CHAPTER XXVI. THE EXECUTIVE. 1. THE third branch of government is the executive. In the national government the executive power is vested in a President. In the State governments the executive power is vested in Governors. The president holds his office for four years. Most of the governors hold their office for two years, but some hold for only one year. Governors are elected by the direct vote of a majority or plurality of the electors in the State. In the election of president, each State elects as many electors as it is entitled to members in both houses of Congress; and these electors elect the president by a majority vote. The vice-president is elected in the same manner. If no person has a majority of all the votes of the electors, the House of Representatives choose a president, who must be one of the three highest voted for by the electors. If no person has a majority of all the votes of the electors, the Senate choose the vice-president from the two highest candidates voted for by the electors. 2. The president must be a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the constitution. He must be thirty-five years of age. In most of the States the governor must be a natural-born citizen of the United States, and is required to be thirty years of age. 1. What is the third branch of government? In what officer is the executive power vested in the national government? In the State governments? For what time does the president hold his office? For what time do the governors hold their office? How are governors elected? How is the president elected? How is the vice-president elected? If no person has a majority of the votes of the electors, by whom is the president elected? By whom is the vice-president elected? 2. Can a person born in a foreign land hold the office of president? What are the qualifications of the vice-president? Of what age must the 3. The president is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States, when called into actual service of the United States. The governors of the several States are commanders-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the State. The president has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for all offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. Governors of most of the States have the power to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons, after conviction, for all offences against the laws of the State, except treason and cases of impeachment. 4. The president is required, from time to time, to give to Congress information of the state of the Union, and he recommends to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient. The governors of the States communicate, by message to the legislature at every session, the condition of the State, and recommend to them such measures as they deem expedient. gov 5. The veto power of the president, and the veto power of the governors in most of the States, is precisely the same. The language in the national constitution is a copy of the language of the State constitutions, with the substitution of the word "president" for the word " ernor." The language used in the national constitution is as follows: "Every bill which shall have passed both houses of Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President of the United States. If he approve, he shall sign it; but if not, he shall return it, with president and vice-president be? What are the qualifications of gov ernors in most of the States? 3. What position does the president hold in the army and navy of the United States? What similar position do governors hold? What pardoning power has the president? What similar power have the gov ernors? 4. What information is the president required to give to Congress! What similar duty are the governors to perform? 5. In whom is the veto power vested in the national government? In whom in the State governments? Is there any resemblance in the exercise of this power in the nation and in the States? To whom must every bill passed by Congress be presented before it becomes a law? For what purpose is it presented to him? If he does not approve of the bill, what his objections, to the house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsidera. tion, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the president within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall become a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless Congress by their adjournment prevent its return; in which case it shall not be a law." 6. In some of the State constitutions a majority only are necessary to pass a bill after it has been returned by the governor ; but most of the States require a vote of twothirds of both houses. It will be seen by what precedes, that greater powers of government are vested in the executive than in either of the other branches of government. The president of the nation and the governors of the States are not only required to take care that the laws are faithfully executed, but by their veto they can control the legislature, unless two-thirds in Congress and in most of the State legislatures can be obtained in opposition to such veto. In nearly all criminal cases, also, they have the power to annul the verdicts of jurors and sentences of judges by the pardoning power. is he to do? What action is that house to take? If two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, what shall be done with it? What action does the other house take? How must the votes be taken? Where must the name of each voter be entered? If the bill is not signed by the president nor returned, what is the effect? 6. Are the same provisions contained in the State constitutions? Do all the States require a vote of two-thirds after a veto? Which branch of the government holds the greatest power? What are the president and governors required to do? What may they do by their veto? What may they do by their pardoning power? : CHAPTER XXVIL DISTRIBUTION OF THE POWERS OF GOVERNMENT. 1. Ir has been before remarked that each State government acts by itself in all matters which belong to that State alone. In the national government, all the States act together in all matters which belong equally to all the States. Those powers which have been confided to the national government are prohibited to the State governments. The national government provides for the common defence. It raises and supports its army and its navy. No State government can keep troops or ships-ofwar in time of peace, without the consent of Congress. The national government declares war; but no State government can engage in war unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as not to admit of delay. 2. The national government enters into treaties with foreign governments; but no State can enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation. The national government levies and collects duties on goods imported from foreign countries, which duties are uniform throughout the United States; but no State can levy such duties, without the consent of the national government. The national government coins money, regulates the value thereof, and the value of foreign coin; but no State can coin money, nor make any thing but gold and silver a tender in payment of debts. 3. The national government establishes post-offices and 1. In what does each State government act by itself? In what matters do all the States act together? What government raises and supports the army and navy? 2. Which government forms treaties with foreign nations? Which government coins money? Can the State governments perform any of these acts? 3. Which government establishes post-offices and defines and punishes post-roads, and regulates the same; but the State governments have no control of the postal arrangements of the country. The national government grants copyrights and patent-rights to authors and inventors; but the State governments have no such power. The national government defines and punishes piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offences against the law of nations; the State governments have no such power; but they define and punish all crimes committed within the State. 4. The national government exercises exclusive jurisdiction and legislation in all cases whatsoever over the district which has become the seat of government of the United States; and it exercises exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction over all places purchased from the States (in which the same are located), for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings. The national government cannot grant titles of nobility; neither can the States grant titles of nobility. The powers not delegated to the national government by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. The national government guaranties to each of the States in the Union a republican form of government, and protects them against invasion. On application of the legislature, or of the governor when the legislature cannot be convened, the national government will protect the State against domestic violence. 5. The State government, in their right of sovereignty, possess the original and ultimate title to all the lands within the jurisdiction of the State. The citizen holds his piracies committed on the high seas? What crimes do the States define and punish? 4. What government legislates for the District of Columbia? What jurisdiction does the national government exercise over places procured from the States for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, and dockyards? What does the national government guaranty to each State government? When will the national government protect a State against domestic violence? 5. In which government is the title to the lands? How does the citi |