CHAPTER XV. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT-DUTIES OF THE GOVERNOR AND The Executive department is vested in the Governor, who, in the discharge of his duties, is assisted by a number of subordinate officers. A person to be eligible to the office of Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, must have been a citizen of the United States for at least five years, and a resident of this State two years next preceeding his election, and must be thirty years of age or upwards. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor are elected for two years. The Governor is Commander-in-Chief of the military and naval forces of the State, and may call out such forces to execute the laws, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions. He transacts all necessary business for the State with the officers of the government. He may convene the Legislature on extraordinary occasions. He informs the Legislature of such measures as he deems expedient. He may grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons for all offences except treason and cases of impeachment. If a person has been found guilty of an offence and is sentenced to be punished, the Governor has power to postpone or put off the time when the punishment shall commence. This is called a reprieve. If he should set the person free and discharge him from punishment, this would be called a pardon. By commutation is meant the change of a punishment to which a person has been condemned, into a less severe one. The Lieutenant-Governor, is, by virtue of his office, President of the Senate, and in case of the impeachment of the Governor, his removal from office, death, inability, resignation, or absence from the State, the duties of the office devolve upon the Lieutenant Governor. The Secretary of State is an executive officer. It is his duty to countersign all commissions issued by the Governor. The original acts of the legislature are deposited with him. He is to furnish laws for publication; to distribute the statutes; to give notice of vacancies to be filled at a general election; to record statements of votes transmitted by county clerks, and the statement of State Canvassers; to issue certificates of election to United States Senators; to record deeds and other evidences of title in the State; to countersign State bonds and certificates, and to discharge many other duties prescribed by law. Questions-In whom is the executive department vested? What are the qualifications of Governor? For how long a term are Governor and Lieutenant Governor elected? What is the Governor's relation to the military and naval forces of the State? Enumerate other powers and duties of the Governor. What is a Reprieve? Pardon? Commutation? What are some of the duties of Lieutenant-Governor? Mention some of the du ties of Secretary of State. CHAPTER XVI. OF STATE OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES, CONTINUED AUDITOR GENERAL- STATE TREASURER COMMISSIONER OF THE LAND OFFICE-SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION The Auditor General may be called an executive officer. Among the many duties he is required to perform, the following may be mentioned: He is to state accounts and liquidate claims against the State; to adjust claims in favor of the State; to keep accounts between the Treasurer and the State; to report to the Legislature upon the funds of the State; to estimate and charge specific tax on corporations, and to issue warrants for the collection thereof; to apportion the State tax, and to make out and transmit to the clerks of boards of Supervisors statements of amounts apportioned to counties. The State Treasurer has charge of the public moneys that are paid into the State Treasury. It is his duty to make a report to the Legislature, embracing a statement of the balance in the Treasury to the credit of the State, with a summary of the receipts and payments made by the Treasury. The Commissioner of the State Land Office has the general charge of all lands belonging to the State, or in which it has an interest; and he is authorized to lease, sell and dispose of the same in the manner prescribed by law. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has the general supervision of public instruction in the State, and of the State Reform School. It is his duty to transmit to the Governor, to be by him transmitted to the Legislature, a report containing, First.—A statement of the condition of the University and of all incorporated literary institutions and primary schools; Second.-Estimates and amounts of expenditures of the school moneys; Third-Plans for the improvement and management of all educational funds, and for the better organization of the educational system, if, in his opinion, the same be required; Fourth.-The condition of the Normal School; Fifth.—The annual reports and accompanying documents, as far as he shall deem the same of sufficient public interest, of the Board of Control of the State Reform School. He is required to publish the school laws, and to furnish necessary forms for conducting proceedings under such laws; to apportion the school fund, and to do many other acts provided for by law. The Attorney General is the law-officer of the State. The following are some of his duties: He is to prosecute and defend for the State, in actions in the Supreme Court, and in other courts, when directed so to do by the Governor or the Legislature; to prosecute and defend suits on request of State officers; to consult with and advise prosecuting attorneys; to appear for the State before State Auditors. Questions-Mention some of the duties of Auditor General. Of the Commissioner of the State Land Office. Of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Of the Attorney General. CHAPTER XVII. OF STATE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS. The word Board is used to designate a body of persons whose duty it is to manage or control some institution, or to discharge certain specific duties. Provision has been made by law for the establishment of various Boards, to discharge duties in which the people of the whole State are more or less interested. It is frequently the case that for the discharge of particular duties, a single person is employed, called a Commissioner. If two or more are employed, we refer to them as a Board, or Board of Commissioners. Some of these Commissioners are appointed by the Governor, others are elected by the people, while some of them are designated by name, in the law creating the office and prescribing the duties thereof. The various State Boards are, with few exceptions, composed of State officers, who, in addition to their other duties, are required by law to act together in managing and controling certain public interests. Some of these Boards are appointed by the Governor. Among the various Boards provided for by law, we may mention, the Board of Agriculture, which has charge of the Agricultural College and its interests; the Board of Canvassers, established to examine the statements received by the Secretary of State for State officers, Representatives in Congress and Presidential Electors; the Board of Control for the Reform School for juvenile offenders; the Board of Control, to have the charge of the canals in the Upper Peninsula; the Board to take charge of lands given to the State by Congress, for railroads; the Board to have the |