disagreement between them with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he thinks proper, but not for a longer time than the day fixed for the assembling of the next session of Congress. He appoints the members of his own Cabinet, who compose the heads of the executive departments, and he may require of them at any time an opinion in writing upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.

He receives ambassadors from foreign powers and other public ministers, and commissions all the officers of the United States.

331. Removal from Office.-The President, the VicePresident and all civil officers of the United States are subject to removal from office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. High crimes and misdemeanors are ascertained by the rules of the common law.

332. The President's Message.--In his annual message, when Congress assembles, the President gives to that body "information of the state of the Union." In this message he reviews the history of the year, comments upon events, makes suggestions concerning legislation, and expresses his opinions on such subjects as he thinks proper. At any time he may send to Congress a special message directing attention to matters requiring immediate consideration.

333. The President as Law-maker.-The President is an essential part of the law-making power under the Constitution, and signs or vetoes all bills and resolutions passed by Congress, except a resolution to adjourn.

334. The President as Politician.—He is elected by a political party for the purpose of carrying out party principles of government. His term of office is known politically as an administration. He is the head or leader of his party, and usually makes all official appointments out

of his own party. The number of appointments he can make is about one hundred and fifteen thousand; sometimes these men use their personal and official influence to re-elect the President who appointed them to office, but the spirit of our institutions is against such action. 335. The President as the Head of the Nation.— The President is the only Federal officer who is directly responsible to the nation for the administration of the Government. He is President of the whole country, and should be above the biassed prejudices of the mere political partisan. He is the nation's man, and not a party man. If he fails to rise to the lofty plane of national duty, he sinks into the obscurity of the mere candidate for office and the distributor of the spoils of office. The burden of his responsibility is too heavy to be borne long, and Washington set the example of retiring from the Presidency at the close of a second term. It has often been said that responsibility makes men serious; the responsibilities incident to the office of President of the United States have called into exercise noble qualities from all our Presidents. From the excitement of the campaign to the cares of the White House is a transformation likely to change the leader of a party into the head of the nation.*

*For Table of Presidents of the United States, see pp. 298, 299.

CHAPTER VII.

THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.

336. The Executive Departments.-The executive business of the Federal Government is committed to seven departments, each of which has for its chief officer a Cabinet minister appointed by the President by and with the consent of the Senate. The departments, in the order of their creation, are

The Navy Department, April 30, 1789.
The Department of State, July 27, 1789.
The Department of War, August 7, 1789.
The Treasury Department, September 2, 1789.
The Post-Office Department, May 8, 1794.
The Department of the Interior, March 3, 1849.
The Department of Justice, June 22, 1870. .

Each member of the Cabinet is in political accord with the President and receives an annual salary of $8000. He holds his appointment at the will of the President, and is directly responsible to him for the management of the department of which he is the principal officer. The President is responsible to the people of the United States for the conduct of business in all the departments.*

* The Cabinet meets at the executive mansion at the direction of the President, who presides over its consultations and directs them. Its proceedings are not recorded, and it has no legal authority as a body. As its action is merely advisory, the President is not bound by the judgment of the Cabinet, and its members as heads of executive departments may disregard the advice of the Cabinet and assume the responsibility of individual action.