An outline of American government; for use in city and country schools in connection with the Gill school city and other organizations for self-government ...

Front matter

Outline of

American Government

Chap. ._. Copyright No.

Preface

/^VUR generous co-worker Mr. Charles F. Dole says in the preface of one of his delightful and valuable books on citizenship: "There seems to be a growing demand for the more adequate teaching of morals in the schools, especially with reference to the making of good citizens. But it is difficult to teach morals directly, or apart from the concrete subjects about which moral questions grow. Neither can sound morals be taught at all, without the touch of enthusiasm. We have, however, in the great and interesting subjects of the conduct of governments, business and society, precisely the kind of material to furnish us directly with innumerable moral examples. The consideration of the public good, the welfare of the nation, or the interest of mankind, lies in the very region where patriotic emotion and moral enthusiasm are most naturally kindled."

Government as it is ordinarily studied is nearly as abstract as mathematics or philosophy. It becomes concrete for the student as soon as he becomes an active part in it, being led to use his judgment in the choice of officers and to perform the various duties of citizenship. To make the child an actual citizen with the real duties of citizenship, the School City has been designed and found useful. In this concrete form it is possible to make children of the primary school understand it.

It is hoped that this form of school government will serve to keep in sight of the teacher and pupils the chief object of education, so generally lost sight of, which is that the individual shall wisely govern himself. At the same time the child will be trained to think of and to perform the duties of citizenship as it is desirable he

PREFACE should do after he has reached his twenty-first year.

The necessity for this sketch of American government has arisen from the needs of the School City. The ordinary text-books are too formidable for our purpose. This is especially true in that great majority of schools, whose teachers have never before studied civics. To put within reach of teachers as well as pupils, the requisite information concerning American government on which to base the organization of this self-governing institution, it seemed necessary to make a brief outline of the forms and duties of popular government beginning with the national government and leading down through the state, the county, the town, the school district, the village and the city to the duties and organization of the School City itself.

To make this outline specific it has been necessary to describe the government in a single state and a single city. New York State and City have been selected as types of American state and city organization. It seems as if this selection would be generally acceptable, since New York is the most populous state in the Union and New York City is the great metropolis in which all parts of the Nation, north, east, south and west have many interests, aside from the vital monetary and commercial interests with which every individual is connected directly or indirectly.

In schools outside of New York City and State, it is hoped that the teachers and children will, by whatever means may be in their reach, find out in what particulars their state and local government differs from that of New York. It is not probable that there will be found so much variation in any case, as to suggest any great difference in the construction of the School City government. Such an investigation of the local government and comparison with this text will be a more valuable exercise than to use a ready-made comparison, or a description without the comparison.

PREFACE

OUR COUNTRY SERIES

OF BOOKS

HTHIS is one of a series of small books designed by the Patriotic League to convey some ideas of practical patriotism and to cultivate the spirit of helpful kindness. Such books alone, if perfectly adapted to their purpose and put into the hands of young people, will, now and then, prove to be good seed fallen on good ground. It is well, however, for those who wish to be a blessing to the young people to recognize the fact that, as a rule, putting good books into the hands of boys and girls will not accomplish for them the thing that each one needs. On the other hand, they are glad to be led by older persons whom they respect, and they must have wise and constant leading and encouragement, if best results are to be gained. If they have a good leader, such as every teacher should be, then these books will be invaluable to them.

The Patriotic League does not hope to see American citizenship- rise to the plane of perfection simply by means of teaching the words or the thoughts contained in the precepts of morality, but by daily and constant training of the children in the application of right principles to their actions at play and work, in the school and wherever they may be. Necessary to such training is a successful presentation of right principles, which is the aim of the Patriotic League authors. To aid in this training and practice the President of the Patriotic League devised the "Gill School City," which has proved to be useful for its purpose. By this means the pupils become actual citizens of a republic, instead of subjects of the ordinary old style monarchical school government. The accepted responsibility of this citizenship, in the hands of a good leader is of great value. In connection with this are the "School State" and "School Republic."

