Civil Government of Virginia | Page 3

of the greatest blessings a state can have. It is also the duty
of young people to learn about the government and politics of their
state, so that when they come of age they may be able to perform their
part as citizens intelligently and well.
QUESTIONS.
1. Define GOVERNMENT.
2. Give some illustrations of the necessity of government.
3. What is the necessity for laws in a country?
4. Define CIVIL.
5. What is a republic?
6. What does the government in a republic consist of?
7. What is the duty of the legislative department?
8. What is the duty of the executive department?
9. What is the duty of the judicial department?
10. What do you understand by majority rule?
11. What is a convention?
12. What is a party government?

13. Why is it good for the state that there should be political parties?
14. Why is it the duty of every citizen to become a member of one of
the political parties?
15. Why is it good for young people to learn about government and
politics?

VIRGINIA CIVIL GOVERNMENT

I.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. All power is vested in and hence derived from the people;
magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to
them.
2. Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit,
protection, and security of the people.
3. No free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to
any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance,
frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental
principles.
--Bill of Rights.
The BILL OF RIGHTS is the title of the first article, or chapter, of the
Constitution of Virginia. It is so called because it is a declaration or
statement of the RIGHTS of the people in regard to government. In
English history the name BILL OF RIGHTS is given to a declaration of
rights adopted by the two houses of Parliament in England in 1688, and
soon afterwards passed into law.
VESTED IN means entrusted to or put in possession of. To vest is to
invest or clothe with power or authority.
MAGISTRATES are public officers whose duty it is to administer the
laws. The President is the chief magistrate of the nation. It is his duty to
see that the laws of the United States are executed Or carried out. The
governor is the chief magistrate of the State; the mayor is the chief
magistrate of the city. Judges are magistrates who preside in the courts
and administer the law as applying to the cases brought before them.
Trustees are persons who hold or have charge of the property of others
in trust, and as guardians, for those to whom it belongs. Magistrates
hold their offices as trustees for the people, and they are amenable, that

is, answerable, to the people. If they do not perform the duties of their
offices honestly, the people can call them to account and punish them.
A FREE GOVERNMENT is a government instituted, that is,
established, by the consent of the people. The government of the
United States is a free government, because it has been established by
the people, and the people can change it when they please.
"Government ought to be established for the COMMON BENEFIT."
This means that government ought to be for the benefit of all the people,
poor as well as rich, and under a free government all the people have
equal protection from the law.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES are principles or truths according to
which, or upon which, systems, or laws, or institutions, are FOUNDED.
The fundamental principles of free government are that all men are
born equal, and that all men have equal rights to life and liberty.
RECURRENCE means A GOING BACK TO. We must frequently
recur, or go back to, fundamental principles in order to preserve free
government. We must also firmly adhere to, or practice justice,
moderation, temperance, and virtue.
JUSTICE is the doing of what is right. MODERATION means the
avoiding of severity or harshness in our conduct towards others.
TEMPERANCE is the moderate or reasonable use or enjoyment of the
pleasures of life. FRUGALITY is the practice of thrift and economy as
opposed to extravagance. VIRTUE is the practice of the moral good
taught by religion.
The constitution guarantees to the people the right to make and to
change their own laws; the right of speedy trial by jury; protection in
the enjoyment of their inherent rights; freedom of elections; freedom of
speech; freedom of the press; religious freedom; equal civil and
political rights and public privileges.
It prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, the infliction of cruel and
unusual punishments, and the taking of private property for public uses
except by law and with just compensation.