Read Ebook: Citizenship: A Manual for Voters by Cromwell Emma Guy

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Ebook has 796 lines and 31033 words, and 16 pages

In the revision of a state constitution the legislature submits to the people the question of calling a convention to frame a new constitution. If the voters are in favor of a convention they elect delegates to the convention to assist in revising the constitution. The revised constitution is nearly always submitted to the people to vote upon.

The amendment known as the eighteenth amendment passed during President Wilson's term of office and is one of great importance to our nation in the protection of the home and humanity. This amendment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, reads as follows:

"Sec. 1. After one year from the ratification of this article, the manufacture, sale and transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

"Sec. 2. The Congress and the several states shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

There are now eighteen amendments to our Federal Constitution, and there has never been an amendment repealed.

The nineteenth amendment known as the suffrage amendment passed both houses of Congress on May 21st and June 4th, 1919, submitting to the states a proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution extending suffrage to women. The first state to take action was Wisconsin, whose legislature, June 5th, 1919, ratified the amendment. Other state ratifications were Michigan, June 10th, Kansas, New York and Ohio, June 16th, Illinois, June 17th, Pennsylvania, June 24th, Massachusetts, June 25th, Texas, June 28th, Iowa, July 2nd, Missouri, July 3rd, Arkansas, July 28th, Montana, July 30th, Nebraska, August 1st, Minnesota, September 8th, New Hampshire, September 10th, Utah, September 30th, California, November 1st, Maine, November 5th, North Dakota, December 1st, South Dakota, December 4th, Kentucky, January 6th, 1920.

The proposed amendment reads as follows:

"Sec. 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

"Sec. 2. Congress shall have power, by appropriate legislation, to enforce the provisions of this article."

The following states had granted state wide woman's suffrage: Wyoming 1869, Colorado 1893, Utah 1896, Idaho 1896, Washington 1910, California 1911, Kansas, Arizona and Oregon 1912, Territory of Alaska 1913, Montana and Nevada 1914, New York 1917, Michigan, Oklahoma, South Dakota 1918.

Amendments to the Federal Constitution may be proposed by Congress by two-thirds vote, then submitted to the states for ratification by at least three-fourths of the states acting through their legislatures .

As has been said eighteen amendments to the National Constitution have been made since its adoption. The nineteenth amendment will soon be adopted in full as it only needs one more state to make the three-fourths or thirty-six states which will give us universal suffrage throughout the United States.

Let us remember that the Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, and no law will stand in our courts that is in violation of our National Constitution.

KINDS OF GOVERNMENT.

For convenience the United States is divided into forty-eight states and each state is divided into counties. Kentucky has one hundred and twenty counties.

We have National, State, county, town and city government.

FEDERAL OR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.

The Federal or National government, as in state government, is divided into three parts. The legislative which makes the laws. The judicial which interprets or explains the laws. The executive which enforces the laws.

Legislative: The legislative department is called the Congress and is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years.

The number of representatives in a state is apportioned according to population, and the congressional district from which a member is elected is determined by the legislature of each state.

Kentucky has eleven congressional districts, therefore eleven congressmen elected by the people.

To be a member of the House of Representatives in Congress the man or woman must be twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United States at least seven years, and a resident of the state from which he is chosen. He receives a salary of ,500 per year, and an allowance for clerk, stationery and traveling expenses.

Every state is entitled to at least one representative. There are now four hundred and thirty-five members in the House of Representatives in Congress.

When the members of a new House of Representatives meet the clerk of the previous House calls them to order and the roll is called by states. If a quorum is present they elect a speaker from among the members of the House who takes his seat immediately. The other officers are elected as the clerk, sergeant-at-arms and doorkeeper. The rules of the House define the duties of the speaker.

The work of the House of Representatives is done through committees. When a bill is introduced it is referred to a committee and this committee may report it back to the House either favorably or unfavorably, or they may not report it at all. If reported favorably it has a chance of receiving consideration.

Much of the work of Congress is done in the committee rooms. This is why the selection of committees is so important.

When a bill is reported favorably by a committee it is placed upon the calendar which is a register of bills. Then the fate of the bill rests with the rules committee of the House.

The committee on rules, as other committees, is elected by the House. The party in power usually determines the selection of this committee.

Impeachment: If a high official is charged with misconduct in office the House of Representatives would impeach him and if found guilty, the impeachment is carried to the Senate to be tried. The U. S. Senate sits as a court of justice.

Six judges, one President and one Secretary of War have been impeached by the House of Representatives.

Revenue: All bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives.

UNITED STATES SENATE.

The Senate has ninety-six members, two from every state in the union, and are elected for six years, receiving a salary of ,500 a year. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice President of the United States.

The United States Senators are elected by the direct voice of the voters of the state according to the 17th amendment to the National Constitution passed in 1913.

A United States Senator must be thirty years old, a citizen of the United States for nine years, and must live in the state from which he is elected.

The term of office of only one-third of the Senators expires at the same time, so at least two-thirds of the Senate is not new.

The Senate must confirm all appointments made by the President and must ratify all treaties made by him with a two-thirds vote.

Bills originate in the Senate in the same way as in the House, referred to a committee and their course is directly the same. When passed by both Houses the President has ten days to sign or veto them. Without his signature they become a law, unless Congress by adjourning prevents the return within ten days.

The committees of the Senate are elected by its members.

Bills are passed in Congress similar to that in the legislature of a state. They are introduced by a member in either house and must pass both houses, then signed by the presiding officers and clerks and go to the President for his signature or veto.

The sessions are yearly, beginning on the first Monday in December, and last until March 4th; this is known as the short session. The long session occurs in odd numbered years and continues until it is adjourned. The President has the power to call special sessions of Congress.

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.

The Federal courts derive their powers and jurisdiction from the Constitution and laws of the United States.

"The judicial powers of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as Congress may from time to time establish."

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest and most powerful judicial body in the world.

It holds its regular sessions at Washington, sitting from October to July.

The chief justice and eight associate justices constitute the Supreme Court of the United States, and are appointed for life by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate.

The salary of the chief justice is ,000.00 per year, and of the associate justices ,000.00 per year.

Six judges must be present in the trial of a case and a majority is necessary in rendering a decision.

The district judges receive a salary of ,000.00 annually and the judges of the appeals court ,000.00 annually.

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