OUR GOVERNMENT

LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL

BY

J.A. James, Ph.D.

Professor of History in Northwestern University

And

A.H. Sanford, M.A.

Professor of History, State Normal School, La Crosse, Wisconsin

1903, 1913

Charles Scribner's Sons

PREFACE

The subject matter herewith presented partially represents the plan pursued by the authors as teachers of civil government for a number of years in high school, academy, and normal school. It has been found that a study of the methods by which the affairs of government are conducted gives constant interest to the work, and, consequently, the practical side of government has been emphasized. But while our desire has been to bring the actual working of the institutions under which the student lives into prominence, we have also attempted to give such accounts of the origin and early development of forms of government as will assist in explaining their process of growth. The plan of discussion is similar to that followed in "Government in State and Nation." The general favor with which that text has been received leads to the belief that it fully meets the requirement of the Committee of Five for such schools as present civil government in the third or fourth year of the course. In many cases, however, the subject is taught earlier in the course, and the present work has been prepared in answer to the requests of teachers for a text suitable to this class of students.

The arrangement is such that either Local (Part I), National (Part II), or State Government (Part III) may be studied first. In the work on local and State government it is not expected that the student will learn all of the different practices found in the various States, but that he will compare them with those of his own State.

While some of the discussions and many of the suggestive questions are intended to make students realize more completely their duties as citizens, many more having a local bearing will occur to teachers. It is scarcely to be hoped that all of the books and magazines mentioned will be found in any high school library, but the need for supplementary reading is being met through the rapid increase of public libraries. A working-library on the subject of civics may be accumulated in a short time if only a few of the books given in Appendix D are procured each year. No attempt has been made to give references to all of the material which has appeared within the past few years.

The ability of the reader and the time to be devoted to the subject have been kept constantly in mind. There may be more supplementary questions and references than can be used by any one class. Should it happen, on the other hand, that more work of this character is desired, the need may be met by reference to similar questions in "Government in State and Nation."

In preparing this new edition, we take the opportunity of acknowledging the assistance given by many teachers of civics, strangers to us, who are using "Government in State and Nation," and others who are using "Our Government," for their helpful suggestions.

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, July 1, 1913.

CONTENTS

PREFACE
CONTENTS
PART I.
CHAPTER I.         THE WORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER II.       COUNTY GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER III.      THE ORIGIN OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
CHAPTER IV.      THE GOVERNMENT OF CITIES
PART II.
CHAPTER V.        EVENTS LEADING TO THE FORMATION OF THE UNION
CHAPTER VI.      THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
CHAPTER VII.    ORGANIZATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER VIII.   POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SEPARATE HOUSES
CHAPTER IX.      HOW LAWS ARE MADE BY CONGRESS
CHAPTER X.        SOME IMPORTANT POWERS OF CONGRESS
CHAPTER XI.      OTHER GENERAL POWERS OF CONGRESS
CHAPTER XII.     POWERS DENIED THE UNITED STATES AND THE SEVERAL STATES
CHAPTER XIII.   THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
CHAPTER XIV.   POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
CHAPTER XV.    THE CABINET
CHAPTER XVI.   THE NATIONAL JUDICIARY
CHAPTER XVII.  TERRITORIES AND PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER XVIII. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION