from the floor by ballot. In the house the speaker appoints the committees.

The speaker has the right to vote on all questions, but he is required to vote in case of a ballot. His salary is the same as the president of the senate : eight thousand dollars. The other officers of the house, with their salaries, are as follows:

(1) The clerk, salary four thousand five hundred dollars. (2) Sergeant-at-arms, salary four thousand dollars. (3) Door-keeper, salary two thousand five hundred dollars.

(4) Chaplain, salary nine hundred dollars.

The senate usually has twenty-eight standing committees, besides several select and joint committees. The house usually has forty-three standing committees. A standing committee in the senate usually has nine members, and in the house eleven members. There are three joint committees :—

(1). On public printing.

(2) Enrolled bills.

(3) On library.

These consist of three members from each house. “All bills for raising revenue" must originate in the house. Hence the senate has no committee on ways and means. This committee in the house is regarded as the most important committee, and the chairman is next in honor to the speaker of the house. The most important committees are those on:

Public expenditures.

Naval affairs.
Territories.

Military affairs.

In discussing a question it is often customary for the house to resolve itself into a committee of the whole. This gives opportunity for free discussion, without the restraint which the strict rules of the house imposes. When the house resolves itself into a committee of the whole, the speaker leaves the chair, and a chairman is appointed. When the discussion closes the committee rises, the speaker resumes the chair, and the chairman reports its proceedings to the house.

THE EXECUTIVe Departments. — It is a wise provision of the constitution which places the full executive power in the hands of one man. The constitution makes no provision for a cabinet, but it gives the president anthority to "require the opinion in writing of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices."

This presupposes that executive departments will be established in order that the various and multiform duties which pertain to the several divisions of the executive work of the national government shall be systematically and efficiently attended to.

The various executive departments have been estab

lished by law. These are now seven in number, namely:

(1) The department of state.

(2) The department of the treasury.

(3) The department of war.

(4) The department of the navy.

(5) The department of the post-office.
(6) The department of the interior.
(7) The department of justice.

The heads of these seven departments constitute the president's cabinet. Their official titles are as follows: (1) The secretary of state.

(2) The secretary of the treasury.

(3) The secretary of war.

(4) The secretary of the navy.

(5) The postmaster-general.

(6) The secretary of the interior.

(7) The attorney-general.

And for the more efficient management of the business, several of these departments are subdivided into bureaus.

All the heads of departments are appointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The salaries of these officers are eight thousand dollars a year each.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE. This was originally styled the department of foreign affairs. The name was soon changed to the department of state. The secretary of state is generally considered as the highest officer in rank of the executive departments under the president. It is his duty to keep the seal of the United States, and to affix it to all commissions issued by the president.