The President receives a salary of seventy-five thousand dollars per year; the annual salary of the Vice President is twelve thousand dollars.

ELECTION.—­The President holds his office for a term of four years, and, together with the Vice President chosen for the same term, is elected in the following manner:  During the earlier part of the regular year for the election of a President, each of the political parties in each state appoints delegates to the national convention of the party, either by means of conventions, or by vote at primary elections.  Each party meets in national convention later on in the year, and nominates the candidates whom it will support for President and Vice President, and puts forth a declaration of principles called a “platform.”

On Tuesday after the first Monday in November the people of the several States meet at their usual polling-places, and elect as many electors of President and Vice President as the State has senators and representatives in Congress.  For this purpose candidates for electors have previously been nominated by the several parties naming candidates for President and Vice President.

The election returns are forwarded to the State capital, where they are compared, and the result declared by the election board of the State.  The governor and secretary Of State issue certificates to the persons chosen as electors of President and Vice President.

On the second Monday in January the electors of each State meet at the State capital and cast their votes for the candidates of their party for President and Vice President.  They make, sign, certify, and seal three separate lists of their votes for President and Vice President; transmit two lists to the president of the United States Senate—­one by mail and the other by special messenger—­and file the remaining list with the judge of the United States district court of the district in which the electors meet.

On the second Wednesday in February the United States Senate and House of Representatives meet in joint session.  The president of the Senate opens the certificates of votes from all the States, and the votes are then counted.  The person having the highest number of votes for President is declared elected President, if his votes are a majority of all the electors elected in the whole Union.

If no person receives a majority of all the electoral votes, then the House of Representatives elects the President from the three candidates receiving the highest numbers of votes.  A quorum for the purpose is a representative or representatives from two thirds of the States.  Each State has one vote, cast as a majority of its representatives present directs; and a majority of ail the States is necessary to elect.

The person receiving the highest number of votes for Vice President is elected Vice President, if his votes are a majority of the whole number of electors chosen.