CHAPTER XXIV. Congressional Districts. WHENEVER the population of a State is so small that it is entitled to only one Representative in Congress, the whole State forms but one Congressional district; but whenever it is entitled to two or more, then it is divided by its Legislature into as many districts as its population entitles it to return members; so that every member of Congress is chosen by single districts. The act thus districting the States was passed in 1862. In large cities, certain sections or wards are constituted a Congressional district. In the country, a county or several counties are formed into a district; but in all cases a district must consist of contiguous territory, not scattered, a piece here and a piece there, in different parts of the State or country. These districts must be re-arranged every ten years, and as soon as may be after the census is taken (which is every ten years), and the population known and published. The reason for this re-arrangement becomes apparent from the fact that the number of the population is constantly changing. In some States and counties it is rapidly increasing; in others increasing very slowly, or not at all, or indeed may be decreasing. In new Western States it has increased uniformly so rapidly that at the end of every decade they have been entitled to an increase of Representatives; while some of the older States, not increasing so fast, have actually lost, so that what we state as the number of Representatives of each State now, may not be exactly correct after the next census. Hence we see that Congressional Districts are not permanent political divisions, but are liable to frequent changes. If they were permanent, they would probably be laid down in our common maps, as counties sometimes are. They are now generally designated by the ordinal numbers, as 1st, 2d, 3rd, 4th, &c., Congressional districts of such a State. CHAPTER XXV. Clerk of the House of Representatives, and Secretary of the Senate. 1. THE name of the first mentioned officer indicates the nature of his duties. He of course must keep a record of the proceedings of the House of which he is Clerk. In addition to the ordinary duties of his position, Congress requires him to give bonds in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, that he will faithfully apply and disburse the contingent funds of the House, which may come into his hands. He, with the Secretary of the Senate, is authorized to advertise for proposals for supplying the Senate and House of Representatives with stationery and printing. 2. He must lay before Congress the names and compensation of all clerks and messengers employed in his office, and a detailed statement of all expenditures from the contingent fund of the House, together with a statement of all appropriations made by Congress during the last session, and all new officers created by it, and their salaries. 3. He is chosen by the members of the House, holds his office two years, and receives a salary of $3,000 a year. He has the use of the Congressional Library, and is entitled to the franking privilege. SECRETARY OF THE SENATE. The duties, compensation, mode of election, powers and privileges of this officer, are so much like those of the Clerk of the House, that to describe them would be little more than to reiterate the former part of this chapter. CHAPTER XXVI. Speaker of the House of Representatives. 1. THE Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer thereof. He is chosen by the members of that body, and is selected for this important position in view of his knowledge of parliamentary law and usages. He is elected for the full term of the Congress which chooses him. His compensation, by an act of 1856, was fixed at double the amount received by other members of the House; for his duties are much more arduous than those of an ordinary member. 2. The law provides that in case of the death, resignation, impeachment, or any other disability of both the President and Vice President, the President of the Senate pro tem., must then act as President; but in case there happens to be no President of the Senate, then the Speaker becomes acting President. 3. The Speakership of the House of Representatives has always been regarded as a very respectable and honorable position. The following are the names of all the Speakers of the House, since the establishment of the government, down to 1869. Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, Penn., 1789 to 1791 Frederick A. Muhlenburgh, Penn., 1793 1797 Jonathan Dayton, N. J., Theodore Sedgwick, Mass., Nathaniel Macon, N. C., Joseph B. Varnam, Mass., 1797 1798 1798" 1801 1801" 1807 1807" 1811 CHAPTER XXVII. Acts of Congress. 1. In a comprehensive sense, an act of Congress is any act done by it, whether it is making a law, the passage of a resolution, or any proceedings taken by it. But in a more restricted sense, and what is usually meant by "an act of Congress," is a bill (as a proposed law, when laid before any Legislative body is called), passed by both Houses of Congress into a law, according to the forms and prescribed rules always adhered to in the enactment of laws, and afterwards signed by the President, or passed by the votes of two-thirds of both Houses, when the President refuses to sign it. 2. Hence every law of the United States is an act of Congress, properly introduced, examined, and generally debated, altered and amended if thought best, and then voted for by a majority of the members of the House in which it originated, after which it is sent to the other House, where it goes through the same form, and, if approved by both Houses, it is then sent to the President for his signature, and, when signed by him, the bill becomes a law, "an act of Congress." These laws are then published in some of the newspapers in every State and Territory, also in pamphlet and book form, and distributed to every State and Territory, to the Members of Congress, and to all the principal officers of government at home and abroad, that the |