ing the fewest members. happens that neither of the senators from a new state serves for six years. The terms of senators from a new state are decided by lot, and are known as the long and the short term.

On this account it sometimes

Present Classification.-The senate is now separated into three groups of thirty members each. The term of those in the first class will expire March 3, 1903, those in the second class, March 3, 1905, and those in the third class, March 3, 1907. The admission of Utah in January, 1896, increased the number of senators to ninety, but neither of her first two senators served for the full term of six years.

CHAPTER IX.

SENATE-CONTINUED.

Clause 3.-Qualifications.

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.

Higher Qualifications. It was admitted by all members of the constitutional convention that the qualifi‹ ations of senators should be higher than those of representatives. The minimum age is five years higher, and the length of time of citizenship, two years longer. The clause relating to inhabitancy is the only one that may be subject to abuse. While a senator at the time of his election mist be an inhabitant of the state from which he is chosen, he may at any time remove to some other state and contir ue to serve as senator from the state that elected him.

As the senate acts with the president in making treaties with other nations, the first two qualifications named seem all the more necessary.

Clause 4.-Presiding Officer.

The vice-president of the United States shall be president of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equa ly divided.

Vice-President.-There was much objection made to the election of a vice-president, and it is doubtful whether,

or not, the office would have been created, had not some member of the convention suggested that the vice-president should serve as president of the senate, ex-officio.

General Provisions.-The work of presiding over the senate would qualify the vice-president for the more important position, should he be called upon to perform the duties of president. He is not allowed to vote, except in case of equal division of the senate upon any question ander consideration, because his vote might seem to increase the political influence of the state from which he was elected. That state would have three votes in the senate instead of two, and to prevent this, the vice-president is not permitted to vote except as above stated. Because there is always an even number of senators, it seems necessary for the presiding officer to have the casting vote in case of an equal division of the senate, in order to prevent what is known in political language as a "dead lock." The vice-president takes no part in the discussions of the senate, nor does he appoint any of the regular committees of that body.

Clause 5.-Other Officers.

The senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president pro tempore, in the absence of the vice-president, or when he shall exercise the office of the president of the United States.

The other officers of the senate are a president pro tempore, a secretary, sergeant-at-arms, chaplain, librarian, and postmaster.

As

President Pro Tempore.-The president pro tempore is chosen by the senate from among its own members. a rule, the position is an honorary one, as he is not often called upon to preside over the senate for any length of

time.

When the vice-president succeeds to the president y, the president pro tempore presides at all the sessions of the senate, and he then receives the same salary as the vicepresident. It is not right to call the president pro tempore of the senate, vice-president of the United States. The two offices are entirely separate and distinct from each other.

Clause 6.-Impeachment.

The senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice shall preside; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further thin to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit, under the United States, ut the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment, according to low.

Court of Impeachment.-As stated elsewhere, the house of representatives has the sole power of impeachme it, but when a public officer has been impeached, he is oblig ed to appear before the senate to answer to the charges that have been preferred against him. When trying a case of impeachment, the senate is organized as a court, and each senator is obliged to take an oath (or affirmation) that he will try the case fairly.

Impeachment of President.-When the president of the United States is tried, the chief justice of the su-. preme court presides. This is done to secure impartial rulings on the part of the presiding officer. It was thought advisable to make this provision, as the vice-president, who is first in the line of succession to the presidency, might be unduly interested in securing the removal of the president.

Conviction.-The trial of a public officer on impeachment is a very grave matter, and it is certainly a safe plan to require a two-thirds vote of the senators present to convict a person who has been impeached.

Punishment.-The powers of the senate to punish a public officer on impeachment is limited to removing him from office and declaring him to be forever disqualified to hold and enjoy any position of honor, trust, or profit, under the government of the United States. But any person so convicted is liable to punishment by due process of law, for any crime committed or wrong done, the same as though the impeachment and trial had not occurred.