The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-02-22

VA AZ OAu0AV way SOuC III LII VI kOVcTu-
ment must be recognized and obeyed.
Our system Of national government is a
representative democracy; another
name being a republic. The best way
for us to take hurried view of this
subject, will be to follow the order of
the constitution Of the United States.
The preamble being our motto. We
must ever remember that we are Hv-
Ing under written constitution both
In state and nation. And it is inter-
esting to note that the first written
constitution known in history and GER
tainly the first American constitution
Of government to anybody the demo-
cratic>idea was adopted by General
Assembly Of the three original towns
OF Connecticut Colony. The real
birthplace of democracy was then at
Hartford, 1889. The written consti-
buttons Of the state and even the
United States must be traced back to
Connecticut.
The first article OF the constitution
Of the United States has to do with
Legislation. All law making is vested
in congress consisting in two Houses,
the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives. The Senate represents the
state, being composed of two members
from each state, so that the larger
state can never gain undue authority
over the smaller ones. The house rep
resents the people, composed Of num-
Der proportionate to the population.
Connecticut has had four representa-
tives, but by bill just passed by Con-
gress, will hereafter have five. New
York has "a. Members of the House
are elected every second year by the
states. Senators are chosen not direct
ly by the people but indirectly:through
the representatives in the State Legis-
lature. The vice president presides
in the Senate except in case of inn
parchment of the President, then the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
takes his place. Congress must meet
at least once year the opening day
being the first Monday in December.
There are many things in the con-
the people are jealousy guarded. Most
bills may originate in either House,
but revenue bills must be first pro-
posed in the house of Representatives.
The idea Is that the people who are
taxed furnish the revenue and so they
should have the power Of saying
through their direct representative
how much money shall be raised by
taxation and how. A bill lisa proposed
law drawn up In due form. 1t must
pass the Senate and House by a ma
jority vote and then goes to the Presi-
dent for his signature. The powers of
Congress are many and important and
yet limited. The power Of taxation to
pay debt, to borrow money, to regu-
late commence with foreign nation
and among Iseveral states. To coin
money and punish counterfeiting, es-
tablish postofdces, to promote science
and art by copyright and patent, to
constitute tribunals inferior to the
Supreme Court and to declare war and
to raise and support armies.
United States and also to the states.
The Constitution limits the powers of
the United States Congress so that
certain right Of the states shall not be
invaded. The constitution also limits
the powers Of the states so that they
cannot interfere with the rights guar
anteed to citizens of the Unites States
The next great department of the
United States government Fis the Ex-
ecutive, /. e., some one to execute or
carry out these laws. This power is
vested in one person. The President
Of the United States, holding office
for four years with vice president for
the same length of time. The Presi-
dents salary is $4,000. He must be a
natural born citizen, not less than IS
years and at least Ia years resident of
the United States. The qualifications
OF the vice president are the same,
with a salary of $1,000. In electing
the President and Vice President the
people vote for electors who meet in
their several states the I'D Monday in
January, according to law, and count
their ballots. The electors are in
honor bound to vote for their particu-
lar candidate, but are not legally
bound to vote for any particular man.
1t was known in November just how
each man in the Electoral college
will vote, but the real election of Pres
ident and Vice President did not take
place until January IA. Lists signed,
sealed and certified are sent to the
President Of Senate by mail, another
is sent by special messenger and a
third list is delivered to the Judge Of
the United States District Court. On
the second Wednesday in February
these lists are opened by the Presi-
dent OF the Senate in the presence of
both Houses OF Congress-. If the cleo
ton fails to elect by a majority the