Salaries of Foreign Rulers.—The salary paid our President is small when we compare it with the grants made to European rulers. In 1901 the English government voted some $4,000,000 for the annual use of the royal household. The Czar of Russia receives $6,500,000 annually, in addition to revenues derived from 1,000,000 square miles of crown domains. The President of France receives $231,600 annually.
Inauguration Day.—One of the most notable of our civic festivals occurs on the fourth of March[[42]] after the Presidential election. Then thousands of people go to Washington to witness the inaugural exercises, by which the President and Vice-President are formally invested with their offices. The Constitution provides that the President shall take the following oath of office before entering on his duties:—
Section I, Clause 7. I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
It has been established, by custom, that the oath shall be administered by the Chief Justice of the United States, at the east front of the Capitol. After taking the oath the President gives his inaugural address, which outlines the policy he purposes to carry out. Immediately after his inauguration, unless it be his second term, he calls the Senate together, and places before it his nominations for members of the cabinet, and for such other important offices as he may desire to make.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS AND REFERENCES.
1. Which of the Presidents have served two terms? How was their election for a second term to be accounted for?
2. The method of calling National political conventions. When held? Questions considered. Make a study of the last convention. Cosmop., 29: 194-200; Scribner's Mag., 27: 643-656.
3. Under what conditions was the first platform of a National convention agreed upon? Wilson, Division and Reunion, 63.
4. For the work of the National committee, see Rev. of R's, 22: 549-556; 556-563.
5. The power of the chairman of the National committee is discussed in Atl. Mo., 89: 76-81.