ted by its own members; yet a power, extending beyond their own precincts, and affecting other persons, is exercised by both Houses, as incident to the nature of every Legislative body.

95. As the People are entitled to the utmost purity and independence in the conduct of their representatives, and as each House is, in this respect, the guardian of the interests of the People, as well as of its own character, it is its duty to make immediate inquiry into any attempt on the freedom or integrity of any of its members.

96. From the duty to inquire, arises the right to punish in such cases, as well as in cases of immedi. ate insult or disturbance, preventing the exercise of ts ordinary functions; the existence and the exercise of the right in both cases, being equally founded in the necessity of self-preservation.

97. But the power to punish in either case, extends only to imprisonment, which can continue no longer than the duration of the authority that awards it; and which necessarily terminates (if no shorter period be limited) with the adjournment or dissolution of the Congress.

98. Attempts to bribe or intimidate members of the Legislature, are, moreover, offences against the Public, and subject the offender to the usual course of prosecution in a court of law. But this liability does not exclude the jurisdiction of the Legislative body, nor does the interference of the latter, in vindication of its character and safety, preclude the Judicial power from taking cognizance of the same act, as a violation of the general Law.

99. The Legislative powers of the two Houses of

Congress extend to all subjects of. a national character, and will be particularly enumerated and considered in examining the powers vested in the general Government at large. There are, however, some constitutional powers which are peculiar to each branch of the national Legislature.

100. The House of Representatives possesses the sole power of impeachment, or of presenting accusations to the Senate against the public officers of the United States, for misconduct in their offices: and it has also the exclusive right of originating all bills for raising revenue; but the Senate may propose amendments as to other bills.

101. Every bill which may indirectly or consequentially raise or increase revenue, or every moneybill, in the sense of the English law, is not considered a revenue-bill, within the meaning of the Federal Constitution; and in the praetical construction of this power, it has accordingly been confined to bills for levying taxes, in the strict sense of the term, and has not been extended to bills for other purposes which may incidentally create revenues.

102. The Senate has the sole power of trying impeachments; and in its exclusive connexion with the Executive power, it possesses a negative voice in the appointment of all officers, whose appointments are not otherwise provided for in the Constitution.

103. The advice and consent of two-thirds of the Senators present are requisite to the ratification of treaties, which must be submitted to the exclusive consideration of the Senate.

104. Treaties with foreign powers, if made abroad, are negotiated on the part of the United States, by

ministers accredited to those powers, under the instructions of the President; and if made in the United States, they are negotiated between the Secretary of State, under the like instructions, and ministers accredited from foreign Governments.

105. The Senate is not consulted in the first instance, but when the terms of the treaty are agreed upon by the agents or plenipotentiaries employed for that purpose, the President (unless he altogether disapprove it), submits it to the Senate, in whose deliberations he does not participate, but renders them from time to time such information relative to it as they may require.

106. The Senate may wholly reject a treaty, or they may ratify it in part, or recommend additional or explanatory articles; which, if the President approve, become the subject of further negotiation with the foreign power; and when the whole is agreed to, on the other part, and receives the sanction of the Senate, the ratifications are exchanged between the respective Governments, and the treaty becomes obligatory upon both nations.

107. From the reason and exigency of the case, the proceedings of the Senate, on these occasions, are always conducted with closed doors; and the contents of the treaty, and all information connected with it, are, from motives of delicacy and policy, kept secret until the termination of the business renders such reserve no longer necessary.

108. The subjects remaining for consideration under the present general head, are,

III. The method of enacting Laws by the two Houses of Congress; and the times and modes of their assembling and adjourning.

109. The rules of proceeding in each House are substantially the same; and are such as are essential to the transaction of business with order and safety.

110. The House of Representatives chooses its Speaker, or presiding officer, from amongst its own members; and it also chooses its other officers.

111. The Vice President of the United States is ex officio President of the Senate; but has no vote therein, unless the Senators be equally divided.

112. The Senate chooses its other officers; and also a President pro tempore, from its own body, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he executes the office of President of the United States.

113. The proceedings and debates in both Houses are conducted in public, except upon very special occasions, and in the transaction of Executive business by the Senate.

114. Bills, or the original drafts or projects of laws, are introduced into both Houses respectively, either upon the order of the House on the reports of standing, or select Committees, or upon leave granted to an individual member on motion, after due notice of his intention to move the House to grant it.

115. Standing Committees are appointed for the session upon all the usual subjects of ordinary legislation, and upon the general matters incident to the proceedings of each House respectively.

116. Select Committees are appointed from time to time upon special subjects as they arise, and their powers cease upon the performance of the temporary duties assigned to them.

117. Both standing and select Committees are appointed in the House of Representatives on the nomination of the Speaker, and in the Senate most generally by ballot, but sometimes, and in some cases, on the nomination of the President of the Senate.

118. Bills are introduced by standing Committees upon the order of the House upon subjects embraced within the general objects of their appointment, either accompanied by a report upon those general objects, or upon a particular subject, relative thereto, or specially referred to them; or upon the mere motion of the Chairman, or any other member of the Committee under its direction, without previous notice.

119. Bills are in like manner introduced by select Committees, upon the order of the House on a report relative to the special matter referred to them, or upon motion, without previous notice, for leave to report by bill.

120. Every bill must receive three readings before it can be passed by either House; and these several readings must be on different days, unless upon a special order made by the unanimous consent of the House, to the contrary.

121. No bill can be committed or amended in either House, until it has been read twice; and upon the second reading of the bill, it is declared to be ready for commitment or engrossment; if committed, it is committed either to a standing, or a select Committee, or to a Committee of the whole House; or if the bill, instead of being committed, be ordered to be engrossed, the House then appoints the day on which it shall be read the third time.