PREFACE

The series of "Our Country" Books of which this book is one, is issued under the authority of the following named men and women who are officers of

THE PATRIOTIC LEAGUE

' Address all mail to P. O. Station O, N.Y.

GENERAL OFFICERS

WILSON L, GILL, Pres't, JAMES T. WHITE, Sec'y, ALEXANDER M. HADDEN, Treas.

COUNCIL : ABRAM S. HEWITT, Ex-Mayor of N. Y. O. O. HOWARD, Maj. Gen. U. S. A.

DORMAN B. EATON, Ex U. S. Civil Service Commissioner

HONORARY AND ADVISORY BOARD:

WM. McKINLEY, President of the U. S. JOSIAH STRONG, Pres. Social Service Lgue.

GROVER CLEVELAND, Ex-President WM. H. P. FAUNCE, Pres. Brown University

GEORGE DEWEY, Admiral, U. S. Navy FRANCIS E. CLARK, Father of Chr. Endeav.

LEONARD WOOD, Brig. Gen. U. S. A. W. S. RAINSFORD, D. D.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Governor, N.Y. THOMAS McMILLAN, Paulist Father,

C. R. WOODRUFF, Sec, Natl. Munic. Lgue WM. A. GILES, Civic Federation, Chicago

T. M. BALLIET, Supt. Schools, Springfield WALTER L. HERVY, City Exmnr N.Y. Schls

R. FULTON CUTTING, Pres. Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor

WILLIAM L. STRONG, Ex-Mayor of N.Y., President of the Alpha Chapter,

JOHN H. C. NEVIUS, Vice Pres. Alpha Chapter, Col. HENRY HERSCHELL ADAMS,

WM. JAY SCHIEFFELIN, Ex-City Civil Serv.Com. Mrs. ESTHER HERRMAN,

Gen. JOHN EATON, Ex-U.S.Com. of Eden, late Director of Public Instruction, Porto Rico

LIFE MEMBERS:

WILLIAM E. DODGE, GEORGE D. MACKAY, WILLIAM IVES WASHBURN, BERNARD CRONSON, Mrs. JOHN L.GILL, DANIEL B. WESSON, JOHN A. CASS, HENRY B. METCALF, JOHN J. McCOOK, Mrs. SAMUEL R. PERCY, Mrs. LOUIS L. TODD.

LEAGUE INSTRUCTORS:

CHARLES F. DOLE, THOMAS R. SLICER,

JAMES ALBERT WOODBURN, Indiana University

JOHN R. COMMONS and JAMES H.HAMILTON, Syracuse University

HENRY M. LEIPZIGER, Supervisor, Free Public Lectures, N. Y. Public Schools

M. L. DE LUCE, University of Cincinnati, KATE B. SHERWOOD,

WM. C. ROBINSON, Yale College and Catholic University of America

GEORGE W. KIRCHWEY, FRANCIS M. BURDICK and FRANK J. GOODNOW,

Columbia Univ. DELOS F.WILCOX, MILO R.MALTBIE, Ed. " Municipal Affairs'*

THE PRINCIPLES OF AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP

AS TAUGHT BY

THE PATRIOTIC LEAGUE

Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.

\A/E BELIEVE, In the principles of the Declaration of Independence — That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights ; that among these are lifc, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

We believe, That good character, helpful kindness, to all creatures and civic intelligence are the basis of true citizenship.

We believe, That the public, in assuming the education of children, becomes responsible to them not only for physical, industrial, mental and moral culture, but also for special training, to the end that they shall be most happy useful and patriotic while children, and be intelligent and faithful citizens.

