[Sidenote:  The title of “President.”] In signing or vetoing bills passed by Congress the president shares in legislation, and is virtually a third house.  In his other capacities he is the chief executive officer of the Federal Union; and inasmuch as he appoints the other great executive officers, he is really the head of the executive department, not—­like the governor of a state—­a mere member of it.  His title of “President” is probably an inheritance from the presidents of the Continental Congress.  In Franklin’s plan of union, in 1754, the head of the executive department was called “Governor General,” but that title had an unpleasant sound to American ears.  Our great-grandfathers liked “president” better, somewhat as the Romans, in the eighth century of their city, preferred “imperator” to “rex.”  Then, as it served to distinguish widely between the head of the Union and the heads of the states, it soon fell into disuse in the state governments, and thus “president” has come to be a much grander title than “governor,” just as “emperor” has come to be a grander title than “king.” [11]

[Footnote 11:  See above p. 163.]

[Sidenote:  The electoral college.] There was no question which perplexed the Federal Convention more than the question as to the best method of electing the president.  There was a general distrust of popular election for an office so exalted.  At one time the Convention decided to have the president elected by Congress, but there was a grave objection to this; it would be likely to destroy his independence, and make him the tool of Congress.  Finally the device of an electoral college was adopted.  Each state is entitled to a number of electors equal to the number of its representatives in Congress, plus two, the number of its senators.  Thus to-day Delaware, with 1 representative, has 3 electors; Missouri, with 14 representatives, has 16 electors; New York, with 34 representatives, has 36 electors.  No federal senator or representative, or any person holding civil office under the United States, can serve as an elector.  Each state may appoint or choose its electors in such manner as it sees fit; at first they were more often than otherwise chosen by the legislatures, now they are always elected by the people.  The day of election must be the same in all the states.

By an act of Congress passed in 1792 it is required to be within 34 days preceding the first Wednesday in December.  A subsequent act in 1845 appointed the Tuesday following the first Monday in November as election day.

By the act of 1792 the electors chosen in each state are required to assemble on the first Wednesday in December at some place in the state which is designated by the legislature.  Before this date the governor of the state must cause a certified list of the names of the electors to be made out in triplicate and delivered to the electors.  Having met together they vote for president and vice-president, make out a sealed