American government and politics

Front matter

5-V-if-Ss

/fao

OforneU UnmetBitg ffiihtarg

Preface

The several excellent manuals on American Government now available are written primarily for high schools, and there seems to be room for a volume, not too elementary nor yet too technical, designed for college students and for citizens wishing a general survey of our political system. This volume, taken in conjunction with the companion work, Readings in American Government and Politics (cited in the footnotes as Readings), is intended to fill this gap. It is not a contribution to political literature, but is frankly based upon the best authorities of recent times.

I have many personal debts to acknowledge. My colleagues. Professors Dunning, Goodnow, Munroe Smith, Shepherd, and G. W. Scott, and Mr. Salt have read portions of the manuscript or proof, and have given firmness to every page they have touched. Dr. Howard McBain has read the parts on Federal and State Government, and through his extensive knowledge of practical politics and administration I have been saved many slips. I am also indebted to him for innumerable corrections in perspective and interpretation. Professor A. R. Hatton has read the chapters on Municipal Government and, in addition to making a number of rectifications, he has shown me how much better they could have been done. Mr. Arthur Crosby Ludington has aided me materially with ballot and primary legislation. Mr. Alexander Holtzoff has helped me at every point in the making of the volume ; two chapters, on National Resources and the State Judicial System, were drafted by him under my direction ; and I owe him a debt which no mere line in a preface can pay. In planning and executing the work, I have had the constant and discriminating assistance of my wife. Notwithstanding all this cooperation, I must take the vi Preface

burden of responsibility for errors and shortcomings. Only one

who has gone over the same ground can appreciate how many

there are ; but I trust they will be viewed with charity by those

who know how difficult a thing it is to describe a complex

political organism which is swiftly changing under our very

eyes.

CHARLES A, BEARD.

Columbia Universitv, April, igio.

Preface To The Revised Edition

The call for a revision of this volume came unexpectedly at the opening of a busy academic year, and I was not able to undertake a leisurely re-writing of the entire work in accordance with my present ideal of a coUege text. I have confined myself largely to the task of recording the leading changes of the last four years ; but in doing this I have materially reduced the details and references to matters of a local and temporary interest, with which the first edition was overloaded. I have furthermore recast several sections in such a manner as to emphasize broad tendencies and general principles. The necessity for including a mass of data on current practices, destined to become obsolete soon, is no longer imperative, because students now have an annual survey, The American Year Book, to which they can turn for the latest grist of constitutional amendments, statutes, and party programmes.

I am indebted to Professor C. A. Dykstra, Dr. Louis A. Mayers, Professor B. F. Moore, and Professor T. R. Powell for pointing out errors in the first edition, and I shall be grateful to learn of mistakes which have escaped me in this revision.

CHARLES A. BEARD.

November, 1913.

Preface To Third Edition

In this edition I have followed the Unes of the revision of November, 1913. I have vainly hoped for, but not yet found, leisure in which to recast the entire text. The continued demand for the book is some proof that it serves many people in its present general form, and therefore I venture, for a while longer, to let the main structure stand just as it was conceived ten years ago. I have, however, eliminated a large mass of details.

In the preparation of this edition I am specially indebted to Professor James D. Barnett, of the University of Oregon. I only regret that the limitations of the revision made it impossible for me to incorporate every one of his wise and fruitful suggestions. I am also under heavy obligations to my friend, Mr. Louis B. Blachly of the Research Staff of the New York Merchants'Association. CHARLES A. BEARD.

New York, May, 1920.

'ABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I Historical Foundations

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Colonial Origins of American Institutions . . . i

II. INDE?ENDENCE, UNION, AND SELF-GOVERNMENT ... 21

III. The Establishment of the Federal Constitution . . 34

IV. The Evolution of the Federal Constitution. . . 60 V. The Evolution of State Constitutions .... 78

VI. The Evolution of Political Issues in the United States 99 VII. The Development of Party Machinery . . ' . .126

Part II The Federal Government

Vni. The General Features of the Federal System of Government 145

IX. The Nomination and Election of the President . .166

X. The Powers of the President 187

XI. The National Administration 215

XII. The Congress of the United States . . . .231

XIII. The Povvers of Congress 253

XIV. Congress at Work 267

XV. The Federal Judiciary 294

XVI. Foreign Affairs • 3'S

"''XVIir-NATioNAL Defence ...... .342

XVIII. Taxation and Finance ..... • 35^

XIX. The Regulation of Commerce 379

XX. Natural Resources 4°'

XXI. The Government of Territories 417

ix

Part III State Government

CHAPTBK TACa

XXII. The Constitutional Basis of State Government. . 428

XXIII. Popular Control in State Governments . . . 458

XXIV. The State Executive Department 488

XXV. The State Legislature 516

/XXVI. The Judicial System 547

XXVII. The Organization of Municipal Government , -578

XXVIII. Municipal Functions 603

XXIX. Local Rural Government 638

XXX. State and Local Politics 656

XXXI. Taxation and Finance 706

XXXII. Social and Economic Legislation 721

Constitution of the United States 753

Guide to Current Literature on Government and Politics . 767

Index > . 777