath on the 4th of March, at such place as the Senate may think proper to designate. A committee is then appointed to make the necessary arrangements for the reception and inauguration of the president elect on the 4th of March, and to apprise him of the fact.

With the view of showing the mode of conducting a bill through the Senate that has been sent by the House of Representatives