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BY JAMES T. McCLEARY, M.C.
[Illustration: (House of Representatives) UNITED STATES CAPITOL (Senate.)]
The thought constantly in mind in the preparation of this book has been tofurnish useful material in usable form.
Attention is invited to the scope of the work. The Constitution of theUnited States, not a mere abstract of it but a careful study of the text,is properly given much space but is not allowed a monopoly of it. Each ofour governmental institutions deserves and receives a share ofconsideration. The order of presentation—beginning with the town, wherethe student can observe the operations of government, and proceedinggradually to the consideration of government in general—is based uponconclusions reached during eighteen years of experience in teaching thissubject.
Matter to be used chiefly for reference is placed in the appendix.Attention is asked to the amount of information which, by means oftabulations and other modes of condensation, is therein contained.Documents easily obtainable, such as the Declaration of Independence, areomitted to make room for typical and other interesting documents notusually accessible.
Is this book intended to be an office-holders' manual? No; but it isintended to help students to get an insight into the way in which publicbusiness is carried on.
Is it designed as an elementary treatise on law? No; but the hope isindulged that the young people who study it will catch something of thespirit of law, which to know is to respect.