The House of Representatives

The membership of the House is 435. By the Constitution each State is entitled to at least one representative and all beyond this minimum number are apportioned among the states’ Senate Chamber in the North Wing of the Capitol where the Senate of the United States convenes. Public galleries for tourists and other visitors arc above the Chair; the family gallery is to the Chair's left; the diplomatic gallery is directly across from him and the press gallery directly above and behind him according to population. The only constitutional limitation is that the number must not exceed one representative to each 30,000 of population.

The members of the House do not have individual seats, any member may sit where he chooses. Democrats occupy the east side of the chamber – on the Speaker's right, Republicans sit across the main aisle on the Speaker's left.

The officers of the House include Speaker, Chaplain, Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper and Postmaster. Each of these elective officers appoints any employees provided by law for his department.

The Speaker of the House is nominated at a party caucus and chosen by the members of the House of Representatives.

The Speaker of the House presides over the House, appoints the chairman to preside over the Committee of the Whole, appoints all special or select committees, appoints Conference Committees, has the power of recognition of members, makes many important rulings and decisions in the House. The Speaker may vote, but usually does not. The Speaker and the majority leader determine the administration policies in the House, often confer with the President, and are regarded as spokesmen for the Administration if they and the President belong to the same political party.

The sergeant-at-arms has a special symbol of office, the mace.

During sessions, the flag is raised over the House wing of the Capitol. The mace is on its pedestal. At night, if either House is in session, a light is burning in the dome.

The sergeant-at-arms has the mace properly placed on its pedestal to the Speaker's right; it remains there while the House is in session except when it is being borne by the sergeant-at-arms to enforce order on the floor. The mace is a symbol, not an implement, and its solemn exhibition is sufficient.

The whips (of the majority and minority parties) keep track of all important political legislation and endeavour to have all members of their parties present when important measures are to be voted upon. When the vote is likely to be closed they check up, find out who is out of the city, and advise absentees by wire of the important measures coming up.

When the House meets, the Speaker calls the members to order and the sergeant-at-arms places the mace on the pedestal at the right of the Speaker's platform. It is the symbol of authority of the House. Then the chaplain offers prayers. Next the clerk reads the Journal of the preceding day's activities. Members of the committees make reports of bills and then the House is ready to consider the bill left unfinished the day before or take up a new bill on the calendar, if there be no unfinished business.

When any Member means to speak, he is to stand up in his place and to address himself, not to the House or any particular member, but to the Speaker.

The length of time depends upon the matter before the House or the circumstances bringing it up, but in no event is a member of the House allowed to proceed longer than one hour without unanimous consent.

In the House of Representatives a quorum is a majority of the membership. When there are no vacancies in the membership a quorum is 218. There are usually a few vacancies – members who have died or have resigned and their places are yet unfilled. So an actual quorum is usually a little under that figure. Much "business is transacted without a quorum. But no business of any character, except to adjourn, can he transacted without a quorum present if any member objects.

The standing committees of the House of Representatives are as follows: Agriculture; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking and Currency; District of Columbia; Education and Labour; Foreign Affairs; Government Operations; House Administration; Interior and Insular Affairs; Interstate and Foreign Commerce; Judiciary; Merchant Marine and Fisheries; Post Office and Civil Service; Public Works; Rules; Science and Astronautics; Un-American Activities; Standards of Official Conduct; Veterans Affairs; and Ways and Means.

The Administration

The presidency of the U.S. is the highest governmental office.

The executive branch, which includes the President, Vice-President, and the President's Cabinet, is responsible for administering and executing the laws.

The President must be a natural-born citizen, at least thirty-five years old, and for at least fourteen years a resident of the United States.

The Twentieth Amendment makes noon on January 20, every four years, the time for the beginning of presidential terms. The 22nd Amendment ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the states limits the President to two terms. At noon on January 20 ("Inauguration Day") the President, the chief executive, is sworn to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution.

The Oath of the President: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United Stales, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The U.S. President is assisted in Administration by a Cabinet of 10—12 members. The Government positions held by members of the President's Cabinet are: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defence, Attorney General, Postmaster General, Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Secretary of Transportation.

Cabinet officials are appointees of the President and serve during his term. When the President's service ends, it is customary for the Cabinet to resign, so that the new President can appoint new chiefs of the executive departments.

The twelve executive departments are: the State Department (established in 1789), the Treasury Department (1789), Department of Defence (1949), Department of Justice (1870), Post Office Department (1872), Department of the Interior (1849), Department of Agriculture (1862), Department of Commerce (1903), Department of Labour (1913), Department of Health, Education and Welfare (1953), Department of Housing and Urban Development (1965), Department of Transportation (1966).

The fourth Act of Congress after adoption of the Constitution was a bill establishing a Department of Foreign Affairs, on July 27, 1789. That is, the State Department ranks ahead of other Departments in prestige and seniority.

Among major activities of the State Department are: Embassies and Legations; European Affairs; Far Eastern Affairs; Near Eastern, South Asian and African Affairs; Inter-American Affairs; Bureau of Economic Affairs; International Trade and Resources; International Organization Affairs; International Cooperation Administration; Mission of the United Nations; Passports and Visas.

The political power of the Secretary of Stale is second only to that of the President. The Secretary of State has the duty of trying to maintain peace and to negotiate economic and political treaties.

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