CHAPTER XV.

GOVERNMENT OF MICHIGAN DIVISIONS OF THE POWERS OF

GOVERNMENT.

The powers of Government are divided into three departments: the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

The Legislative department is that which enacts the laws for the government of the people, and its power is vested in a Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate has thirtytwo members, and the House of Representatives has one hundred members.

These officers are elected by the people, from districts into which the State is divided, and hold their offices for two years.

The Executive power of the Government is vested in a Governor, who is assisted by such other officers as are necessary to carry out and execute the laws. Indeed, it is the business of this department to see to it that the laws are carried into effect.

The Judicial department is that which administers justice according to the laws, and is composed of the different Courts of Justice. The Judges and Justices of the Peace are Judicial officers.

Questions-Into how many departments are the powers of government divided? Name them. What is the Legislative department? How many members are there in each House? How are such members elected? How long do they hold their terms of office? In whom is the Executive department vested? What is the special duty of this department? What is the Judicial department? Of what officers is this department composed?

CHAPTER XVI.

ELECTION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

In order that the government may be administered, it is necessary that officers should be elected for that purpose. As the duties of some of these officers pertain to the whole State, we call them State officers; those whose duties are limited to the county, we call county officers; and those whose duties are limited to, and pertain to the government of the townships, cities, and villages, we call township, city, or village officers, as the case may be.

Once in two years, on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in November, a general election is held throughout the State, at which the people choose, by ballot, their Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Treasurer; Commissioner of the Land Office, members of the State Board of Education, Auditor-General, Attorney-General, members of the Legislature, and Representatives in Congress, Sheriff, County Clerk, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Prosecuting Attorney, and Circuit Court Commissioners; and once in four years, in addition to these, a Probate Judge, and Electors of President and Vice-President of the United States. The State is divided into nine districts, for the election of Representatives in Congress.

On the first Monday in April, of each year, in each organized township, the people elect a Supervisor, a Justice of the Peace, a Township Clerk, a Commissioner of Highways, a Township Treasurer, a School Inspector, not exceeding four

Constables, and one Overseer of Highways for each highway district.

Judges of the Supreme and Circuit Courts, Regents of the State University, and County Superintendents of Schools, are also elected at the April elections.

In addition to these, elections are held in cities and villages, of officers to discharge the duties required of them under the charter and by-laws of such city or village.

Questions-In treating of the officers required to carry on the government, under what general classification do we refer to them? At what time is the general election for the State and county officers held? Name the officers elected at the general election. Into how many districts is the State divided for the election of Representatives in Congress? At what time are township officers elected? Name the township offiWhat other officers are elected at the spring election?

cers.

The right to vote is called the right of suffrage. Persons who have the right to make choice of public officers, and to vote, are called electors.

In all elections, every male citizen, every male inhabitant residing in the State, on the twenty-fourth day of June, 1835; every male inhabitant residing in the State, on the first day of January, 1850, who has declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States, pursuant to the laws thereof, six months preceding an election, or who has resided in the State two years and six months, and declared his intention as afore

said, and every civilized male inhabitant of Indian descent, a native of the United States and not a member of any tribe, shall be an elector and entitled to vote; but no citizen or inhabitant shall be an elector or entitled to vote at any election unless he shall be above the age of twenty-one years, and have resided in this State three months, and in the township. or ward in which he offers to vote ten days next preceding such election. Provided, that in time of war, insurrection, or rebellion, no qualified elector in the actual military service of the United States, or of this State, in the army or navy thereof, shall be deprived of his vote by reason of his absence from the township, ward, or State in which he resides; and the Legislature shall have the power, and shall provide the manner in which, and the time and place at which, such absent electors may vote, and for the canvass and return of their votes to the township or ward election district in which they respectively reside, or otherwise.

Persons born in other countries are called aliens; and to become citizens must be naturalized. To accomplish this, the person desiring to become a citizen must go before the Court or the clerk thereof, two years before he can be admitted as a citizen, and declare, on oath, in writing, that he intends to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce his allegiance to his former government; and he must declare on oath that he will support the Constitution of the United States.. Then, two years thereafter, the Court, if satisfied as to his moral character and loyalty, and that he has resided in the United States for five years, and in the State or Territory where the Court is held, for one year, may admit him as a citizen.

Persons residing within and under the jurisdiction of the United States, at any time between the 18th of June, 1778,,

and April 14, 1802, and who have continued to reside therein, are exempt from the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Any alien being a minor, who arrives in the United States when not over eighteen years of age, and continues to reside therein, may, after he arrives at the age of twenty-one years, and after he shall have resided five years within the United States, be admitted as a citizen, without having made the usual declaration three years previous to his admission; but this declaration must be made at the time of his admission, and he must declare to the Court on oath, and prove that for three years next preceding, it has been his intention to become a citizen of the United States.

When an alien, who shall have complied with the provisions of paragraph four, of this chapter, relative to declaring his intention, may die before being naturalized, his widow and children shall be considered citizens of the United States, and entitled to all the privileges as such, upon taking the oath prescribed by law.

Aliens having borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility in the Kingdom or State from which they came, must renounce such title, or order of nobility, before they can be admitted as citizens of the United States.

When at war with other nations, the United States Government will not admit to citizenship, the citizens, subjects, or denizens of such nation.

As to the provisions of law concerning aliens residing in the United States prior to 1812, the student is referred to the abstract of the laws of the United States, to be found at page 2245, of the Compiled Laws of Michigan.

The children of naturalized persons, being under the age of twenty-one years at the time of their parents being naturalized, shall, if dwelling in the United States, be considered as citizens thereof.