The sergeant-at-arms is the ministerial and police officer of the House.  He preserves order, under the direction of the speaker, and executes all processes issued by the House or its committees.  The symbol of authority of the House is the mace, consisting of a bundle of ebony rods surmounted by a globe, upon which is a silver eagle with outstretched wings.  In scenes of disturbance, when the sergeant-at-arms bears the mace through the hall of the House at the speaker’s command, the members immediately become quiet and order is restored.

The doorkeeper has charge of the hall of the House and its entrances.  The postmaster receives and distributes the mail matter of the members.  The chaplain opens the daily sessions of the House with prayer.

[1]After 1913.  Before 1913 the senators of each State were elected by the legislature.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1.  Why do not the people of the United States make their laws in person, instead of delegating this power to Congress?

2.  Is it right that the President should hold the veto power?

3.  Why is each House “judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its own members”?

4.  Why are the yeas and nays entered on the Journal?

5.  Why are senators and representatives privileged from arrest during the session, except for certain specified offenses?

6.  Is it right to grant copyrights and patents?

7.  What is counterfeiting?

8.  Should United States senators be elected by the legislature or by the people?

9.  How many senators in Congress now?

10.  Who are the two United States senators from this State?

11.  What is an impeachment?

12.  How many representatives in Congress from this State?

13.  Give the name of the representative from this district.

14.  Who at present is speaker of the national House of Representatives?

15.  Of what State is he a representative?

16.  Name six of the most important committees of the House of Representatives.

QUESTION FOR DEBATE.

Resolved, That the members of the President’s cabinet should be members of the House of Representatives.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE UNITED STATES—­(Continued).

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

PRESIDENT:  QUALIFICATIONS.—­The executive power of the national government is vested in the President of the United States.

The President and the Vice President must be natural born citizens of this country, must have attained the age of thirty-five years, and must have resided fourteen years in the United States.

In case of the President’s death, resignation, or removal from office, his duties devolve upon the Vice President; and if a vacancy occurs in the office, the Vice President becomes President of the United States.  At other times the only duty of the Vice President is to preside over the Senate.