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10. Does the Constitution command the President to take an oath?

11. Does the President have authority to call special sessions of the Congress?

- 12. Does the Constitution give the President authority to lead the Congress?

13. Can the President refuse to sign a bill that has been passed by both Houses of the Congress? - 14. Can the Congress pass a law over the veto of the President?

15. Do the Members of the Congress ever ask the President to advise them on what laws should be passed?

16. Does the Constitution give the President authority to appoint the officers of each House of the Congress?

17. Does "Senatorial Courtesy" mean the respect that the Senators pay to the President? 18. Must the President share his authority to make treaties with the House of Representatives?

- 19. Can the President pardon a person who has broken a State law?

20. Must a person believe that a law is wise before he is bound to obey it?

21. Can the President serve more than two terms in office?

CHAPTER XIV

The President's Cabinet

"The Nation's greatness [success] lies in men, not

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The President must have help. He must see that thousands of laws are enforced. He alone cannot do the job. Many important people want to see the President about different matters. But he does not have time to see all of them. He receives thousands of letters every week. They must be answered. The representatives of the President in foreign countries send in reports every month. He must know what is in them. We may well ask: "Who helps the President?"

THE CABINET

The Fathers of the Constitution did not say in express words that the President should have a Cabinet to help him. But they understood that there would be a Cabinet. The First Congress, of which many of the Fathers were Members, provided for the first Cabinet. It had four members.

The Nation has grown. The needs of the people have changed. Thus the Congress has set up new Departments to advise and to help the President. There are now 10 Departments. Each is controlled by a Secretary. These Secretaries make up the Cabinet or "official family."

If the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and President pro tempore of the Senate should die, one of the Cabinet Members would become President. The law says that the Secretaries shall become President, if constitutionally qualified, in the order in which they are named in the law.

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They would become President in the following orderState, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Post Office, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor.5

The members of the Cabinet are usually members of the same political party as the President. He tries to see that all parts of the country are represented in his Cabinet. This helps him to keep in close touch with questions that come up in all parts of the country.

The Senate usually approves the President's choice of members of his Cabinet. He has to work with them from day to day. He knows best the men whom he wants for the positions.

Once or twice each week the Cabinet meets with the President. They talk over such matters as the President places before them. In times of great danger, they may meet more often. The President may see one of them alone in order that they may talk over some special subject.

Each Agency in the Cabinet has many people who help to carry on its work. We shall study the work of the 10 Departments.

THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

If any one Department is more important than another, it is the Department of State. It is one of the old Departments. The Secretary of State is the Head of the Department. He would become President, if he has the constitutional qualifications, if the President, the Vice President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President pro tempore of the Senate should die.

The Department of State is the long arm of the Government. It has hundreds of representatives in foreign countries. It has charge of the foreign interests of the United States. It could well be called the "Department of Foreign Relations."

See footnote to Figure 11 on page 102.

One of its chief duties is to keep the United States on good terms with other nations. Its representatives study matters of common interest. They prepare reports to the President. They often help in making treaties.

Representatives in foreign countries study and report on trade conditions. Their first job is to help our busi-v nessmen. They are the captains on the sea of foreign trade. But, under the law, they have some other duties. They meet and talk with citizens of foreign countries who want to come to the United States. They give them the right kinds of permits (visas). If you came to the United States from another country, then perhaps one of these representatives helped you to come here. A citizen of the United States who wants to live or travel in a foreign country must first learn whether the Government objects. He must tell the Department of State where and why he wants to go. He must, in general, get a permit or passport before he can go into a foreign country.

The Department of State has charge of the Great Seal of the United States. The law commands that the Great Seal be placed on many of the President's orders and other public papers. (See Figure 17, page 160.)

In addition to these tasks, the State Department publishes all treaties between the United States and foreign governments, and certain other official papers.

THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

This Department is the largest bank and bookkeeper in the world. It looks after the money matters of the National Government. It collects taxes. It borrows money as directed by the Congress. It has charge of the money

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