of

peace of 1783. The new government, without power to collect taxes or enforce its laws on the States, proved a rope of sand." A convention in 1787 drew the present Constitution, in which "we, the people of the United States," agree to form a more perfect union," and it went into operation, on the ratification of nine States, in 1789, George Washington being elected first President. He declined a third term, and retired in 1797 to private life, leaving his famous "Farewell Address" to the American People.

Did all the thirteen States join the Union?

North Carolina and Rhode Island at first rejected the Constitution, and the last did not come in until 1790.

Did the Constitution provide for the admission of new States ?

Yes, by vote of Congress. Kentucky and Vermont were the first new States, and for many years a Southern and a Northern State were admitted alternately. Colorado (1876) is the thirty-eighth State. There are also eight Territories, governed by Governors appointed by the President of the United States, besides the District of Columbia, governed by Congress, the Indian Territory, and Alaska.

Can any State withdraw from the Union?

No; the Union is perpetual. The Virginia resolutions of 1798, and the Kentucky resolutions of 1799, declared that the Union was only a compact" of States; in 1830 Georgia refused obedience to the Supreme Court, and in 1832 South Carolina passed an ordinance of nullification of the tariff laws, and threatened secession and war. President Jackson declared that "the Union must and shall be preserved," but the passage of the compromise tariff postponed the question. In 1861 South Carolina, to promote slavery, passed an ordi

nance of secession and was joined by ten other Southern States, which formed the Confederate States of America, with Jefferson Davis as President. The final triumph of the Union forces in 1865, after the civil war of four years, settled the question forever and made the Union indissoluble.

THE STATES.

What are the States ?

Each State is a separate sovereignty, except in respect to those powers granted to Congress or denied to the States by the Constitution.

What powers were granted to Congress?

The powers necessary to general government, such as taxation and the borrowing of money for national purposes, the regulation of foreign and inter-State commerce, uniform rules as to naturalization and bankruptcy, coinage, postal arrangements, provisions for copyrights and patents, the declaration of war and the control of an army and navy, and the organizing and arming of the militia of the States.

What powers were denied to the States?

All foreign alliances or relations, coinage or the emission of bills of credit, the making of war, or the laying of export, import, or tonnage duties, without the consent of Congress, and like powers, belonging properly to nations only.

What are the relations of the States to each other?

The Constitution requires entire reciprocity. Each State must give "full faith and credit" to the public acts of every other State, and must deliver up criminals and fugitives on demand of another State, and the citizens of each State are guaranteed the full privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States throughout the

Union. No tax or duty can be laid on articles exported from any one State, nor any discrimination made for or against vessels of any one State in any other.

Can a State be sued in U. S. courts?

No, except by another sovereign State. Citizens cannot sue a sovereignty.

What is the government of the States?

A governor, a Legislature or General Assembly, and

courts.

How are the States represented in the Union?

Each State, large or small, has two senators in the upper house of Congress, and representatives according to its population in the lower house. The Confederation had a Congress of only one house, voting by States; in the Convention, the large States upheld the "Virginia plan" of representation by population, and the smaller States the "New Jersey plan" of votes by States, and the two-house system was adopted as a compromise. Accordingly, the State Legislatures elect senators, and the people elect representatives.

What is Congress ?

CONGRESS.

The legislative assembly of the Nation, consisting of the Senate, with two members from each State, chosen for six years, and the House of Representatives, chosen by the people for two years.

How are representatives apportioned?

A census must be taken every tenth year, from which Congress allots the proper number to each State. The number cannot exceed one for every 30,000 persons, but each State shall have at least one representative. The first House of Representatives had only sixty-five members, representing 30,000 persons each; the forty-ninth

(1885-7) has 325, representing over 150,000 persons each. Each State decides how the election of representatives shall be apportioned within the State.

What is the business of Congress ?

To make laws and provide for the expenses of the government. This is done by joint action of the two houses, Revenue bills can originate only in the House, but the Senate may amend them.

Has the Senate any special functions?

Yes, to ratify treaties, to confirm or reject appointments by the President, and to try officers of the government who are impeached by the House of Representatives. Who presides in Congress?

The Vice-President of the United States in the Senate; a Speaker, elected by the House, over the House.

When does Congress meet?

At least once a year, beginning on the first Monday of December. It may be called together at other times by the President or by its own vote.

THE COURTS.

What are the other departments of the government? There are three in all-the Legislative (Congress), the Judiciary (the Courts), the Executive (President). The first makes, the second interprets, the third executes, laws.

What is the judiciary system?

the

The Supreme Court of the United States, with a ChiefJustice and eight Associate Justices, appointed by the President for life, sits at Washington, and has original jurisdiction in all cases concerning ambassadors and consuls or in which a State is a party. Congress is given authority by the Constitution to provide inferior courts, What are the inferior courts?

The U. S. Circuit Courts and the U. S. District Courts. The United States is divided into nine circuits, each of which has a U. S. Circuit Judge, and in each of which a Supreme Court Justice usually holds court once a year, and into sixty judicial districts, each of which has a U. S. District Judge, appointed by the President.

Are there also State courts?

Yes, each State has its own judiciary system, much like that of the general government.

What is the relation between the U. S. Courts and the State Courts ?

Suits in the State Courts in which questions arising under the U. S. Constitution are involved, may be appealed from the State to U. S. Courts. The suit of a citizen of one State against a citizen of another State may be brought either in the State Courts or in the United States Courts; but if brought in a State Court, either party may remove it to the U. S. Court.

THE ADMINISTRATION.

What is the duty of the President?

To execute the laws and administer the government. His part of the government is often called, therefore, the "Administration."

How is the President elected?

By the Electoral College, provided for in the Constitution. The voters of each State choose, in November of each fourth year, as many electors as the State has senators and representatives together, and those of each. State meet at the capital of the State and cast their votes both for President and Vice-President, a majority of all the votes electing.

What happens if there is no majority?

The House of Representatives, voting by States,