Civil Government for Common Schools Part 17

Q. When does the Supreme Court meet?

A. The first Monday in December, at Washington.

Q. What is its jurisdiction?

A. Princ.i.p.ally Appellate; it has Original jurisdiction in a few cases, as mentioned in Const.i.tution.

Q. By whom are all these judges appointed?

A. By the President and Senate.

Q. What is the salary of the Supreme Court Judges?

A. The Chief Justice receives ten thousand five hundred dollars.

a.s.sociates receive ten thousand dollars.

Q. For how long a term are all these judges appointed?

A. They hold the office for life, or during good behavior, or until they resign. Election of a President and Vice-President of the United States.

ELECTION OF A PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Q. Under how many heads may this topic be treated?

A. Two: the first being the manner pursued by the political parties for nominating candidates; the second, the const.i.tutional provisions for electing them.

Preliminary action of political parties.

I. Calling of a National Convention.

II. Calling of State Conventions.

III. Calling of County or a.s.sembly District Conventions.

IV. Calling of Town Caucuses.

Q. By whom is the National Convention called?

A. By a National Committee appointed at the last National Convention, or the one held four years before.

Q. By whom is the State Convention called?

A. By a State Committee, appointed at the State Convention held the year before.

Q. By whom is the County or a.s.sembly District Convention called?

A. By a County or District Committee, appointed at a previous convention.

Q. By whom is a Town Caucus called?

A. By a Town Committee, appointed at a previous meeting. Q. Which meeting is held first?

A. The Town Caucus, and delegates are elected at this meeting to attend a County or a.s.sembly District Convention,

Q. Which Convention is held next?

A. The County or a.s.sembly District Convention, which elects delegates to attend the State Convention.

Q. Which Convention is held next?

A. The State Convention, which elects delegates to attend the National Convention.

Q. What Convention is held next?

A. The National Convention. The delegates then and there a.s.sembled nominate candidates for the offices of President and Vice- President; and adopt their political platform.

Q. When do these conventions just named take place?

A. Once in four years, in the months of April, May and June, preceding the presidential election.

Further actions by political parties.

I. State Convention for nominating the Electors for President and Vice-President.

II. Voting for these Electors at the annual election.

Q. When does the State Convention for nominating the Electors meet?

A. At a time when it is convenient to nominate State officers: for instance, August or September.

Q. To how many Electors is each State ent.i.tled?

A. As many as it has Representatives and Senators. For instance, New York has thirty-three Representatives in the House, and two Senators; therefore New York is ent.i.tled to thirty-five electoral votes. Colorado has one Representative, and two Senators, and is ent.i.tled to three electoral votes.

Q. How are these Electors distributed about the State?

A. One Elector is elected for each Congressional District; the two others are called Electors at Large, and are selected from any part of the State.

Q. What must each political party do that it may get its candidates before the people?

A. It must have its conventions and nominate the required number of Electors.

Q. What are these Electors intended to represent?

A. The views of the party nominating them.

O. How frequently, and when is a Presidential election held?

A. Once in four years, on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November, throughout all the States.

Q. What must each voter do, in the State of New York, that he may cast a ballot for President and Vice-President?