We believe, That it is our duty to consecrate ourselves to the service of our country to study the history and principles of our Government, to faithfully discharge all obligations of citizenship, to improve our laws and their administration, and to do all which may fulfil the ideal of the founders of our Republic — a government of the people, for the people and by the people, of equal rights for all and special privileges for none — and to the maintenance of such a government we mutually pledge to one another our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

We believe, That we should endeavor to lead others to understand, accept and extend these principles, and to uphold and defend the institutions of our country.

THE YOUNG CITIZEN'S PLEDGE

I AM a CITIZEN of AMERICA and HEIR to all her Greatness and Renown.

As the health and happiness of my body depend upon each muscle and nerv and drop of blood doing its work in its place, so the health and happiness of my country depend upon each citizen doing his work in his place. I will not fill any post, nor pursue any business where I shall live upon my fellow-citizens without doing them useful service in return ; for I plainly see that this must bring suffering and want to some of us.

As it is cowardly for a soldier to run away from the battle, so it is cowardly for any citizen not to contribute his share to the well-being of his country. . America is my own dear land ; she nourishes me, and I will love her and do my duty to her whose child, servant and civic soldier I am.

I will do nothing to desecrate her soil or pollute her air, or to degrade her children, who are my brothers and sisters. I will try to make her cities beautiful and her citizens healthy and glad so that she may be a most desirable home for her children in days to come.

I accept the Principles of the Patriotic League for my own and I will do the best I can to live and act by them every day.

Part I OBJECTS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT . . 13 Part I I DIVISION OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS . 14

Part I I I THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

1 The Business it Transacts

2 Sparation of Powers

3 The Legislative Department

20 20 21 21

(1) The House of Representatives

(2) The Senate ......

4 The Executive Department

(1) The President .....

(2) The Vice-President „

(3) The Cabinet

5 The Judicial Department ....

6 The Rights and Duties of Citizens in relation to

the National Government . . . 23

Part IV THE STATE GOVERNMENT

1 The Business Entrusted to It . . '2$

2 The Organization of Government in the State 35

3 The Central State Government . . -36

(1) The Legislative Department ... 36

(2) The Exective Department . . .38

(3) The Judicial Department 39 to CONTENTS

4 Rural Local Government .....

(i) The County ......

i ) The Board of Supervisors

2) The County Executive Officers .

3) The County Judiciary ....

(2) The Town

1) The Town Meeting ....

2) The Town Executive Officers

3) The Town Judiciary ....

(3) The School District ....

1) The School Meeting- ....

2) The Officers of the School District.

5*

3) The Schools ..*...

(4) The Village

5 City Government ......

(1) The Cities of New York State in General .

(2) The City of New York ....

1 The Local Divisions ....

1 Boroughs .....

• 2 Council Districts ....

3 Senate and Local Improvement Districts .....

4 Assembly and Aldermanic Districts

5 Judicial Districts ....

The Legislative Power . . . -63

1 Municipal Assembly ... 63

2 Board of Public Improvements . 65

3 Board of Estimate and Apportionment 67

4 Board of Health . . . .68

5 Other Boards .... 68

The Executive Power . . . .69

2 Municipal Civil Service Commission 71

CONTENTS ii

3 Municipal Statistics

4 City Record .

7*

5 Commissioners of Accounts

6 Finance ......

7 Taxes and Assessments

8 Law .

io Correction .

ii Charities

12 Health .

13 Fire

14 Buildings .

15 Public Improvements .

a Water Supply b Sewers c Highways

Under the d Bridges

Board of e Street Cleaning h Public

/ Public Build-

Improvements ings, Lighting and Supplies j

16 Docks and Ferries

18 Education ....

Judicial Power .....

1. Civil Courts ....

• 92 a City Court ....

b Municipal Court

• 9 2

2. Criminal Courts ....

a General Sessions

• 93 b Special Sessions .

c City Magistra tes' Courts .

