Elements of Civil Government | Page 2

the right of suffrage, and
aid in securing honest elections and honest discharge of official duties.
5. That he may better understand the history of his country, for the
history of the United States is largely the history of our political
institutions.
2. ORAL INSTRUCTION.--There is no child in your school too young
to learn something of geography, of history, and of civil government.
These three subjects are so closely related that it is easier and better to
teach them together. All pupils not prepared for the text-book should, at
least on alternate days, be instructed by the teacher in a series of
familiar talks, beginning with "The Family," and proceeding slowly to

"The School," "The Civil District or Township," "The County," "The
State," and "The United States." In this system of oral instruction,
which is the best possible preparation for the formal study of civil
government, the plan and outlines of this book may be used by the
teacher with both profit and pleasure.
3. PROPER AGE FOR STUDY OF THE TEXT-BOOK.--The plan and
the style of this book are so simple that the subject will be readily
understood by pupils reading in the "Fourth Reader." Even in our
ungraded country schools the average pupil of twelve years is well
prepared to begin the study of the text-book in civil government. It is a
serious mistake to postpone this much neglected subject until a later
age. Let it be introduced early, that the child's knowledge of his
government may "grow with his growth, and strengthen with his
strength."
4. TWO PARTS.--It will be observed that the book is divided into two
parts: the former treating the subject concretely, the latter treating it
abstractly.
Beginners should deal with things, not theories; hence, the abstract
treatment of civil government is deferred until the pupil's mind is able
to grasp it.
For the same reason, definitions in the first part of the book are few and
simple, the design of the author being to illustrate rather than to define;
to lead the child to see, rather than to burden his mind with fine-spun
statements that serve only to confuse. In an elaborate work for
advanced students the method of treatment would, of course, be quite
different.
5. TOPICAL METHOD.--The subject of each paragraph is printed in
bold-faced type, thus specially adapting the book to the topical method
of recitation. This feature also serves as a guide to the pupil in the
preparation of his lesson.
6. SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.--In deference to the best professional
thought, the author has omitted all questions upon the text, knowing

that every live teacher prefers to frame his own questions. The space
usually allotted to questions upon the text is devoted to suggestive
questions, intended to lead the pupil to think and to investigate for
himself.
The author sincerely hopes that the teacher will not permit the pupil to
memorize the language of the book, but encourage him to express the
thought in his own words.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE FAMILY.
Introductory; Definition; Purposes; Members; Rights; Duties; Officers;
Powers; Duties; Responsibility; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER II.
THE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Introductory; Definition and Purposes; Formation; Functions; Members;
Children; Rights; Duties; Parents; Rights and Duties; Government;
Officers; Appointment; Duties; Teacher; Powers; Duties; Suggestive
Questions
CHAPTER III.
THE CIVIL DISTRICT.
Introductory; Civil Unit Defined; General Classes; Civil District;
Number; Size; Purposes; Government; Citizens; Rights; Duties;
Officers; Justice of the Peace; Election; Term of Office; Duties;
Constable; Election; Term of Office; Duties; Suggestive Questions

CHAPTER IV.
THE TOWNSHIP, OR TOWN.
Introductory; Formation; Number; Size; Purposes; Citizens; Rights;
Duties; Government; Corporate Power; Officers; Legislative
Department; People; Trustees; Executive Department; Clerk; Treasurer;
School Directors; Assessors; Supervisors; Constables; Other Officers;
Judicial Department; Justices; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER V.
THE COUNTY.
Introductory; Purposes; Formation; Area; County Seat; Government;
Corporate Power; Departments; Officers; Legislative Department;
County Commissioners, or Board of Supervisors; Executive
Department; County, Attorney, or Prosecuting Attorney; County
Superintendent of Schools; Sheriff; Treasurer; Auditor; County Clerk,
or Common Pleas Clerk; Recorder, or Register; Surveyor; Coroner;
Other Officers; Judicial Department; County Judge, or Probate Judge;
Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER VI.
MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS--VILLAGES, BOROUGHS, AND
CITIES.
The Village or Borough; Incorporation; Government; Officers; Duties;
The City; Incorporation; Wards; City Institutions; Finances; Citizens;
Rights and Duties; Government; Officers; Duties; Commission Plan of
City Government; Recall; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER VII.
THE STATE

Introductory; Definition; Formation of Original States; Admission of
New States; Purposes; Functions; Institutions; Citizens; Rights; Duties;
Constitution; Formation and Adoption; Purposes; Value; Contents; Bill
of Rights; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER VIII.
THE STATE--(Continued).
Government Departments; Legislative Department; Qualifications;
Privileges; Power; Sessions; Functions; Forbidden Powers; The Senate;
House of Representatives; Direct Legislation; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER IX.
THE STATE--(Continued).
Executive Department; Governor; Term; Qualifications; Powers;
Duties; Lieutenant-Governor; Secretary of State; Auditor; Comptroller;
Treasurer; Attorney-General; Superintendent of Public Instruction;
Other Officers; Suggestive Questions
CHAPTER X.
THE