The constitution of the two Houses is manifestly borrowed from the model of the United States; but it is apparent that the Council of States does not so closely correspond with the Senate of the United States as the National Council does to the House of Representatives. It has no such clearly-defined character as the Senate in distinctively representing the federal feature of the union between the Cantons. For the mode in which its members shall be elected, the qualifications which they shall possess, the length of time which they shall serve, the salary which they shall receive, and the relations they shall bear to those whom they represent, in fact, every element of their character as representatives is left to the Canton, and a great variety of provisions prevail.[32] The small Cantons in which the people assemble annually (_Landsgemeinde_) have their members elected by this assembly, by the raising up of hands for such or such a candidate. In other Cantons, including Zurich, Thurgau, and Basel-rural, the whole Canton forms but one district for the nomination of the members; the votes are deposited in the ballot-box of the Commune, and are collected and counted by a cantonal board. In the Cantons having the representative system, such as Geneva, Freiburg, Ticino, and Bern, they are chosen by the cantonal legislative body. The terms of the members vary from one to three years; twelve Cantons elect for one year, twelve for three years, with Valais holding to the mean of two years. Their compensation, paid by the Canton, is the same as that received by the members of the National Council, with the exception of Geneva, where it is double the amount, or forty francs. When serving on committees during recess, the members of the Council of States are paid by the Confederation. The Vice-Chancellor serves as Secretary of the Council of States.