5.The postman，the postmaster，and the publicschool teacher are all public officers.But，unlike the policeman and the sheriff，their duty is notto prevent wrongdoing and arrest wrongdoers.It is to do work for the public，but of quite another kindwork very important for the public convenience and the public intelligence.
6.We see，then，that there are two kinds of laws which are made by our lawmakers.One kind，like the law forbidding stealing，is a set of rules for the conduct of people，telling what things must not be done.And when the lawmakers have made such laws，one part of the administration is busy seeing to it that people obey，or are punished if they disobey.The other kind of laws provides for doing the public businesssuch things as carrying the mail，teaching school，and gathering and distributing the money which it takes to carry on the government.
7.This last part of the public business is very important.Money has to be had to pay the many public servants.This money the people pay to the government.These payments are called “taxes.”Laws are made telling who shall pay taxes and how much，and for what purposes the money shall be used.And many public officers are busy collecting the taxes and paying out the money according to law.
8.All these officers of every kind who are busy carrying out the laws belong to the government and to what is called its “administrative”branch.
9.The President.The head of the federal administration is the president of the United States.
10.The president of a republic like ours fills very nearly the place of a king or emperor in a monarchy.The president is the republican king.But，on the other hand，the people choose their president for themselves，and he holds his office only four years.To be sure，if the people like him he may be chosen again for another four years，as indeed several of our presidents have been.
11.The first president was George Washington，the famous and beloved general of the revolutionary armies.He was chosen for a second term，and would have been chosen a third time but that he refused.He was one of the wisest and best presidents we have had.Since his time no president has been elected more than twice.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
This stately memorial of the first president is an imposing obelisk of white marble and granite，five hundred feet high and fiftyfive feet square at the base，standing near the Potomac，not far from the White House，in the city of Washington.The walls are fifteen feet thick，thus leaving a great hollow within，through which an elevator takes passengers to the top.The cornerstone was laid in 1848，but the great work was not completed until 1885.The venerable Robert C.Winthrop，of Massachusetts，who delivered the oration at the laying of the cornerstone，performed the same part at the dedication of the monument in 1885.We quote a few sentences from Winthrop‘s oration in 1848：“Lay the cornerstone of a monument which shall adequately bespeak the gratitude of the whole American people to the illustrious Father of his Country.Build it to the skies；you cannot outreach the loftiness of his principles！Found it upon the massive and eternal rock；you cannot make it more enduring than his fame！Construct it of the peerless Parian marble；you cannot make it purer than his life！Exhaust upon it the rules and principles of ancient and modern art；you cannot make it more proportionate than his character！”
12.In electing a president the people do not vote for him by name.In each state the people vote for a number of men as “electors.”And the electors chosen in this way in the various states select the president.But，in fact，the electors of each state always know whom the people of that state want for president，and are very careful to vote for him and for no one else.Each state has as many electors as it has members of both houses of congress.Thus no state has less than three electors.New York has thirtysix.At present all the states together have four hundred fortyseven electors，so that two hundred twentyfour of them must vote for the same candidate in order to elect him.
13.The president has great power.He appoints many of the public officers，all of the most important ones.He commands the national soldiers and the sailors of the national warships.His salary is50，000a year，and the nation furnishes him a residence at the city of Washingtonthe “White House.”
14.The president’s fouryear term of office begins on the fourth of March.On that day there are ver y elaborate ceremonies at Washington.The new president，accompanied by the president whose term is ending，goes in procession，escorted by military and with martial music，to the magnificent marble capitol，in which the congress meets.Standing in the open air on the great eastern portico，in presence of the principal officers of the government，the ministers representing foreign nations，a brilliant group of invited guests，and an immense multitude which throngs every foot of ground in sight，the new president takes the oath of office.He solemnly swears to defend the Constitution ofTHE PRESIDENT‘S HOUSE AT WASHINGTONThis simple and beautiful building，commonly called the “White House，”is constructed of Virginia freestone.President Washington himself selected the site，laid the cornerstone （October 13，1792），and lived to see the completed edifice.It is said that with his wife he walked through the rooms but a few days before his death，in 1799.President John Adams was its first occupant，in 1800.In 1814the house was burned by the British，and only the walls were left standing.When rebuilt，the stone was painted white，to conceal the marks of fire.The White House is the residence of the president and his family，and also contains his office.
