UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, Government of. The United States, at the time of the formation of the General or Federal government in 1787, as well as at the time of their separation from Great Britain, 1776, consisted of thirteen distinct political communities,— Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary land, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. The number is now increased to twenty-seven by the successive additions of the following States: Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Ark ansas, Michigan, and Florida. In the year 1845 Texas was admitted into the Union as a State and member thereof.
They formed a Federal Government for defence from foreign aggression, and tranquillity at home ; to encourage and protect commerce ; and for a few objects of internal legislation in which unifor mity among the States was desirable, and an obvious and direct common interest existed. To the separate States was left the legislation which concerns the law of property, the punishment of offences, the administration of justice, and the exercise of all powers over the territory and the citizens except the few which have been ' either expressly withdrawn from the States, or delegated to the General go vernment.
Both the General and State govern ments are essentially democratic. In both it is assumed that the interest of the ma jority is the proper end of government, and that the wishes of the majority truly indicate that interest.
By the written instrument called the Constitution of the United States, the power of the General government is divided into three branches; the legisla tive, executive,- and judicial.
The legislative power is vested in two Houses. One, called the House of Repre sentatives, is chosen every second year by those whom the laws of each State make legal voters. The number of repre sentatives is not fixed, but has gradually increased from 65, in 1789, when the con stitution went into operation, to 224 and two delegates. The two delegates are for the territories of Wisconsin and Iowa respectively. The representatives must
be apportioned among the States accord ing to their population, deducting two fifths of the slaves in the estimate ; and for the purpose of correcting the inequa lity of distribution arising from the van ations in the relative numbers of the States, a census of the inhabitants is to be taken every ten years, at which time a new apportionment takes place, and a new ratio of population to each representative may be then also adopted, or the former one be continued. The act of Congress of 1842 declares that there shall be "oue representative for every 70,680 persons in each State, and one additional repre sentative for each State, having a fraction greater than one moiety of the said ratio, computed according to the rule pre scribed by the constitution of the United States." The Senate consists of two members from each State, chosen by its legislature, and consequently the whole number is now 54. One-third of the members is elected every second year, so that each member holds his seat for six years. In both houses the members are re-eligible.
All acts of legislation require the con currence of both Houses, which constitute the Congress of the United States. They have the power of levying taxes of every kind for all national objects pursuant to the powers given them by the constitu tion; of regulating commerce, foreign and domestic; of coining money ; fixing the standard of weights and measures ; establishing post-offices and post roads ; prescribing a uniform rule of naturaliza tion, and a uniform bankrupt law ; cre ating and supporting an army and navy ; of declaring war ; defining and punishing treason, piracy, counterfeiting, and other offences arising under the constitution and acts of Congress ; exercising exclu sive legislation in the district of Columbia in which Washington, the seat of the General Government, is situated, and in forts, arsenals, dockyards, and all the ter ritories belonging to the General Govern ment; and the power of admitting new States into the Union.