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at least, with those laws with which he is immediately concerned. Gentlemen of fortune are ambitious to represent their country in parliament. When they occupy that station, they become the guardians of the English constitution, and the makers, repealers, and interpreters of the English law. As legislators, they are delegated to watch, to check, to avert, every dangerous innovation; to adopt, to cherish, any solid and well-weighed improve ment. They are bound, by every tie of nature, of honor, and of religion, to transmit the constitution and the laws to posterity, amended, if possible, at least without derogation. It must appear unbecoming in a member of the legislature to vote for a new law while ignorant of the old, to attempt to interpret a law while ignorant of the text on which he comments."

2. The learned author of the Commentaries declares that the end and scope of the British constitution is the security and enjoyment of civil and political liberty. He proceeds to give strong reasons why the laws of their own country should be studied and understood by all classes. The circulation of this lecture had created a general desire to procure the whole work as soon as published, and it was purchased and read extensively among the colonists.

3. Blackstone arranged the absolute rights of individ uals under the three following heads: 1. The right of personal security; 2. The right of personal liberty; 3. The right of private property. He had defined the right of personal security to be the legal and uninterrupted enjoyment of life, limb, body, health, and reputation. He had defined the right of personal liberty to be the power of moving to whatever place one's inclination may direct,

every man? Of what are gentlemen of fortune ambitious? When they become members of parliament, what are their duties? As legislators, to what are they delegated? What are they bound to do? What must appear unbecoming in a member of the legislature?

2. What was declared to be the end and scope of the British constitution? For what does he give strong reasons? What effect had been produced by the circulation of this lecture?

3. How did Blackstone arrange the absolute rights of individuals?

without imprisonment or restraint. The right of private property consists in every man's free use and disposal of his own lawful acquisitions, without injury or illegal diminution. He defines imprisonment to be the confinement of a person in any wise-as keeping a man against his will in a house, arresting him, or detaining him in the streets.

4. These rights, with many others drawn from Magna Charta, are incorporated into the declaration of rights of the several American constitutions.

CHAPTER XXXI.

PARLIAMENT.

1. THE supreme power in a government is the power to make laws. This power, in Great Britain, is vested in parliament. Parliament has stood in its present form for nearly six hundred years. In the United States, the power to make laws is vested in Congress. In the States, it is vested in the legislature.

2. Parliament consists of three branches: 1. The king; 2. The House of Lords; 3. The House of Commons. Congress may be considered as consisting of three branches: 1. The President; 2. The Senate; 3. The House of Repre sentatives. Legislatures are composed of three branches: 1. The governor; 2. The Senate; 3. The House of Repre sentatives.

How did he define personal security? liberty? What is imprisonment?

How did he define personal

4. Into what are these rights incorporated?

1. Which is the supreme power in the government? Where vested in the government of Great Britain? How long has parliament stood in its present form? Where is the supreme power vested in the government of the United States? Where is it vested in the State governments?

2. Of what three branches docs parliament consist? Of what three branches does Congress consist? Of what three branches do the legis. Jatures consist?

3. The executive power of the government of Great Britain is vested in the king. The executive power in the government of the United States is vested in the presi dent. The executive power in the government of the States is vested in the governor.

4. In parliament, if the House of Lords refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Commons refuse to pass it, it is lost. If the king refuses to sign a bill, after it has passed both houses of parliament, it is lost. Each of the three branches has an absolute veto. In Congress, if the Senate refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Representatives refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the president refuse to sign a bill, after it has passed both houses of Congress, it is lost, unless it can be passed by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house. The Senate and House of Representatives have an absolute veto, and the president a conditional veto. In the State legislatures, if the Senate refuse to pass a bill, it is lost. If the House of Representatives refuse to pass the bill, it is lost. If the governor refuse to sign the bill, after it has passed both houses, it is lost, unless it can be passed by a vote of two-thirds of the members of each house, it most of the States.

5. The House of Lords consists of two archbishops, twenty-four bishops, and all the peers of the realm. The titles of the peers are: 1. Dukes; 2. Marquises; 3 Earls: 4. Viscounts; 5. Barons. The number of members of the House of Lords is not limited. Some of the peers are

3. In whom is the executive power vested in the government of Great Britain? In whom is the executive power vested in the government of the United States? In whom is the executive power vested in the governments of the several States?

4. If either house in parliament fail to pass a bill, or the king refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the three branches of parliament? If either house in Congress fail to pass a bill, or the President refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the three branches of Congress? If either house in the State legisla ture fail to pass a bill, or the governor refuse to sign it, what is the effect? What power has each of the branches of the legislature?

5. Of what does the House of Lords consist? What are the titles of

entitled to their seats in the House of Lords by descent; others by being created peers; and others by election, as is the case with the sixteen peers who represent the Scotch nobility. Members of the House of Lords are members for life. The Senate of the United States is composed of two senators from each State, chosen by joint ballot of both houses of the legislature, who hold their office for six years. The senators in the State legislatures are elected by the direct vote of the electors. In some of the States senators hold their office for two years, and in others for one year only. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the electors from the body of the people. They hold office until parliament is dissolved, which must occur at the end of seven years, and may occur at the will of the king, or within six months after his de mise. Members of the House of Representatives in Congress are elected by direct ballot of the electors, and hold their office for two years. Members of the House of Representatives in the legislature are elected by direct ballot of the electors, and generally hold their office for one year.

6. The crown is hereditary, and the king or queen hold their office for life. The presidency is elective, and the president holds his office for four years. The governorship is elective, and the governor holds his office for one, two, or three years, according to the time limited in the State constitution.

the peers? What is the unmber of members of the House of Lords? How entitled to seats in that house? For what time do they hold their office? Of what does the Senate of the United States consist? How elected? For what time? How are senators in the State legislatures elected? For what time do they hold their office? How are members of the House of Commons elected? For what time do they hold their office? How are members of the House of Representatives in Congress elected? For what time do they hold their office? How are members of the House of Representatives in the legislature elected? For what time do they hold their office?

6. For what time do the king and queen hold their office? time does the president of the United States hold his office? time do the governors of the States hold their office?

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CHAPTER XXXII.

ORGANIZATION OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES.

1. THE officer who presides in the House of Lords in parliament, and manages the formalities of business, is the lord chancellor, or such other person as shall be appointed by the king's commission. If the king make no appointment, the House of Lords may elect a presiding officer. If he be a lord, he may give his opinion or argue any question in that house.

2. The officer who presides in the Senate of the United States is the vice-president, who is president of the Senate. In case of the absence of the vice-president from the Senate, either supplying the place of the president, or for any other cause, the Senate elect one of their number to preside. The vice-president, when acting as president of the Senate, cannot give his opinion or argue any question in the Senate, nor vote, unless there is a tie; and then he may give the casting vote.

3. The officer who presides in the senates of the several States is the lieutenant-governor, who is president of the Senate. In case of the absence of the lieutenant-governor from the Senate, either supplying the place of the gov ernor, or for any other cause, the Senate elect one of their number to preside. The lieutenant-governor, when acting as president of the Senate, cannot give his opinion or argue any question in the Senate, nor vote, unless there is a tie; and then he may give the casting vote.

1. Who presides in the House of Lords? If the king make no appointment? If he be a lord, what rights has he?

2. Who presides in the Senate of the United States? In case of his absence, who presides? When the vice-president acts as president of the Senate is he allowed to speak and vote?

3. Who presides in the Senate of the several States? What is he then called? In his absence, who presides? Has the lieutenant-governor, when acting as president of the Senate, a right to speak and vote?

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