phrases, and the further explanation of many subjects, have necessarily been left to be supplied by teachers. The study and investigation which may in some cases be required to qualify them for the task, will be amply rewarded by their own advancement in political knowledge.
No intelligent teacher, it is presumed, will object to the introduction of this study, on the ground that there is not sufficient time or room for an additional exercise. Useful as all the branches now taught may be justly deemed, all of them are not, as is a knowledge of government, indispensable to the security of our liberties. The latter is of far greater importance to an American citizen, than a knowledge of some portions of arithmetic and the higher mathematics; and in the opinion of some distinguished educators the time now devoted to these, in many schools, is sufficient to acquire a tolerable political education. It is believed, however, that this study need not exclude, or essentially interfere with, any of the studies pursued in the schools generally. By the more advanced scholars in the common schools, the work may be used as a reading book, and thus a two-fold advantage be gained from its use.
To assist the more inexperienced teachers in conducting the exercise, a few questions have been appended to the chapters. Questions may be added by the teachers at pleasure, or to such extent as may be thought necessary. And it is believed the recitations may be made more profitable to pupils, by requiring them, so far as may be, to give answers in their own words. To some of the printed questions, no answers are furnished by the chapters and sections referred to, but may be found in the Synopsis of the State Constitutions, or other parts of the work. Occasionally questions have been inserted to which no part of the work furnishes the answers.
Contents
Principles of Government.
Chapter I.
Mankind fitted for Society, and for Civil Government and Laws
Chapter II.
Rights and Liberty, defined
Chapter III.
Laws defined
Chapter IV.
Different Forms of Government. Monarchy; Aristocracy; Democracy; Republic
State Governments.
Chapter V.
The Nature and Objects of a Constitution, and the manner in which it is made
Chapter VI.
Qualifications of Electors; or, by whom Political Power is exercised in the States of this Union
Chapter VII.
Elections
Chapter VIII.
Division of the Powers of Government
Chapter IX.
States Legislatures--how constituted
Chapter X.
Meetings and Organization of the Legislature
Chapter XI.
Manner of Enacting Laws
Chapter XII.
Executive Department. Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Chapter XIII.
Assistant Executive State Officers
Chapter XIV.
Counties and County Officers. Powers and Duties of County Officers
Chapter XV.
Towns and Town Officers. Powers and Duties of Town Officers
Chapter XVI.
Incorporation and Government of Cities, Villages, &c.
Chapter XVII.
Judicial Department. Justices' Courts
Chapter XVIII.
Trial by Jury; Execution; Attachment; Appeals; Arrest of Offenders
Chapter XIX.
Courts other than Justices' Courts; Grand and Petit Juries, &c.
Chapter XX.
Chancery or Equity Courts; Probate Courts; Court of Impeachment
Chapter XXI.
Assessment and Collection of Taxes
Chapter XXII.
Education. School Funds; Schools, &c.
Chapter XXIII.
Canals and Railroads
Chapter XXIV.
Banks and Insurance Companies
Chapter XXV.
The Militia
Government of the United States.
Chapter XXVI.
Causes of the Revolution
Chapter XXVII.
Nature of the Union under the Confederation
Chapter XXVIII.
Nature of the Union under the Constitution
Chapter XXIX.
Legislative Department. House of Representatives
Chapter XXX.
The Senate
Chapter XXXI.
Power of Congress to lay Taxes, Duties, &c.; Power to Borrow Money
Chapter XXXII.
Power to Regulate Commerce. Commerce with Foreign Nations
Chapter XXXIII.
Power to Regulate Commerce, continued. Navigation; Commerce among the States, and with the Indian Tribes
Chapter XXXIV.
Powers of Congress in Relation to Naturalization; Bankruptcy; Coining Money; Weights and Measures; Punishment of Counterfeiting
Chapter XXXV.
Powers of Congress in Relation to Post-Offices; Copy-Rights and Patents; Inferior Courts
Chapter XXXVI.
Powers of Congress in Relation to Piracy and Offenses against the Law of Nations; War; Marque and Reprisal; Public Defense; District of Columbia; Implied Powers
Chapter XXXVII.
Prohibitions on Congress
Chapter XXXVIII.
Prohibition on the States
Chapter XXXIX.
Executive Department. President and Vice-President; their Election, Qualifications, &c.
Chapter XL.
Powers and Duties of the President; Treaties; Public Ministers; Appointments and Removals
Chapter XLI.
Auxiliary Executive Departments. Departments of State, of the Treasury, of the Interior, of War, of the Navy, of the Post-Office; Attorney General
Chapter XLII.
Judicial Department. District Courts; Circuit Courts; Supreme Court
Chapter XLIII.
Treason Defined, its Punishment
Chapter XLIV.
State Records; Privileges of Citizens; Fugitives; Admission of New States; Power over Territory; Guaranty of Republican Government
Chapter XLV.
Provision for Amendments; Assumptions of Public Debt; Supremacy of the Constitution, &c.; Oaths and Tests; Ratification of the Constitution
Chapter XLVI.
Amendments to the Constitution
Common and Statutory Law.
Chapter XLVII.
Rights of Persons. Personal Security; Personal Liberty; Religious Liberty; Liberty of Speech, and of the Press; Right of Property
Chapter XLVIII.
Domestic Relations. Husband and Wife
Chapter XLIX.
Domestic Relations, continued. Parent and Child; Guardian and Ward; Minors; Masters, Apprentices, and Servants
Chapter L.
Rights of Property. How Title to Property is acquired; Wills and Testaments; Title to Property by Descent
Chapter LI.
Deeds and Mortgages
Chapter LII.
Incorporeal Hereditaments, Right of Way; Aquatic Rights, &c.
Chapter LIII.
Leases. Estates for Life; Estates for Years; Estates at Will; Estates by Sufferance; Rent, &c.
Chapter LIV.
Contracts in General
Chapter LV.
Contracts of Sale
Chapter LVI.
Fraudulent Sales; Assignments; Gifts, &c.
Chapter LVII.
Bailment
Chapter LVIII.
Principal and Agent, or Factor;
![](qr/22981/3.png)
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the
Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.