Studies in Civics | Page 4

man were morally
perfect? Why is this organization of society called _government?_

PART I.
GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE STATE.

CHAPTER I
.
THE TOWN: WHY AND HOW ORGANIZED; OFFICERS; TOWN
BUSINESS.
Necessity.--Now instead of a company going to an island to found new
homes, let us think of immigrants to a new part of a state.
Like the people on the island, they will need roads, bridges, and
schools; and they will desire to preserve the local peace. Hence they,
too, will need to organize as a political body.
Size.--Since these people are going to meet at stated periods to agree
upon the amounts to be put into public improvements and to select
officers to carry out their wishes, the territory covered by the
organization should not be very large. It should be of such a size that
every one entitled to do so can reach the place of meeting, take part in
the work thereof, and return home the same day, even if he has no
team.
Basis.--Will anything be found already done to facilitate matters? Yes.
Those parts of the state open to settlement will be found surveyed into
portions six miles square. These squares are called in the survey
"townships," plainly indicating that they were meant by the general
government to be convenient bases for the organization of "towns."
And they have been so accepted.

Draw a township. Subdivide it into sections and number them in
accordance with the U.S. survey. Subdivide a section into forties, and
describe each forty. Why do we have such divisions of a township?
Locate your father's farm. What is the difference between a township
and a _town?_ [Footnote: In some states the terms "congressional
township" and "civil township" are used.]
Corporate Powers.--A town is in some respects like an individual. It
can sue and be sued. It can borrow money. It can buy or rent property
needed for public purposes. And it can sell property for which it has no
further use. Because a town can do these things as an individual can it
is called a corporation, and such powers are called corporate powers.
When we say that "the town" can do these things, we mean of course
that the people of the town as a political body can do them, through the
proper officers.
Officers Needed.--The town needs one or more persons to act for it in
its corporate capacity and to have general charge of its interests.
Should there be one, or more than one? Why? How many are there?
Every business transaction should be recorded, and the town should
have a recording officer or secretary.
What is the recording officer in this town called? What is his name?
Which officer would naturally be the custodian of public papers?
It takes money to build bridges and to carry on other public works, and
the town needs some one to take charge of the public funds.
What is the officer called? Who occupies that position in this town?
How is he prevented from misappropriating the money belonging to the
people?
Our plan for raising public money for local purposes is, in general, that
each person shall contribute _according to the value of his property._
Hence the town needs a competent and reliable man to value each
person's property.
What is such an officer called? What is the name of the one in this town?
Is any property exempt from taxation? Why? Just how is the value of
the real estate in the town ascertained for the purpose of taxation? The
value of the personal property? Get a list and find out what questions
this officer asks. Read the statement at the bottom of the list carefully,
and then form an opinion of a person who would answer the questions
untruthfully for the purpose of lowering his taxes.

The immediate care of the roads will demand the attention of one or
more officers.
How many in this town? What are such officers called? Name them.
Differences about property of small value sometimes arise, and to go
far from home to have them settled would involve too much expense of
time and money; hence the necessity of local officers of justice. These
officers are needed also because petty acts of lawlessness are liable to
occur.
How many justices of the peace are there in each town? Why that
number? What is the extent of their jurisdiction?
The arrest of criminals, the serving of legal papers, and the carrying out
of the decisions of justices of the peace, make it necessary to have one
or more other officers.
What are such officers called? How many in each town? Why? Look
up the history of this office; it is interesting.
The public schools of the town may be managed either by a town board