If his votes are not a majority of all the electors, then the Senate proceeds to elect the Vice President from the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes for Vice President.  A quorum for the purpose consists of two thirds of the senators from all the States.  Each senator has one vote, and a majority of the whole number is necessary to elect.

The people do not vote directly for President and Vice President, but for electors by whom the President and the Vice President are chosen.  The electors of all the States are called collectively the electoral college.

The electors may vote for some other person than the candidate nominated by their respective parties; but no elector has ever chosen to exercise this privilege.  They consider themselves in honor pledged and instructed to cast their votes for the candidate of their own political faith.

The vote of the people for electors is called the popular vote, and the vote of the electors for President is called the electoral vote.  As has several times happened in our history, a candidate may be elected President or Vice President and yet be in a minority of the popular vote.

INAUGURATION.—­On the 4th of March following the election the President and the Vice President assume the duties of their respective offices amid imposing ceremonies.

The Vice President is first sworn into office in the presence of the United States Senate.  The following oath of office is then administered to the President-elect by the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court:  “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States; and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

In the presence of a vast concourse of citizens the President delivers an address, outlining the public policy to be pursued during his term of office.  There is usually a display of civil and military organizations representing all sections of the country.  The political differences of the people are in great part forgotten in the enthusiasm attending the inauguration of the President.

OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.—­The presidential mansion in the city of Washington is called the White House.  It was erected and is maintained by the national government at public expense.  Here the President resides with his family, and receives private citizens, members of Congress, officers of other departments of the government, and foreign ministers and dignitaries.

At his public receptions, held at stated times, he may be called upon by the humblest person in the land.  This shows the spirit of equality which prevails even in the highest station under our system of government.  Our institutions are based upon the principle embodied in the Declaration of Independence, “That all men are created equal.”