who in other cities are appointed by the Common Council. Each teacher should obtain a copy of the city or village charter, and make such additions to and changes in this chapter as may be necessary.

CHAPTER V.

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

The Legislature.-The Legislature is composed of two Houses:

2.

The House of Representatives.

Members of the Legislature are elected at the same time that State and county officers are elected, for a term of two years. They meet at Lansing, the capital of the State, on the first Wednesday in January of the year immediately following their election. The Legislature meets once every two years, but it may be convened by the Governor on extraordinary occasions. The legislative power of the State is vested in these two Houses.

The Senate is sometimes called the Upper House, and the House of Representatives the Lower.

The Senate.-The Senate consists of thirty-two members. The State is divided into thirty-two senatorial districts, according to the number of inhabitants, and each district elects one Senator. In the formation of districts, no county can be divided, unless it is entitled to two or more Senators. In other words, part of one county and part of another can not be united to form a senatorial district. Thus the county of Lenawee has only one senatorial district, while the county of Wayne has three. Sometimes two or more counties are necessary to form one district. The senatorial districts are numbered, first, second, third, etc.

The House of Representatives.-The House of Representatives consists of one hundred members. Representatives are apportioned among the counties according to population. In some counties there is one representative district, in others from two to four, while some districts include several counties. No township or city can be divided in the formation of districts. Some cities contain a population which entitles them to more than one Representative. Thus Grand Rapids has two, while Detroit has seven. When a county is entitled to more than one Representative, the division into representative districts is made by the Board of Supervisors.

Members.-Senators and Representatives must be citizens of the United States and legal voters in the district to be represented. If a member, during his term of office, changes his residence from one district to another, he vacates his office. No person holding an office under the United States, or occupying any State or county office, except that of Notary Public, is eligible to a seat in either House. Each Senator and Representative takes an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Michigan, and to faithfully discharge the duties of his office.

Powers of the Senate.-The Upper House is expected to be an abler body than the Lower House, and is usually composed of men of greater experience in public affairs. The Senate has power,

1. To try impeachments.

2.

3.

To confirm or reject appointments. Certain appointments are made by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

To originate bills. The Senate has concurrent jurisdiction with the House of Representatives in making

laws.

4. To elect a President pro tempore and certain other officers. The President pro tempore performs the duties of the presiding officer in his absence, and when the Lieutenant Governor acts as Governor.

5. To determine the rules of its proceedings, and to judge of the qualifications, election, and returns of its members.

The officers of the Senate are,-Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Sergeantat-Arms, Assistant Sergeants-at-Arms, Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Assistant Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Clerk of the Judiciary Committee, Clerk of Committee on Villages and Cities, Janitors, Keeper of Cloak Room, Governor's Messenger, President's Messenger, Secretary's Messenger, Messengers, Reporters.

Powers of the House of Representatives.-The Lower House is a more numerous body than the Upper House, and it more properly represents the people of the whole State. For this reason it is called the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives has power,

I.

To originate articles of impeachment and present them to the Senate. The Senate acts as a court of impeachment, and the House of Representatives prefers the charges.

2. To originate bills. The House of Representatives has concurrent jurisdiction with the Senate in making laws.

3. To elect a presiding officer called the Speaker, and certain other officers.

4. To determine the rules of its proceedings, and to judge of the qualifications, election, and returns of its members.