officers correspond to the duties of similar officers in the city.

General Remark.-As cities and villages are incorporated by a special act of the Legislature, as well as by conforming with certain requirements, they will necessarily vary somewhat in the number of their officers, their powers, and the mode of selecting them. In some cities certain officers are elected 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.

Engineer of the Fire Department, &c.

{Justices of the Peace in the Town

JUDICIAL

LEGISLATIVE.

Board of Trustees or Council.

CHAPTER V.

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

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

I. The Senate,

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 more than one Senator. In other words, part of one county and part of another can not be united to form a senatorial district. Some counties have only

one senatorial district, while other counties have two or more districts. Sometimes several 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 two or more, 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.

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 discharge faithfully 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,

I. To try impeachments.

2. To confirm or reject appointments.

Certain

appointments are made by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate.

3. 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.

Officers and Employees of the Senate.-President, President protempore, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Sergeant-at-Arms, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Assistant Engrossing and Enrolling Clerk, Committee Clerks, Janitors, Keeper of Cloak Room, Governor's Messenger, President's Messenger, Secretary's, Messenger, Messengers, etc.

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 pre