Chapter XXVII: Section IV: Elections and Meetings

_Clause 1.--Elections to Congress._

_The times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives, shall be prescribed in each state by the legislature thereof: but the congress may at any time, by law, make or alter such regulations,[1] except as to the place of choosing senators.[2]_

[1] Until 1842 these matters were left entirely with the several states. Congress then provided that representatives should be elected by districts of contiguous territory, equal to the number of representatives. It has since provided that elections for representatives shall be by ballot, and that the election shall be on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in the even numbered years.

The time and mode of electing senators are given on page 333.

[2] This would in effect be giving congress power to locate the capital of a state.

_Clause 2.--Meetings._

_The congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day._

They have _not_ by law appointed a different day.

"Annual meetings of the legislature have long been deemed, both in England and America, a great security to liberty and justice." By making provision in the constitution for annual meetings, the duty could not be evaded.

Extra sessions of congress may be called at any time by the president or be provided by law. There used to be three sessions, one beginning March 4.

The _place_ of meeting is not named, because the capital had not been located, and in some cases it might be desirable to hold the session elsewhere.