5. In order to explain the Constitution to the people a series of papers were written by Hamilton and Madison. This collection called the Federalist can be used as a basis of group discussion on the Ratification of the Constitution.

6. The "Hall of Fame for Great Americans" was established at New York University in 1900. These honored people are listed under fifteen headings, and new names are added every five years. The requirements to receive this honor are interesting.

(a) Of the men listed with the group of men famous under the Constitution seven are now members. Give the classification of each and tell why his name was so honored.

(b) Make a list and classify the men mentioned in this chapter who have been so honored.

(c) Why are the men and women who became famous recently not elected to membership? Justify this requirement.

CHAPTER SIX

A SUMMARY OF THE CONSTITUTION

THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Each branch of Congress-the Senate and the Congress. House of Representatives-has equal power in making laws. Congress meets in regular session on the first Monday in December in each year. Neither senators nor representatives can hold any other office under the United States during their terms as members of Congress. To prevent the forcible detention of members from attending to their duties, members are exempt from arrest in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, during their attendance at the sessions of Congress, and in going to and returning from the same. To secure absolute freedom of discussion, members cannot elsewhere be held to account for anything said in debate in Congress. Each house is the sole judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members.

(4) To naturalize foreigners,

(5) To coin money,

(6) To fix standards of weights and measures,

Some

of the

Powers of

Congress.

Some
of the

Powers
Denied to
Congress.

Some of the Powers Denied to the

States.

(7) To establish post-offices,

(8) To grant copyrights and patents,

(9) To establish courts inferior to the Supreme

Court,

(10) To punish piracy,

(11) To declare war,

(12) To raise and maintain an army,

(13) To provide and maintain a navy,
(14) To create new states.

Congress is forbidden:

(1) To suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus 1 in time of peace,

1

(2) To pass any bill of attainder,2
(3) To pass any ex post facto law,3

(4) To levy any tax on articles exported from
any state,

(5) To give preference to any state in shipping regulations.

(6) To draw money from the treasury except in accordance with law.

(7) To grant any title of nobility.

The several states are forbidden:

(1) To enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation with each other or with any foreign power,

(2) To grant letters of marque and reprisal, (3) To coin money,

(4) To emit bills of credit,

(5) To make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts.

(6) To grant any title of nobility,
(7) To pass any bill of attainder,
(8) To pass any ex post facto law,
(9) To pass any law impairing the obligation
of contracts,

(10) To levy any tax on exports.

A bill may be proposed by members of either How

Laws

branch of Congress. It is then referred to some Are one of the various committees for investigation. If, Made. after due consideration, it is approved by a majority of the committee, it is reported to the members for action. There are then three ways in which a bill may be enacted into a law:

(1) When passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President.

(2) When passed by both houses of Congress, vetoed by the President, and re-passed by a twothirds vote of each house.

(3) When passed by both houses of Congress and retained by the President ten days (Sundays excepted) without being signed by him, provided Congress still remains in session.

By this system of checks on legislation the possibility of passing unsatisfactory laws is greatly reduced.

THE SENATE

The Senate represents the states, and consists of Membertwo members from each state. Each senator has a ship. vote in Congress. Senators are elected directly by the people of the various states for terms of six years each, and are so classified that the terms of

Qualifications.

Officers.

Powers.

only one-third of them expire every two years. This classification insures a membership of experienced legislators, and has the effect of making the Senate a continuous or permanent body.

The qualifications required of a senator are three: (1) He must be at least thirty years of age,

(2) He must have been for nine years a citizen of the United States.

(3) He must be, when elected, an inhabitant of the state from which he is chosen.

The Vice President is the presiding officer of the Senate. He is entitled to a vote only in case of a tie. The Senate elects from its own number a President pro tempore to preside during the absence of the Vice President. The Senate elects all its own officers except its President, unless the electoral college fails to elect, in which case it chooses the Vice President.

While the Senate is chiefly a legislative body, it also exercises executive and judicial functions. It exercises:

(1) Executive Functions

(a) In confirming the President's appointments
of Cabinet officers, judges, post-masters,
ministers to foreign powers, etc., and
(b) In assisting the President in making trea-
ties with foreign powers.

(2) Judicial Functions

(a) In judging of the qualifications and elections of its members, and

(b) In acting as a court in cases of impeachment.