• 94

6 Rights and Duties of Citizens with Reference to Government within the State

12 CONTENTS

Part V THE SCHOOL CITY

I. Object of the School City ■ . . . 97

II. Relation of the School City to other Branches

of Government 98

III. Organization of the School City . . . 99

In Rural Districts . . . . 99

1 Suffrage in the School City . . . 101

2 Nominations for Office .... 101 >

3 Elections 102

4 Council 103

5 Mayor 103

6 Police, Health and other special Depart-

8 Charter 106

9 Amendments to the Charter . . .107 10 Improvements in Government . . 108

AN OUTLINE OF GOVERNMENT IN THE

UNITED STATES

I

OBJECTS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

QOVERNMENT in the United States is for the greatest good of all the people. Through government, the people promote the welfare of all by protecting the right of every law-abiding person to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The pursuit of happiness includes the right to freely earn and save or spend money and other property. The welfare of all is promoted also by the punishment of every person who refuses to obey the law and respect the rights of his fellows. But government goes still further than the protection of individual rights and the regulation of individual conduct. There are many things which the individual cannot readily do for himself and which must, never-the-Iess, be done. In many cases these things are undertaken by the government. Thus the welfare of the whole people is advanced in three ways, — by protection, by punishment and by co-operation in the performance of general services.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE OBJECTS OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

Examples of the ways in which the good of all is promoted by government could be given in great number. The right of all persons to freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of religion, so long as people do not wilfully injure their fellows by the abuse of their freedom, is guaranteed by the government. But persons who kill other people or steal from their neighbors or set fire to houses, are punished. As instances of co-operation for the good of all, we should not forget that the government makes public roads and streets for convenience in travel, ditches and sewers to drain the land, canals for commerce, bridges for crossing rivers, and aqueducts for bringing water from lakes and mountain streams for the people of great cities to drink. The government also maintains the post office for carrying letters, newspapers, packages, etc., keeps a record of titles to land, makes predictions about the weather, educates the children and protects the people from contagious diseases so far as possible.

II Division Of The Business Of American

COR their own convenience, the people have divided their public business into two parts. One part, which is of interest to all the people of the country, has been entrusted to a set of public officials chosen by the people living in all parts of the country. These officials form the National or United States Government. The other part of the public business does not concern the people in all parts of the country equally, and so it has been entrusted to public officials chosen separately by the r&veral States into which the country is divided. These

NA TIONAL public officials form the State Governments of the forty-five States in the Union.

REASON FOR DIVIDING THE PEOPLE'S BUSINESS INTO TWO

PARTS

The reason why the people of the United States have found it convenient to divide their public business into two parts and to establish separate sets of public officers to carry on this business, is plain. The country is so large that the needs of the people are not the same in all places for all things. In Colorado or Nevada the government may have to irrigate the land, while in Illinois or New York it may have to build canals for commerce orfor drainage. In some parts of the country most of the people live in cities; in other parts, most of the people live on farms. Some parts of the country are warm the whole year; some parts have long cold winters. In the South, cotton, rice and sugar are the chief products of agriculture. In the North, wheat, corn and other cereals are most important. The different conditions, the different industries, and the different types of people who live in the various sections of the country, make it necessary to leave a great deal of the public business to the management of the separate States. At the same time, the unity of the Nation and the common interests of all the people require that some of the public business should be in charge of a central, national government.

Ill

THE NATIONAL OR UNITED STATES i The Business it Transacts

THE business entrusted to the National Government is

described in the Constitution of the United States.

Powers which are not granted by the Constitution to the

National authorities cannot be exercised by them. The principal items of the business of the National Government are the following:

i Foreign ^Affairs, including the making of treaties, the sending out and receiving of ambassadors, the appointment of consuls, the protection of American citizens in other lands, etc.

2 (Maintenance of the army and navy, including the

carrying on of war with foreign nations and the Indians, the suppression of rebellions and riots at home, and the grant of pensions to old soldiers and sailors.

3 Regulation of foreign and inter-state commerce,

including tariff laws, and laws governing railroads and canal and steamship companies.

