[Sidenote:  The election their at large.] When after an increase in its number of representatives the state has failed to redistribute its districts, the additional member or members are voted for upon a general state ticket, and are called “representatives at large.”  In Maine, where the census of 1880 had reduced the number of representatives and there was some delay in the redistribution, Congress allowed the State in 1882 to elect all its representatives upon a general ticket.  The advantage of the district system is that the candidates are likely to be better known by neighbours, but the election at large is perhaps more likely to secure able men.[10] It is the American custom to nominate only residents of the district as candidates for the House of Representatives.  A citizen of Albany, for example, would not be nominated for the district in which Buffalo is situated.  In the British practice, on the other hand, if an eminent man cannot get a nomination in his own county or borough, there is nothing to prevent his standing for any other county or borough.  This system seems more favourable to the independence of the legislator than our system.  Some of its advantages are obtained by the election at large.

[Footnote 10:  The difference is similar to the difference between the French scrutin d’arrondissement and scrutin de liste.]

[Sidenote:  Time of assembling.] Congress must assemble at least once in every year, and the constitution appoints the first Monday in December for the time of meeting; but Congress can, if worth while, enact a law changing the time.  The established custom is to hold the election for representatives upon the same day as the election for president, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November.  As the period of the new administration does not begin until the fourth day of the following March, the new House of Representatives does not assemble until the December following that date, unless the new president should at some earlier moment summon an extra session of Congress.  It thus happens that ordinarily the representatives of the nation do not meet for more than a year after their election; and as their business is at least to give legislative expression to the popular opinion which elected them, the delay is in this instance regarded by many persons as inconvenient and injudicious.

Each house is judge of the elections, qualifications, and returns of its own members; determines its own rules of procedure, and may punish its members for disorderly behaviour, or by a two thirds vote expel a member.  Absent members may be compelled under penalties to attend.  Each house is required to keep a journal of its proceedings and at proper intervals to publish it, except such parts as for reasons of public policy had better be kept secret.  At the request of one fifth of the members present, the yeas and nays must be entered on the journal.  During the session of Congress neither house may, without consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, or to any other place than that in which Congress is sitting.