ker--whether,
indeed, he has not too much power.

[2] The most important "other officers" are the clerk and the
sergeant-at-arms.

The clerk, as his title would indicate, has charge of the records of the
House. He has a number of assistants.

The sergeant-at-arms acts under the orders of the speaker in keeping order
and in serving processes. His duties in the House resemble those of the
sheriff in court.

The doorkeeper, postmaster, and chaplain, have duties indicated by their
titles.

These officers are elected by the House and serve during its pleasure,
usually two years. Assistants are appointed by the officers whom they
assist.

None of these officers are members of the House.

[3] An impeachment is a solemn accusation in writing, formally charging a
public officer with crime. "The articles of impeachment are a sort of
indictment; and the House, in presenting them, acts as a grand jury, and
also as a public prosecutor." [Footnote: Story's Exposition of the
Constitution of the United States.]

For further discussion of impeachment, see pages 138, 203 and 331. A very
interesting account of the impeachment trial of Secretary Belknap is given
in Alton's _Among the Lawmakers_, pages 245-250. Mr. B. is hidden under a
fictitious name.

On impeachment, see also Wilson's _Congressional Government_, page 275.

WRITTEN EXERCISE.

Each member of the class should prepare a tabulation like this, filling
out the blanks briefly.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I. NUMBER--
1. Based upon.
2. Limitations.
(a)
(b)
II. QUALIFICATIONS.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
III. ELECTION--
IV. TERM--
Y. VACANCY--

_Pertinent Questions._

What is a constitution? A law? A preamble? How many of the reasons
assigned in the preamble for establishing this government are general and
how many are special?

How many houses do most legislative bodies have? How many did the congress
under the confederation have? Why? Why has congress two houses?

How many representatives has this state in the U.S. congress? Give their
names by districts. In which district do you live? When was your
representative elected? By the census of 1880, Alabama had a population of
1,262,505; how many representatives should it have? Nevada had only 62,261
inhabitants, but has a representative; how do you account for the fact?
What proportion of U.S. officers are elected?

What is the "most numerous branch" of this state's legislat