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FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
The Federal Government is the central authority of the United States. It was organized in 1789, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal constitution. This instrument provides for a legislative, a judicial, and an executive department.
The Legislative Department consists of Congress, which is a body of men representing the people and acting in the place of them. This body meets yearly in the Capitol at Washington, on the first Monday in December. The regular sessions of Congress begin at this time, and close by custom, at twelve o’clock at night, on the third of the following March. The President can call an extra session whenever circumstances demand it. A Congress is said to exist two years, because the larger number of those who compose that body are elected for that time. [“To determine the years covered by a given Congress, double the number of the Congress and add the product to 1789; the result will be the year in which the Congress closed. To find the number of a Congress sitting in any given year, subtract 1789 from the year; if the result is an even number, half that number will give the Congress, of which the year in question will be the closing year. If the result is an odd number, add one to it, and half the result will give the Congress, of which the year in question will be the first year.”—Am. Almanac.] Congress enacts laws, and consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. These bodies, when acting in a legislative capacity, have the same duties and powers. Laws are passed by the concurrent action of both houses.
The Senate is composed of two members from each state, chosen for six years by the legislatures thereof. Over this body the Vice-President presides. Without the concurrence of the House, the Senate aids as a high court to try cases of impeachment; authorized the President to make treaties; and rejects or confirms the President’s nominations to office.
The House of Representatives is composed of members chosen for two years by the people. The number of representatives changes with the increase of population. The House has the exclusive power of originating bills for raising revenues and providing for trials by impeachment.
The Judicial Department determines the meaning of the laws, and consists of the Supreme Court and Inferior Courts.
The Supreme Court, the highest judicial tribunal in the Union, is composed of the Chief Justice and nine associates. It is held annually at Washington city, commencing its sessions on the first Monday in December. Most of its labors are confined to hearing and determining appeals from Inferior Courts. The decisions of the Supreme Court are regularly reported, and furnish authority for all judicial tribunals in the Union. The reports, extending to more than seventy-nine volumes, are highly valued in foreign countries, especially in cases where the laws of the nations and of the sea are involved.
The Inferior Courts are Circuit Courts, District Courts, the Court of Claims, Local Courts in the District of Columbia, and Territorial Courts. Circuit Courts are held within nine circuits, which include the states of the Union. The District Courts are held in judicial districts, and the Court of Claims, at Washington.
The Executive Department executes the laws, and consists of the President, aided by the heads of departments with their under-officials. Attached to this branch of the government are the Departments of State, Treasury, War, Navy, Post-Office, Justice, and Interior. The seven officials who head these departments constitute the cabinet, a name given to the body of men whom the President appoints as his executive officers and advisers.
Secretary of State.—The State Department was organized in 1789, and placed under the direction of the Secretary of State. This officials has charge of foreign affairs, and manages the business without the assistance of separate bureaus.
Secretary of Treasury.—The Treasury Department was established in 1789. It is headed by the Secretary of the Treasury, who has charge of the national finances.
Secretary of War.—The War department was created in 1789. It is under the control of the Secretary of War. The secretaries of the Departments of State, Treasury, War, and Justice, constituted Washington’s cabinet. The Secretary of Was has charge of affairs connected with the army.
Secretary of Navy.—The Navy Department was organized in 1798. Preceding this time, naval affairs were in charge of the Secretary of War; but over the departments now created, an officer was placed, called the Secretary of the Navy, who became immediately a member of the cabinet. This official has charge of affairs connected with the navy.
Post-Master General.—The Post-Office Department, in 1789, was organized according to a section in the constitution. Its chief officer, the Postmaster General, did not become a cabinet officer till March 9th, 1829. He has charge of affairs connected with the mail.
Attorney General.—The Department of Justice was created in 1789, and its chief official, the Attorney General, was made a member of the Cabinet. This officer is head of the department, and his duty is to prosecute and conduct all suits in the Supreme Court in which the United States are concerned, and to give his advice and opinion upon questions of law, when required by the heads of departments.
Secretary of Interior.—The Department of the Interior was created in 1849, at which time its chief official, the Secretary of the Interior, was admitted to a seat in the cabinet. This officer directs the business of the Interior Department. Here, though independent, may be classed the Department of Agriculture, and the Smithsonian Institution.
1789—First Congress. Ten Amendments to the Constitution passed. Departments of Government organized. Washington appoints a National Thanksgiving. First Revenue Tariff approved. Ratio of Representation, 30,000; Members, 65. Many Treaties with the Indians.
1790—Naturalization Law passed. Treason defined and Penalty determined. First Census. Patent Law and first Copyright Law approved. System of Finance adopted; Government assumes State Debts; Public Debt funded.
1791—First United States Bank chartered; Capital, $10,000,000. First Tax on Distilled Spirits.
1792—Apportionment Bill passed, fixing ratio of Representation at 33,000; 103 Members in Congress. A uniform system of Militia established. Post Office Department organized anew.
1793—A Fugitive Law passed. Proclamation of Neutrality relating to France; French Minister Genet recalled by request of Government.
1794—Regulation of Slave Trade. A sixty days Embargo as a retaliation on British “Order in Council.”
1795—Second Naturalized Law passed. Commercial Treaty with Great Britain. Treaty of Madrid.
1796—Washington’s Farewell Address. Contest between the President and the House over the British Treaty.
1797—Privateering against friendly Nations forbidden.
1798—Congress authorizes Naval Warfare with France; Commercial Intercourse with France suspended; Navy Department organized.
1799—Congress votes to raise an Army of 40,000 men.
1800—Treaty of Peace with France. General Law of Bankruptcy approved.
1801—War against Tripoli declared.
1802—Naturalization Laws made more liberal. Represenatives, 141.
1803—Congress gives the President extraordinary authority to maintain Free Navigation of the Mississippi.
1806—Congress forbids the importation of certain goods. Disputes with England and France respecting Natural Rights.
1807—Unites States Coast Survey authorized. Conspiracy of Aaron Burr to divide the Union. English ships of war ordered to leave American waters.
1809—Proclamation forbidding all intercourse with Great Britain and France.
1811—Ratio of Representation fixed at 35,000.
1812—Congress lays an Embargo on American shipping. General Land Office established. More than 6,000 cases of impressment recorded. War declared on the 18th June.
1813—Congress authorizes an issue of $5,000,000 and a loan of $16,000,000. Entire American coast blockaded by British ships. New England opposes the War.
1814—A loan of $25,000,000 authorized.
1815—A loan of $18,400,000 and an issue of $25,000,000 authorized. Government ratifies the Treaty of Ghent, and President proclaims Peace 18th February. Government ceases to pay tribute to Algiers. Unbounded joy throughout the land, and a Day of Thanksgiving observed.
1816—First Protective Tariff enacted. Second United States Bank chartered for twenty years; Capital, $35,000,000. Colonization Society, as a Refuge for Colored Freedmen, founded.