4 Provision for persons coming to this country from

foreign lands, including immigration and naturalization laws.

5 Coining and regulation of money.

6 Granting of patents and copyrights.

7 'Punishment for certain crimes, such as treason, coun-

terfeiting and crimes committed on the sea.

8 Government of the District of Columbia and the

territories.

9 Management of the 'Post Office.

io Making fe Internal Improvements/' including roads, canals, harbors, etc.

1 1 Taking of the census, and the collection and distri-

bution of various kinds of information.

12 ^Deciding disputes between the different States, or

the citizens of different States. 1^3 'Protection of individual liberty in accordance with

SEPARA TION OF PO WERS 1 7 the principles of the United States Constitution. 14 Raising of revenue for the support of the National Government, by means of customs duties, internal revenue taxes, sale of postage stamps, sale of public lands, etc.

2 Separation of Powers

Under the American system of government the law-making, the law-executing and the law-interpreting functions are put into the hands of separate authorities. For this reason we find three great divisions of the National Government, namely, the legislative department, the executive department and the judicial department.

REASONS FOR THE SEPARATION OF POWERS

The reasons for the separation of powers are easily understood. If the same authority were empowered to make the laws and then enforce them according to its own interpretation, there would be no check upon the arbitrary action of the government, and the liberties of the people would be in danger. Besides this, we must remember that a large body of men chosen from different parts of the country, is more likely to represent the wishes of the whole people in making laws than one man would be. On the other hand, one man or a few men can better carry the laws into execution than a large body could, where power and responsibility would be divided. For interpreting the laws it is needful to have a special body of men, who are trained students of law, and as little as possible subject to the influences of partisanship. The division into legislative, executive and judicial authorities is carefully marked in the National Government and also in the central State governments, but is less clear in local and municipal governments. It is possible, however, to see the three powers being exercised side by side in every grade of government, even though they are sometimes exercised by the sarr.e officials, iS GOVERNMENT

3 The Legislative Department

The legislative power of the National Government is vested in Congress, which is composed of two bodies of men, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The laws of the United States are passed by a majority vote of both Houses of Congress and signed by the President of the United States. If the President vetoes measures passed by Congress, they must be passed again by a two-thirds vote in each House before they can become laws. Treaties, which are international laws, are drawn up by the President and approved by a two-thirds vote of the Senate. Bills for raising revenue have to be introduced first into the House of Representatives. Congress meets every year on the first Monday of December, and remains in session for several months. A special session of Congress may be called by the President at any time. The terms of office of members of Congress expire at midnight of the third day of March in the odd-numbered years.

(i) THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

This body consists at the present time of 357 members, elected by the people living in the various States. Each State is entitled to at least one member of the House of Representatives, and additional members are assigned to the States in proportion to their population. A new assignment is made, by law of Congress, • every ten years, after the census of the United States has been taken. Members of the House are called members of Congress or Congressmen. They are chosen for a

THE SENATE 19 term of two years and are usually elected by single districts. A Congressman must be at least twenty-five years old, a citizen of the United States of seven years' standing and a resident of the State from which he is chosen. The House of Representatives adopts rules to govern its procedure and elects its own officers. The presiding officer of the House is the Speaker, who appoints the standing committees, and decides questions of order, etc. He is one of the most powerful officers in the National Government.

(2) THE SENATE

This body is called the upper house of Congress, and is composed at the present time of ninety members, two being chosen by the legislature of each of the forty-five States. Senators are elected for a term of six years, but they are divided into three classes so that about onethird of their number goes out of office every second year. A senator must be at least thirty years old, a citizen of the United States of nine years" standing and a resident of the State which he represents. The Senate adopts rules of procedure and elects officers, except a presiding officer. The Vice-President of the United States is President of the Senate but he has no vote except in case of a tie. The Senate elects its standing committees. Besides its power to accept or reject treaties submitted to it by the executive, the Senate may confirm by a two-thirds vote or reject the appointments to all of the important offices made by the President.

