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 demise. 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 number 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 of fice? 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? For what time does the president of the United States hold his office? For what time do the governors of the States hold their office?

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 ap pointment? 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?

4. The House of Commons in parliament choose their presiding officer, who is known as speaker of the house. This choice must be approved by the king. The speaker of the House of Commons cannot give his opinion or argue any question in the house.

5. The House of Representatives in Congress choose their presiding officer, who is known as speaker of the house. The speaker is elected from among the members of the house, and he can give his opinion or argue any question in the house. He is also entitled to

vote.

6. The House of Representatives in the several legislatures choose their presiding officer, who is known as speaker of the house. The speaker is elected from among the members of the house, and he can give his opinion or argue any question in the house. He is also entitled to vote.

7. As soon as both houses of Congress and of the legislatures are fully organized by the choice of the several officers, messages are sent by each house to the other, and to the president or governor, informing him that they are organized and ready to proceed to business. The president of the United States then sends his message to both houses of Congress, and the governor sends his message to both houses of the legislature. The president does not appear in person before Congress, nor do the governors appear in person before the legislatures. The messages are read by the clerk of each house. At the opening of

4. Who presides in the House of Commons in parliament? By whom chosen? By whom must this choice be approved? Can the speaker argue any question in the house?

5. Who presides in the House of Representatives in Congress? By whom elected? From what body? Is he allowed to speak and vote?

6. Who presides in the House of Representatives in the State legislatures? By whom elected? From what body? Is he allowed to speak and vote?

7. When both houses are fully organized, what is the next business? What action do the president and the governors then take? Does the president appear in person before Congress? Do the governors appear in

parliament, the king, or if a queen be at the head of the government, the queen appears before parliament and delivers a speech in person.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

METHOD OF MAKING LAWS.

1. THE method of making laws is nearly the same in both houses of parliament, in both houses of Congress, and in both houses of the legislature. In parliament, the acts of the majority bind the whole. The same is true in most cases in Congress and in the State legislatures. There are, however, some exceptions. The constitution of the State. of New York declares, that "the assent of two-thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature shall be requisite to every bill appropriating the public moneys or property for local or private purposes."

2. At the commencement of each session, each house adopts certain rules by which its proceedings are to be governed. They determine the order of business, the order of debate, what standing committees shall be appointed, etc. The presiding officer appoints the standing committees.

3. Each house is required to keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time to publish the same, except such parts as shall require secrecy. In order to

person before the legislatures? By whom are the messages read? Does the king or queen appear in person before parliament ?

1. In what bodies is the method of making laws nearly the same? In what body does the majority bind the whole? Is this the case in other legislative bodies? What special provision is contained in the constitution of New York?

2. At the commencement of each session, what does each house adopt? What do they determine? Who appoints the standing committees? 3. What is each house required to keep? At the opening of the Senate

understand the process of legislation more fully, let us notice the proceedings in the Senate of the State of New York on any day of the session. The president of the Senate takes the chair, accompanied by some clergyman, at the hour to which the senate was adjourned, and rapping with the gavel says, "The Senate will now come to order." The clergyman then offers prayer. The journal of the preceding day is read by the clerk. The president asks, "Are there any objections to the journal? If there are none, it stands approved."

4. As soon as the journal is read and approved the president announces, "The next order of business is the presentation of petitions." Before any petition addressed to a legislative body can be received or read, a brief statement of the contents thereof must be indorsed thereon, with the name of the member presenting it. A senator (Mr. Stanton) rises in his place and says, "Mr. President, I present the petition of." There are a number of small boys appointed by the Senate, called pages. One of these pages approaches the senator, receives the petition, and delivers it to the president of the Senate. The president on receiving the petition says, "The senator from the (25th) presents the petition of It is referred to the

committee on the judiciary."

5. If a petition or remonstrance be presented in reference to a matter already in the hands of some committee, it is referred to that committee. There are generally about thirty different standing committees, appointed to investigate the different subjects which may be referred to them.

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who takes the chair? By whom is he usually accompanied? How does he call the Senate to order? What is done immediately after the Senate is called to order? What is the first order of business? What does the president then ask?

4. What does the president then announce? What must be indorsed on every petition before it is presented? How is a petition introduced? By whom is the petition conveyed to the president? What does the president announce to the Senate on receiving the petition?

5. If a petition or remonstrance be presented in reference to a matter already in the hands of a committee, to whom is it referred? About how many standing committees are there in legislative bodies?