Civil Government of Virginia | Page 4

A CONSTITUTION is a system or plan of government, or a written or
printed statement of the principles and rules according to which a
government is to be conducted. The constitution tells how the
government is to be formed, what it has power to do, and what it must
not do. The Constitution of Virginia GUARANTEES, that is, secures

or makes sure to the people, the right to make or change the laws. A
government under a constitution is called a CONSTITUTIONAL
government.
TRIAL BY JURY is trial by a judge and certain citizens who are called
the jury. The duty of the judge is to see that the trial is conducted
according to law, and to pass sentence on the accused person if found
guilty. The duty of the jury is to decide, after hearing the evidence,
whether the accused person is guilty or not. This declaration of the jury
is called a VERDICT, a word which means a TRUE SAYING.
INHERENT means inseparable from, or not to be taken away.
INHERENT RIGHTS are rights that cannot justly be taken away from
the people. The right to life and liberty is an inherent right of man
which cannot be taken away by any constitution or government.
FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS means freedom to hold elections to
choose the officers of government, and freedom for every citizen to
vote for the candidate of his choice. FREEDOM OF SPEECH and
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS mean liberty for all to speak or publish
what they desire to say on any subject, being liable to punishment by
law if they speak or publish anything injurious to the reputation of
others. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM means liberty to belong to any
religion, or to worship God in any way that one thinks proper.
CIVIL RIGHTS are the rights a man is entitled to as a member of the
community, such as the right to trial by jury, the right of freedom of
speech.
POLITICAL RIGHTS are the rights that belong to men as citizens,
Such, as the right to vote, the right to be candidates for public office.
PUBLIC PRIVILEGES are benefits or advantages possessed by some
and not by others, such as charters to corporations or licenses to carry
on certain kinds of business. For example, a license to sell liquors is a
public privilege. It is not for the public good that it should be given to
everybody, but the Constitution guarantees that under necessary
restrictions as to the number of such licenses granted, all citizens shall
have equal rights to such privileges.
PRIVATE PROPERTY is property that belongs to private individuals.
It may be taken for public use when necessary. If a government
building has to be erected or a railroad made, the land required for the
purpose may be taken from the owner, but a just price must be paid for

it.
Who May Vote and Hold Office. Every male citizen of the United
States, who is 21 years old, who has been a resident of the State two
years, of the county, city, or town one year, and of the precinct in
which he offers to vote thirty days next preceding any election, has
been registered and has paid his state poll taxes, shall be entitled to vote;
except idiots and lunatics, persons convicted after the adoption of the
constitution of bribery in any election, embezzlement of public funds,
treason, felony, or petit larceny, obtaining money or other property
under false pretences, or who have been in any way concerned in a
duel.
All persons entitled to vote shall be eligible to any office within the gift
of the people, except as restricted by the constitution.
Excepting the requirements of residence in the voting precinct,
payment of poll tax and registration, the qualifications of jurors are
practically the same as those of voters.
A CITIZEN is a native of the United States or a foreigner who has been
made a citizen. To be made a citizen, a person must, at least two years
before admission, make a declaration before a judge that it is his
intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce
allegiance to all foreign powers or princes. Having so declared his
intention, and after residing five years in the United States, he must
declare on oath before a judge that he renounces allegiance to all
foreign powers, and that he will support the Constitution of the United
States. He then receives a paper or document certifying that he is a
citizen. The paper is called a NATURALIZATION paper, and the
person who receives it is said to be NATURALIZED, because it
entitles him to all the rights and privileges of a NATIVE or
NATURAL-BORN citizen of the United States.
CONVICTED means tried in a public court for