The Constitution of the United States

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... What ig the rule respecting the separate resolutions of either House? They have no power over the President, or the heads of the Departments, unless within the parliamentaryrights of such house. (6 Opinions of Attorneys-General, 680.) What seems to have been a prominent object with the framers of the Constitution? Such a distribution of the power of government among the several departments, that not any one of the three departments should exercise the powers peculiar to the other two departments. Note. -- The proper time for each department, as a co-ordinate branch of the national government, to exercise its influence over a bill, resolution, or order, seems to be as follows: -- The Legislative department should do it at the time of making, amending, or repealing a bill, resolution, order, or law of Congress. The Executive should do it before he signs a bill, resolution, or order, thus making it a part of the supreme law of the land; and the Judiciary should do it, when a law comes before the Supreme Court in a case within their jurisdiction. Section VIII. POWERS GRANTED TO CONGRESS. Recite this clause. The Congress shall have power, --- 1. To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. Into what two classes may the taxes here mentioned be divided? Direct and indirect. Which are the direct? Taxes upon persons and upon land. Which are the indirect? Taxes on articles of consumption, including duties, imposts, and excises. How must direct taxes be laid? They must be apportioned among the several States, according to their respective population by the census...