The Colorado statesman., 1924-06-28

cal patriotlsms' The Constitution divides the
powers of government into the legislative, eXecu-
tive and judicial departments 1t may be thus sum-
married.:
ARTICLE deals with the legislative depart
ment congress. Sect. l divides congress into
the house and senate Sect provides for the cleo
ton of representatives every second year; for the
qualifications of representatives. for their appor-
tonment among the states according to population;
the right of the house to choose its own speaker
and have the sole power of impeachment Sec.
3 provides for the election of two senators from
each state by the legislatures (by the Seventeenth
amendment in effect May 81 1913 direct vote by
the people is substituted) and for their qualifca-
tons The vice president presides and has vote
except in case of tie. The senate tries all cases
of impeachment.
Sect. 4 leaves times, places, and manner of hold
ing elections for both houses to the state eglsla-
lures, but gives congress power to alter such regu-
latons, except to the places of choosing SEN
congress each year.
Sect gives each house the power to decide
elections, returns, and qualifications of Its own
members to determine its rules. to punish men,
bers for disorder, and, by two-thrds vote, to ex-
pei member
Sect 6 has members of both houses paid by the
United States, and privileged from arrest except
for treason felony, breach of the peace and for
bids any person holding office under the United
States to be member of congress- or any member
of congress to be appointed federal office created
or with salary increased during his term in con-
gress.
Sect 7 provides that revenue bills must originate
in the lower house; the veto of the President may
be overcome only by vote of two-thirds or more
of each house; and if the President fail to return
congress any bill within ten days 1t shall be law.
unless congress adjourn within the ten days, when
1t shall not be law
Sect. defines the powers granted to congress:
to tax, but uniformly throughout the country; To
borrow money to regulate commerce; to make uni
form laws naturalization and on bankruptcy;
to coin money and TO fix standards of weights ana
measures establish post offices and post roads;
to grant patents and copyrights; to constitute the
lower courts: to define and to punish piracies and
the like to declare war; to raise, maintain, ana
control army and navy to call out, to organize,
and to the state mi!i:ias; to govern a Federal
district, the seat of government and-the elastic
clause" the Interpretation Of which there has
been constant disagreement-to make laws neces-
sary and proper for execution of these powers,
and of all other powers vested in the government,
or in any of its departments or officers
Sect enumerates the powers denied to the
United States government: the prohibition of the
slave trade before 1908; suspension of the writ OF
habeas corpus except for public safety in rebellion
or invasion; the passage of any bill of attander,
or post facto law the levying of direct tax not
based on population, of any export tax; CONNER
clnl preference for one port another, or levy
ing duties vessels sailing from one state to an
other draft of money except by legal appropri-
alton and the granting of any title OF NOBILITY, or
permitting the receipt without consent of congress-
of any present title from foreign state by per-
sons holding office under the government.
Sect. 10 enumerates the powers denied to the
states Some of these, in the nature of a bill of
rlghts-e.g that there be no bill of attainder or ex
post facto law-are repeated from the list of pow
ers denied to the federal government; others deny
to the states what has been granted In the pre-
cedng selections to the federal government.
ARTICLE III deals with the executive power, vested
lnr,t ,,rhn with n
ed for four years by electors chosen by the states,
the number of electors for each being equal to the
total number of senators and representatives from
the states.
(The Twelfth amendment 1S034) to the Con-
stituton makes the choice of President and vice
president separate; provides that no elector vote
for candidates both offices from the same state;
and stipulates that If there is no choice by n ma
iority of electors, the house of representatives
voting by states, shall choose by majority Presi-
dent from the three highest candidates for the of
fee und the senate choose by majority vice pres
ident from the two highest candidates.)
Sects 2 and 3 detail the powers of the Presi-