Our Government: Local, State, and National: Idaho Edition Part 1

Our Government: Local, State, and National: Idaho Edition.

by J.A. James.

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 inst.i.tutions 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 a.s.sist 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 cla.s.s 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 acc.u.mulated 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 cla.s.s. 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 a.s.sistance 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.

PART I.

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE WORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The Preservation of Order.--The first and most important work of any government is the preservation of order. We think of this function most frequently as exercised in the arrest of offenders who violate the law. In fact, most young persons receive their earliest ideas of government by seeing the policeman, or constable, who stands for the authority of the government. But he is not the only officer who is concerned in preserving order. The police officer who makes an arrest cannot punish his prisoner, but must merely hold him until it is decided that he deserves punishment. This is the work of a court, with its justice, or judge, and the jury. If the prisoner is declared guilty, then the police officer executes the orders of the court by collecting a fine or by imprisoning him. We have here ill.u.s.trated two divisions of governmental authority: (1) the _judicial_, which decides whether the law applies in particular cases; and (2) the _executive_, which carries out the requirements of the law and the orders of the court.

Law-Making.--The executive and the judicial officers are both subject to higher authority: the one applies and the other executes _the law_. The framing of the law is the third function of government. This work is called _legislation_, and is carried on by such bodies as the town board, the village board, and the city council. But these law-making bodies do not have independent authority; they are bound more or less strictly by the opinions of those who elected them to office; i.e., the body of voters.

The Three Divisions of Government.--We say, then, that in our country government is based finally upon _the will of the people_. For the expression of their will they choose numerous officers, who may be grouped under three heads, corresponding to the general divisions of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.

Just as it would be impossible for all the voters to take part in applying or interpreting the law, so it is in most cases impossible for them to a.s.semble in a body and make the laws. They generally delegate this work to legislators; but in some States the voters of a town (or township) a.s.semble yearly in town meeting, where all may take part in discussion and in voting.

Roads and Streets.--The preservation of order is but one of the functions of government. In towns where the population is scattered, roads must be built, and it is still more necessary that in villages and cities, where many people live within a small area, streets should be graded and paved and sidewalks maintained. This is an ill.u.s.tration of the way in which, through the machinery of government, people provide themselves with many conveniences that it would be impossible for each citizen to provide for himself. The legislative bodies already mentioned determine the extent to which these things shall be done: the town board orders the laying out of a new road; the village board or the city council pa.s.ses ordinances saying what streets shall be paved and what materials shall be used in the work.

Executive Officers, General and Special.--The actual execution of the work involved in public improvements is generally in charge of a special officer, such as the road or street commissioner. But since there are many other matters of public concern that require attention, each under the control of an executive officer, it is necessary that a general officer should be in authority over all of these as the _chief executive_ of the local government. This officer is known by various t.i.tles, as, in the town, the _chairman_, in the village, the _president_, and in the city, the _mayor_. In any case, he has all or most of the important executive work of government under his control. It is his duty to see that the laws are obeyed, so the police officers are subject to his orders. The chief executive is guardian of the people's interests; for he must see that the minor officers do not injure the public welfare by neglect of duty, and he must defend the public from all persons who would encroach upon its rights.

Let us now consider some of the other ordinary functions of local government.

The Poor.--Poor relief may be mentioned first. How much aid shall be granted to paupers, and how shall it be distributed, are questions that everywhere require attention.

Public Health.--Public health is also an important subject upon which local laws must been enacted. In cities, particularly, the council pa.s.ses strict regulations for preventing diseases and for checking the spread of such as are contagious. City ordinances are also enacted regulating the construction of sewers and drains. The health commissioner and the city physicians are the particular officers who direct the execution of laws upon these subjects.

Education.--Public education is among the most important of the local government's functions. The free schools which exist everywhere in our country are supported and controlled chiefly by the towns, villages, and cities. In many States, however, there are other divisions, called school districts, which have boards and officers for this purpose.

Other Necessary Functions.--Protection from fire is so important in communities where population is dense that special officers and apparatus must be provided. So, too, streets must be lighted, and a pure water-supply provided.

Parks, Museums, and Libraries.--Besides the functions of government that are readily seen to be necessary, there are others which may not at first appear to be so. We have cities providing parks, with beautiful lawns and flower-gardens; museums, where articles of historical and scientific interest are kept; aquariums and zoological gardens; libraries, with books, magazines, and papers for the free use of all citizens. If one looks closely, he will see a reason in each case why the government undertakes these various enterprises.

Why Taxes Are Levied.--We have now to consider a power of government, without which none of the others so far named could be exercised. This is the taxing power. In every case money must be used by local governments in exercising their functions. Officers, who are agents of the people, depend largely upon taxes for their salaries.

Taxes are levied by the legislative bodies that we have found in towns, villages, and cities. Other officers, _a.s.sessors_ and _treasurers_, determine the amount to be paid by each citizen and collect the taxes.

The treasurer also has charge of public money, and pays it out when ordered to do so by the proper authorities.

All of the operations of government are matters of record. While each officer is expected to keep strict account of the operations of his own department, the general records of towns, villages, and cities are kept by the _clerks_.

This general view of local governments may now be summarized in two forms:--

I. THE FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

1. _Protection_:--

The preservation of order.

Protection against fire.

Protection of public health.

2. _Providing Necessities and Conveniences_:--

Roads--Streets--Sidewalks.

Water--Lights--Sewers.

Poor relief--Education.

Parks--Libraries--Museums.

II. OFFICERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.[1]

TOWN. VILLAGE. CITY.

Board Board Council Chairman President Mayor Clerk Clerk Clerk Treasurer Treasurer Treasurer a.s.sessors a.s.sessors a.s.sessors Constables Constables Police Road Commissioner Street Commissioner Street Commissioner Justices Justices Justices

[Footnote 1: The list here given is not complete, and the official t.i.tles are not the same in all States.]

SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS.

Make a study of your local (town, village, or city) government.

1. Group the officers as legislative, executive, and judicial, respectively.