Chapter Ii Who Makes the Laws

The law-making branch of the United States government is Congress, which consists of two separate Houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate has two members from each state in the Union. The House of Representatives has a changing membership, directed by the Constitution to be fixed as to number and reapportioned among the states, according to the population as disclosed by the census to be taken every ten years. The Constitution contains a provision to the effect that each state must have at least one Representative, and that there shall not be more than one for every thirty thousand population. Of course, that minimum was discarded long ago. The ratio in effect at present, as there has been no recent reapportionment, is 211,877, which gives the House of Representatives a membership of 435.

Originally the members of the Senate were elected by the different state legislatures; but the Constitution was amended so as to provide for the election of Senators by the direct vote of the people of the different states.

The members of the House of Representatives are elected from Congressional districts into which all the states are divided, though a state may elect one or more Congressmen-at-large if it chooses so to do.

The Senate is usually known as the “upper house” and the House as the “lower house.” The term of a Senator is six years and that of a Representative, two.

A person must be at least twenty-five years of age to be a Representative. He must have been a citizen of the United States for at least seven years and must be at the time of his election a resident of the state from which he is chosen.

To be qualified for election to the Senate a person must be at least thirty years of age and have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and must when elected, be a resident of the state for which chosen.

Since the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution women as well as men are competent to serve as Senators and Representatives.

SALARIES

Senators and Representatives receive a salary of $10,000 each. In addition each of them receives an allowance for a secretary and for stenographic help. Each of them also is paid mileage at the rate of ten cents a mile for each official trip from his district to Washington and return.