CONGRESS

(Lat. congredior, / g-o ^o^e^^er.) In Politics, a meeting of the sovereigns of states, or their representatives, for the purpose of arranging international matters. The first general European congre was after the conclusion of the thirty years' war in Germany, at Miinster and Osnabriick, 1648, which was followed by the peace of Westphalia. Remarkable general congre es have been — 1. of the Pyrenees, 1659; 2. of Aix-la-Chapelle. 1668; 3. Nimeguen, 1676; 4. Ryswick, 1697; 5. Utrecht, 1713; 6. Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748; 7. Teschen, 1779; 8. Paris, 1782; 9. Versailles, 1785; 10. the Hague, 1790; ll.Rastadt, 1797; 12. Erfurt, 1808; 13. Vienna,' 1814, concluded at Paris, 1815; 14. Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818; 15. Troppau, 1820; 16, Laybach, 1821; 17. Verona, 1822. Congre is also the title of the national legislature of the United States of America. It consists of a house of re271 CONIC SECTIONS. presentatives, and of a senate. The former is composed of members chosen every second year. The qualification of electors is the same with that required in their respective states for electors to the lower house in the state legislature. The number of representatives is apportioned according to the population of each state, and is altered every ten years, when the census is taken by authority. In making this estimate, the slave population is reckoned only at three fifths of its amount. There cannot be more than one representative for 30,000 free persons. The senate is composed of two members from each state: the senators are chosen for six years by the legislature of the state. The house of representatives chooses its own speaker: the vice-president of the United States is, ex officio, president of the senate. Bills for revenue purposes must originate in the house of representatives; but are liable to the propoeal of amendments by the senate. The senate has the sole power of trying impeachments; but can only convict by a majority of two thirds of the members present, and its sentence extends only to removal from office and incapacitation far holding it. The regular meeting of congre is on the first Monday in December annually. Every bill which pa es the two houses is sent to the president for approval or disapproval; in the latter case, he returns it, with his reasons, to the house in which it originated: if, on reconsideratioti, it is pa ed again by a majority of two thirds in each house, it becomes law. The powers of congre are strictly limited, and separated from those of the various state legislatures, by the constitution. [s. 284]