QUESTIONS FOR ORIGINAL WORK

1. Why are there two branches of the Legislature? Why should a bill be passed in both houses before it becomes a law? Why should there be three readings of a bill?

2. Has a Governor of your State the veto power? What is the "pocket veto"? When a Governor vetoes a bill, does he act as a legislative or as an executive officer of government?

3. If the Legislature of your State is in session, find out what important measures are before it. Are you prepared to speak intelligently about any of these measures? Have you in mind any law you would like to see passed? How would you go about getting it passed? 4. With what two documents should a member of the Legislature be familiar?

5. What difference do you observe in the powers of the Legislature and those of the City Council?

6. What is meant by "sumptuary laws"?

7. What is meant by the "lobby"?

8. In what way may men be bribed without actually giving them money?

9. If a Legislature consists of a body of rascals, whose fault is it? 10. What is meant by "gerrymandering"?

11. What is meant by "log-rolling"?

12. What is meant by "filibustering"?

XXV. THE GOVERNOR AND HIS COLLEAGUES

"Strictly speaking, the Governor is not the head of the executive department, but a member of it. The executive department is parceled out in several pieces, and his is one of the pieces.”—John Fiske.

The Governor.-As soon as the lawmakers have passed all the laws that seem desirable, they leave the capital and go to their homes. It is left to the officers of the executive department to see that the laws are obeyed. At the head of this department stands the Governor,—the pilot of the ship of State. The Governor is elected by the votes of the people. His term of office in some States is for one year; in others, it is for two years; in others, it is for four years. His powers are great, but they are granted to him by the people, and if he abuses his power, he may be impeached. What are his powers and duties?

The first duty of a Governor is to see that the laws are faithfully executed. If he learns that the law is being violated either by public officers or by private persons, he must take steps to have the laws obeyed. To secure obedience he may call to his assistance judges and sheriffs and even the soldiers of the State, for he is the commander in chief of the land and naval forces of the State. Sometimes when a mob is bent on destroying life and property, the Governor calls out the troops and sends them against the mob. When public business is to be conducted between

one State and another, the Governor acts in the name of the State.

It is the Governor's duty to send to the Legislature at the opening of the session a message. This message informs the Legislature of the condition of affairs throughout the State, and recommends the passage of such laws as the Governor thinks ought to be passed. The Legislature, however, is not bound to pass, or even to consider, the laws recommended in a message.

In time of danger or pressing need, if the Legislature is not in session the Governor may call it in extra session, so that it may at once pass such laws as the moment requires.

The Governor, in many States, has the power to pardon criminals. He may forgive the offense entirely and restore the criminals to freedom, or he may commute the punishment, that is, he may make it less severe. Sometimes, when a person is sentenced to be hanged, the Governor commutes the punishment to imprisonment for life. For a good reason he will give a reprieve, postponing the execution of the death sentence. In some States this matter of pardon, commutation, and reprieve is not left to the Governor, but is intrusted to a special body of officers, known as the Board of Pardons.

Another power of the Governor is that of appointment. In all the States there are many officers who are not elected directly by the people, but receive their positions by appointment. Many of these appointments are made by the Governor. In some States he has the appointment of the judges of the State courts-a great responsibility. When

an elective official dies or resigns before his term ends, the Governor fills the vacancy by appointing some one to serve until another election is held. When an officer is guilty of misconduct in office, the Governor in most States may remove him and put a better man in his place.

Other Executive Officers.-The Governor cannot attend to all the public affairs of a State. He must have assistants, just as the Mayor of a city has heads of departments to assist him. These assistants of the Governor are high executive officers of the State, and they are generally elected by the people. Below, you will find the names of most of them, with a short explanation of their duties:

(1) The Lieutenant Governor.-A lieutenant is an officer who takes the place of a higher officer, when that officer is absent or cannot attend to his duties. Most of the States elect a Lieutenant Governor to serve when the Governor is out of the State or is unable to be at his post. The duties of the Lieutenant Governor are very few. We have seen that he has the right to act as the President of the State Senate; but he has no vote in that body except when there is a tie, that is, when there is an equal number of votes for and against a measure. When there is a tie, the Lieutenant Governor decides the question by voting on one side or on the other. In such a case he is said to have the casting vote.

(2) The Secretary of State, sometimes elected, sometimes appointed by the Governor, is the highest clerk of the executive department. He has charge of State papers,

of the Journals of the Legislature, and of historical documents, statuary, paintings, relics, etc., owned by the State.

(3) The State Comptroller or Auditor.-A comptroller is a manager of accounts. The Comptroller of a State manages the financial business of the State government. He attends to business relating to the debt, the property, the claims, the revenue of the State. He superintends the collection of taxes due to the State, and examines the claims of those to whom the State owes money. When a debt of the State is to be paid, the Comptroller orders the State Treasurer to pay it.

(4) The State Treasurer.-We shall learn hereafter that when a town or a county collects money by taxation, a certain portion of the money usually must be given over to the State government. This money is sent to the State Treasurer. He either keeps it in a large safe at the capitol or gives it to some reliable bank to keep. He may not pay out a dollar of it without an order from the Comptroller.

(5) The Attorney-General is the law officer of the State, corresponding to the prosecuting attorney of the county. When the State needs the services of a lawyer, he appears for it in the courts.

(6) The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the highest school officer of the State. He prepares a report every year or every two years. In this report he states the needs of the schools and suggests how they may be improved. He presides at the meeting of County Superin