Congress

(kõng'gres.) [ From L. congredio, I meet.] (Pol.) An a embly of envoys, commi ioners, deputies, ., from different courts or states, who meet to concert measures for their common good, or to adjust their mutual concerns or differences. Having exchanged their credentials, the representatives of the different powers carry on their negotiations directly with each other, or by the intervention of a mediator, either in a common hall, or in their own residences, by turns, or, if there be a mediator, in his residence. These negotiations are continued, either by writing or by verbal communication, until the commi ioners can agree upon a treaty, or until one of the powers di olves the C. by recalling its minister. The most memorable of European congre es have been those of Münster and Osnabrück,followed by the Peace of Westphalia, 1648; of the Pyrenees, 1659; Aix-la-Chapelle,1668; Nimeguen, 1676; Ryswick, 1697; Utrecht, 1713; Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748; Teschen, 1779; Paris, 1782; Versailles, 1785; The Hague, 1790; Rastadt, 1797; Erfurt, 1808; Vienna, 1814, concluded at Paris, 1815; Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818; Troppau, 1820; Laybach, 1821; Verona, 1822; Paris, 1856; Frankfort, 1863, and Berlin, 1878. The term is also applied to an a embly of persons convened to discu matters of general moment or importance; as, for instance, a peace congre . Congre of the United States, the a embly of senators and representatives of the several States of the American Union, forming the legislature of the U. States, is designated, in the Constitution of the general govt. by this title. It consists of a Senate and a House of Representatives, each constituting a distinct and independent branch. The house of representatives is chosen every 2 years, by the people of the several States; and the voters and electors are required to have the same qualifications as are requisite for choosing the members of the most numerous branch of the leg isla ture of the State in which they vote. Each State, however small its pop., is entitled to at least one representative. The number of representatives in Congre is fixed by law at 233, and they are apportioned every ten years, after the decennial census, among the several States according to their respective populations. There are also delegates, one from each organized territory, who are entitled to speak in the house, but not to vote. No person can be a representative who has not attained the age of 25 years, and has been 7 years a citizen of the U. States, and who is not, when elected, an inhabitant of that State in which he has been chosen. No other qualifications are required. The senate is composed of 2 senators from each State, who are chosen by the legislature of the State for 6 years; and are divided into 3 cla es, so that one-third of them is, or may be, changed by a new election every second year. No person can be a senator who is not 30 years of age, and has not been 9 years a citizen of the U. States, and is not, when elected, an inhabitant of the State in which he is chosen. The times, places, and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives are appointed by the State legislatures. Each house determines the rules ofits own proceedings, and has power to punish its members for disorderly conduct. Neither house, during the se ion of C., can, without the consent of the other, adjourn more than 3 days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. The senators and representatives are entitled to receive a compensation, provided by law, for their services, from the public treasury. They are also privileged from arrest, except in cases of treason, felony, or breaches of the peace, during their attendance at the se ion of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from it. The house of representatives elects its own speaker; while the Vice-President of the U. States, ex officio, presides over the senate. The regular a embling of C. is annually on the first Monday in Dec. Every bill which pa es the two houses is sent to the President for his sanction or disapproval; in the latter case, he returns it, with his reasons therefor, to the house in which it originated; if, on reconsideration, it is again pa ed by a majority of two-thirds in each house, it becomes law. In C. are invested all the legislative powers granted by the Constitution, enumerated in Art. 1, s. 8, and held apart from those of the various State legislatures. Hist. The delegates from 12 colonies, to the number of 55, a embled in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774. After pa ing a Declaration of Rights, and other measures, they separated, Oct. 26. The 2d C. met May 10, 1775, and i ued the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776. The C. removed to Baltimore towards the end of 1776. The 1st C. of the U. States met in New York, 1789; transferred its sittings to Philadelphia, 1790, and removed to Washington, its present location, in 1800. [s. 218]