4 The Executive Department

The executive power of the National Government is vested in the President of the United States. It is necessary to consider also the Vice-President and the members of the Cabinet in this connection.

(i) THE PRESIDENT

In order to be eligible to the office of President, a man must be at least thirty-five years of age and a natural-born citizen of the United States. The President is elected for a term of four years and takes his office on the fourth day of March. He is chosen by indirect election. The people of the several States choose as many Presidential electors as the number of representatives in both Houses of Congress to which the States are entitled. These electors meet at the capitol of each State and vote for President. The votes cast by the electors of each State are sent to the President of the Senate, and are opened by him and counted in the presence of the members of both Houses of Congress. If no candidate for the Presidency gets a majority of votes, the House of Representatives, voting by States, chooses one of the three leading candidates to be President. The President is commander-in-chief of the army and navy and is bound to defend the country against foreign and domestic foes and to enforce all the laws of Congress. He has power to pardon offenders against the laws of the United States except in cases of impeachment. The President appoints the officers of the judicial department, as well as his own

THE CABINET 21 subordinates in the executive department, subject in most cases to the approval of the Senate by a two-thirds vote. The President receives foreign ambassadors, and negotiates treaties subject to the Senate's approval by a two-thirds vote. He may call special sessions of Congress and is bound to send messages to Congress from time to time, on the condition and needs of the country and the government. He receives a salary of $50,000 a year.

(2) THE VICE-PRESIDENT

This officer is chosen for the same term as the President and must have the same qualifications. The President and the Vice-President cannot be residents of the same State. The Vice-President is chosen by the same electors who choose the President, but if they fail to give a majority vote for any one candidate, the election of the Vice-President goes to the Senate, which must choose one of the two leading candidates by a majority vote of all the senators. The Vice-President presides over the Senate and succeeds to the office of President whenever that office becomes vacant for any reason. The salary of the Vice-President is $8,000 a year.

(3 ) THE CABINET

In order to carry on the executive business under the control of the President, a great many subordinate officers are required. Chief of these are the eight heads of executive departments who form the Cabinet or body of advisors of the President. These eight officers are the —

Secretary of State,

Secretary of the Treasury,

Secretary of War,

Attorney General,

Postmaster General,

Secretary of the Navy,

Secretary of the Interior,

Secretary of Agriculture.

These officers are appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate, and hold their offices for four years, subject to removal by the President. Each member of the Cabinet has charge of one great branch of the executive department. In case both the President and Vice-President should die, resign or be in any way disabled, one of the Cabinet officers would become President for the unexpired term, in the order named above. Under the general supervision of the Cabinet officers are the 1 80, ooo officials and regular employees of the National Government. About half of the whole number of subordinates are in the "classified service," that is, they are subject to the civil service regulations which provide for appointment to office after examination to determine the merit of the applicants.

5 The Judicial Department

The judicial power of the National Government is vested in the Supreme Court of the United States and the circuit and district courts established by Congress, All of the judges of the National courts are appointed by the President and the Senate and hold their places for life or until they resign or are retired on account of age and disability, unless they are impeached. The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. There are nine circuit courts and sixty-five district courts. The National courts have the final judicial determination of all cases in which the laws and Constitution of the United States are involved. The United States Supreme Court is the highest legal authority upon the forms and functions of the government and the liberties of the individual under the Constitution of our country.

6 The Rights and Duties of Citizens in Relation to the National Government

Every person who is allowed by any State to vote for the members of the lower house of the State legislature has the right to vote for members of Congress and Presidential electors. Every citizen has the right to call upon the National Government to protect him in the enjoyment of civil liberty. He may also claim protection when travelling or staying temporarily in foreign countries. Every citizen is bound to obey the laws of the United States, to assist in the defense of the country, if called upon, and to pay taxes, duties and imposts levied upon him or his goods by Congress.