CONGRESS

(Lat. congredior, I go together.) In l\.ii tics, a meeting of the sovereigns of states, or their repro sentatives, for the purpose of arranging intern a matters. The first general European congn-s the conclusion of the thirty years' war in Germany, a Miinster and Osnabriick, 1648, which was followed by the peace of Westphalia. Remarkable general congn have been — 1. of the Pyrenees, 1609; 2. of Alx-u pelle, 1668; 3. Nimeguen, 1676; 4. Ryswick, 1693 Utrecht, 1713; 6. Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748; 7. Tescben, 8. Paris, 1782; 9. Versailles, 1785; 10. the Hague, 1790; 11. Rastadt, 1797; 12. Erfurt, 1808; 13. Vienna, 181 1. eluded at Paris. 1815; 14. Aix-la-Chapelle, 1818; 15. Tioppau, 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 representatives, 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 legit; lature. 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 60,000 free persons. The senate is composed of two members from each stale: 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 proposal 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 for holding it. The regula i 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 tatter case, he returns it, with his reasons, to the house. In which it originated: if, on reconsideration, it is pa ed again by a majority of two thirds in each house, it becomes law. The powers of congre arc strictly limited, and separated from those of the various state legislatures, by the constitu tion. [s. 287]