Bills may be introduced in

Approval of Governor. either house, but the other house may alter, amend, or reject them altogether. Before a bill can become a law, it must pass both houses and be signed by the speaker of the house and the president of the senate. It is then presented to the governor for approval. If he is satisfied with its provisions, he affixes his signature, and the bill becomes a law. If he objects to the bill, it is his duty to return it to the house in which it originated, with his objections.

Veto. These objections being entered upon the journal, this house then proceeds to reconsider the bill. If, after such reconsideration, the bill is again passed by a two-thirds majority of each house, it becomes a law, notwithstanding the governor's objections. The refusal of the governor to sign a bill is called his veto. Latin expression, signifying, "I forbid."

Veto is a

Governor's Neglect. The failure of the governor to return a bill within three days from the time it is presented to him (Sunday excepted), is equivalent to his signature, unless the General Assembly, by adjournment, prevent its return. Bills presented to the governor during the last · three days of the session must be deposited by him with the secretary of state within 30 days from the time the legislature adjourned. He must also signify his approval by signing the bills, or if he vetoes a bill, his objections must be filed with the secretary of state, along with the bill itself.

Readings of Bill. Every act or resolution receives three separate readings, but its second and third readings can not occur upon the same day. A bill cannot be passed without the assent of a majority of all the members elected to each branch of the legislature. The question upon its final passage must be taken immediately after its last reading, the vote being by yeas and nays.

The procedure in making laws is practically the same in the Congress of the United States and in all state legislatures. This method is fully explained in Part III, page 212.

Joint Convention. Certain business of the General Assembly is transacted in joint convention of both houses. Such meetings are held in the hall of the house of representatives, and in the absence of the president of the senate and speaker of the house, a temporary president is chosen on joint ballot. A record of the proceedings is kept by the clerk of the house and the secretary of the senate, and recorded by them upon the journals of their respective houses.

United States Senator. In 1913 the seventeenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified. This amendment provides for the election of United States senators by the direct vote of the people, and its ratification virtually repealed this clause of Article II of the constitution of Iowa.

QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS

1. Name the departments of government and define each.

2. What are the legal qualifications of senators and representatives?

3. How many senators and how many representatives have we in Iowa? What provision does the constitution make as to the relative number? Who is your representative? Senator? What party supported him?

What

4. When does the General Assembly meet? officers are elected by each house? Who determines whether members have been duly elected?

5. What privileges have the members? What restrictions are placed upon them?

6. What is the purpose of a vote by " Yeas and Nays"? 7. What is each of the following? Veto, governor's neglect, bill, law, joint convention, impeachment?

8. Follow the proceedings of the General Assembly in the papers, if it is in session. Visit both houses if practicable.

9. What advantages would a small legislature have over one of large membership? What advantage is there in two houses?

10. If you were interested in having a law passed abolishing saloons, how would you go about it to bring it to the attention of the legislature?

11. Secure a copy of the Code of Iowa and learn what laws the General Assembly has passed regarding: child labor, factory inspection, insurance of employees and public health.

12. Study the subjects suggested in the statement above in other books and report on them in class or use them for subjects in your composition lesson.

CHAPTER IV

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

ARTICLE IV

I. OFFICERS PROVIDED BY THE CONSTITUTION

Governor. To the executive department belongs the duty of enforcing the laws of the state. The governor is the chief officer of the state. He is elected every second year by the qualified voters. The election occurs on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year, and the term of office begins on the second Monday in January following the election. The duties of the governor are very important, for to him is entrusted the enforcement of the laws.

Qualifications. The qualifications of the governor are not the same in all the states. In Iowa, no person is eligible to that position who is not a male citizen of the United States, at least thirty years of age, and who has not been a resident of the state for two years immediately preceding the election. A lieutenant-governor is chosen at the time the governor is elected. He must have the necessary qualifications for governor, and his term of office is the same as that of the governor.

Returns of Election. The returns of the election for governor and lieutenant-governor are sealed and transmitted to the seat of government. They are directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and it is his duty to open and publish them in the presence of both houses of the General Assembly.

The persons who have received the highest number of votes for governor and lieutenant-governor respectively, are declared elected. In case of a tie vote for two or more persons for either office, it is the duty of the General Assembly in joint meeting to proceed to the election of governor or lieutenant-governor, as the case may be.

Duties. The governor is required to discharge the following duties:

1. To act as commander-in-chief of the militia, and of the army and navy of the state.

2. To transact business for the state with all civil and military officers of the government.

3. To fill vacancies in state offices by appointment unless the laws provide that they shall be filled in some other way. These appointments last only until the end of the next meeting of the General Assembly or until the next general election.

4. To transmit a message to the General Assembly as soon as the organization of that body is completed. This message contains a statement of the condition of the state, and such recommendations as the governor sees fit to make concerning important matters.

Powers. The governor possesses the following powers: 1. To fix the time for adjournment of the General Assembly in case both houses fail to agree upon a time for adjournment.

2. To grant reprieves and pardons except in cases of impeachment and treason, subject to regulations provided by law.

Each case of reprieve, commutation, pardon or remission of fine or forfeiture must be reported to the General Assembly at its next meeting. In every case the report must give the name of the person relieved and the reasons for the governor's action.