The Senate of the United States is composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years. At their first meeting under the Constitution, the Senators were divided into three classes, so that the terms of one-third of the Senators might expire every second year. By this means one-third of the SeBate is renewed biennially. No person can be a Senator who is under thirty years of age, nor unless he has been nine years a citizen of the United States, and when elected an inhabitant of the State for which he is chosen. When vacancies happen in any State, temporary appointments may be made (if the Legislature be not in session) by the Executive of the State, until the next meeting of the Legislature. The Vice-President of the United States is President of the Senate, but has no vote unless they be equally divided. The Senate is required to choose also a president pro tempore, who presides in the absence of the Vice-President or when the latter shall exercise the office of President.

The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several States. No person can be a Representative who is under twenty-five years of age, nor unless he has been seven years a citizen of the United States, and, when elected, an inhabitant of the State for which he is chosen. Representatives are apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, which numbers are ascertained by an actual enumeration, or census, of all the inhabitants, made within every term of ten years. When by this means the whole number of free persons is ascertained, excluding Indians not taxed, there is added to such number three-fifths of all other persons, and the aggregate thus found is the represent ative population. By the law of 23d of May, 1850, under which the existing apportionment of Representatives was originally made, it was enacted that the number of Representatives in Congress should be 233, that the representative population determined by the census of that year and thereafter should be divided by said number 233, and

representation for the several States. The ratio thus ascertained under the census of 1860 was 124,183; and upon this basis the 233 Representatives were apportioned among the several States. one Representative for every district containing that number of persons; giving to each State at least one Representative. Subsequently, by the act of March 4, 1862, the number of Representatives from and after March 3, 1863, was increased from 233 to 241 by allowing one additional Representative to each of the following States, viz.: Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Verinont.

Besides Senators and Representatives, there is a class of members of Congress, called Delegates, who sit in the House and represent the organized Territories of the United States. These Delegates may present subjects for legislation and address the House, but, not representing States, they have no votes. In the present Congress there are nine, -one each from the Territories of Washington, New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Dakota, Arizona, and Idaho.

Under the law of August 16, 1856, the compensation of a Senator, Representative, or Delegate in Congress is $6000 for each Congress, at the rate of $3000 per annum, and mileage at the rate of $8 for every twenty miles of estimated distance by the most usual road from his place of residence to the seat of Congress, at the commencement and at the end of every session; but this mileage is allowed for two sessions only in each Congress. The compensation of the Speaker of the House is double that of a Representative, and the President pro tempore of the Senate, when there is no VicePresident, is entitled to the compensation allowed by law to the Vice-President, $8000 per annum.

The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives are prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but Congress may at any time by law alter such regulations, or make new ones, except as to the places of choosing Senators. No Senator or Representative can, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under authority of the United States, which shall have been created or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time; and no person holding any office under the United States shall be a member of either House during his continuance in offico.