The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1932. U.S. PRESIDENCY.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1932. U.S. PRESIDENCY.

The election of a President for the United Soares takes p-ace on November Bth. and there: is world wide interest in the result. The two great political parties of the United Stotts —th o Me-; publicans and Democrats—have nominated their Presidential candidates, and the race is between the present President, Mr Herbert O. Hoover (Republican) and *Mr F. D. Roosevelt (Democratic). SnouM Mr Roosevelt be ohetod, lie will not take the oath of office until March 4, president Hoover remaining in office until mid L night on March 3. The United States is thus left without;a President for twelve hours, as the oath is usually taken at midday on March 4. No provision of law .appears to have specific application to this situation, though it is contended that on any pressing, emergency the new President might take the oath in the first hour of March 4, The Republicans have been described ea the Conservative Party cf America, and the Democrats as the Liberals. Their respective foreign policies as outlined at the conventions preceding the Presidential election in 1928 were couched in inch general terms as to show little difference. The Democratic platform made no mention of the cancellation of war debts, but laid it -down that it would respond to the popular will. The Republican platform contained the following clause:; “We have steadfastly opposed and will ■* continue to oppose cancellation cf foreign debts. We have no desire to be oppressive or grasping, but we hold that obligations justly incurred should be hoR ourably discharged. We know of no authority which would permit officials, acting as- trustees, to shift the burden of the war from the shoulders of foreign taxpayers to thosle of our own people. We believe that, the settlements agreed to are fair to both the debtor nation and to the American taxpayer.” The President and VicePresident of the United States are elected for a term of four years. For this .election each State appoints a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators and representatives to which the State is entitled in the Congress. Th&'fefreotcrs appointed meet in their respective States and vote by ballot for President and VicePresklent, one of whom at least must rot be an inhabitant of the same State with thorn selves. Lists showing all persons voted l for as President and Vice President are prepared and forwarded to the President of toe Senate. The person having the greatest number of .votes for President shall fill that office, if the total Is a majority of the whole number of electors appointed. If no person has a maioritv, then from the three .with the greatest number of votes the House of Represerthrives chooses the President by ballot, each State being allowed one vote. The same course is followed in the election of the Vice-President. All legislative powers are vested 'n the Congress, which consists of the Senate and the Home of Representatives. The House of Representatives is composed of members chost&n every second year by the people of the several States. The Senate is composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the .respective State legislatures, for six years. Immediately upon assembly after the first election, the Senators were divided into three groups, the first to vacate their seats .at the end of two years, the second at the end of four years, and* the remainder after six years; so that onethird of the' Senate may be chosen every two years The Vice-President of the United States is President of the Senate. The President of the United States has certain powers of veto. Every Bill which passes the House of Representatives and the Senate must, before it- becomes law, be presented to the President for signature. If he does not approve of the measure he has it returned, with a copv of his objections, to the blouse from which the Bill originated, for reconsideration. If two-thirds of that House again agree to pass the. Bill it. is sent, together with the objections, to the other House,' and becomes law if approvedi there. If any Bill is not returned by this* President within ten days after presentation it automatically becomes law unless tile Congresa by its adjournment prevents it" return. There have been cases where Presidents have held, up measures indefinitely by delaying their return until after the adjournment of Congress.