the House, and is nominated for the speakership by a
convention, or _caucus_, of the representatives who are of his
political party. In rank he is the third officer of the government.
He presides over the House, preserves decorum, decides points of order,
and directs the business of legislation. He is the organ of the House,
and because he speaks and declares its will is called the _Speaker_.
He formerly appointed the standing committees of the House, and thus
largely shaped legislation; but this power was taken from him in 1911.
As almost all laws are matured by the committees, and are passed as the
result of their work, the power to appoint the committees was
considered too important to leave in the hands of one man. The
speaker's salary is $12,000 annually.

The clerk of the preceding House presides during the election of the
speaker. Immediately after his election, the speaker is sworn into
office by the representative of the longest service in the House. He
then assumes the direction of business, and administers the oath to the
members as they present themselves by States. The House of
Representatives is reorganized every two years at the opening of the
first session of each Congress.

OTHER OFFICERS.--The other officers of the House are the clerk, the
sergeant-at-arms, the doorkeeper, the postmaster, and the chaplain.
They are not members of the House. The sergeant-at-arms and the
doorkeeper appoint numerous subordinates.

The sergeant-at-arms is the ministerial and police officer of the
House. He preserves order, under the direction of the speaker, and
executes all processes issued by the House or its committees. The
symbol of authority of the House is the mace, consisting of a bundle of
ebony rods surmounted by a globe, upon which is a silver eagle with
outstretched wings. In scenes of disturbance, when the
sergeant-at-arms bears the mace through the hall of the House at the
speaker's command, the members immediately become quiet and order is
restored.

The doorkeeper has charge of the hall of the House and its entrances.
The postmaster receives and distributes the mail matter of the members.
The chaplain opens the daily sessions of the House with prayer.

[1]After 1913. Before 1913 the senators of each State were elected by
the legislature.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

1. Why do not the people of the United States make their laws in
person, instead of delegating this power to Congress?

2.