CONGRESS OF BERLIN

See Brrrecogto LIN, CONGRESS OF. chooses. CONGRESS OF THE UNITED read STATES, the legislative branch of the CongreFederal Government, composed of two. chambers, the Senate and the House always of Representatives. The Constitution feature (q.v.), created Congre and defined ce its functions and powers. The Senate has a membership of 96, or two members representing each of the 48 states, the legislative powers of each state in national affairs being thus equalized irrespective of their population and area. Formerly Senators were elected by the State legislatures. See ELtecroraL ReEFORM. Since 1913 they have been chosen by popular vote, but this change jn the method of selecting them does not make them representatives of the voters. They still represent the States. The Senate is a continuing body, that is, its membership never expires en ma e as the House of Representatives or the British House of Commons does Each member is elected for six years, but only one-third of the membership ends at one time, or every two years. Thus two-thirds of the Senate membership continues in office while the other third becomes subject to the changes of the popular vote in seeking re-election. Candidates for the Senate, like those for the House, must be residents of the States they would represent. They must be thirty years of age. The Vice-President of the United States is the presiding officer of the Senate, but as he does not represent any state, he is not a member. He is a chairman who takes no part in the Senate’s deliberations and can only vote when the Senate is tied. The House of Representatives numbers 435 and is newly elected every two years. See APPORTIONMENT. Members must be at least twenty-five years old. The House electes its Speaker, or presiding officer, from its own members. All revenue bills originate in the House. The House also has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate can function as an impeachment tribunal. Bills that pa both chambers are subject to the President’s veto, but this can be and is overridden by a resubmi ion of the vetoed measure to another vote in each house, and if a two-thirds majority is secured a vetoed pill becomes a law. The Senate acts largely as a restraining influence upon hastily considered legislation pa ed by the House. It also exercises a restraint upon the President’s powers in making appointments to important government posts, each appointment being subject to its approval. Its a ent is likewise needed for the operation of any treaties the executive branch may make with other countries. Each house conducts its affairs under its own rules. The real work of legislation is done by committees, of which the House in 1923 had 45 and the Senate 35. The outstanding committees of both houses are those which consider legislation relating to appropriations, banking and currency, foreign affairs, interstate and foreign commerce, agriculture and finance. Joint conference committees are formed by members of both chambers to adjust differences in measures which one or the other has amended in pa ing them. Congre meets at least once a year on the first Monday in December. The se ion may be long or short, but in either event the President has power, if occasion require, to compel Congre to meet again by calling a special se ion. Members of the Senate and House receive a salary of $7,500 a year. The Vice-President and the Speaker are paid $12,000 a year. CONGRESSIONAL APPORTION