The subject matter herewith presented partially represents the planpursued by the authors as teachers of civil government for a number ofyears in high school, academy, and normal school. It has been found thata study of the methods by which the affairs of government are conductedgives constant interest to the work, and, consequently, the practicalside of government has been emphasized. But while our desire has been tobring the actual working of the institutions under which the studentlives into prominence, we have also attempted to give such accounts ofthe origin and early development of forms of government as will assistin explaining their process of growth. The plan of discussion is similarto that followed in "Government in State and Nation." The general favorwith which that text has been received leads to the belief that it fullymeets the requirement of the Committee of Five for such schools aspresent civil government in the third or fourth year of the course. Inmany cases, however, the subject is taught earlier in the course, andthe present work has been prepared in answer to the requests of teachersfor a text suitable to this class of students.
The arrangement is such that either Local (Part I), National (Part II),or State Government (Part III) may be studied first. In the work onlocal and State government it is not expected that the student willlearn all of the different practices found in the various States, butthat he will compare them with those of his own State.
While some of the discussions and many of the suggestive questions areintended to make students realize more completely their duties ascitizens, many more having a local bearing will occur to teachers. It isscarcely to be hoped that all of the books and magazines mentioned willbe found in any high school library, but the need for supplementaryreading is being met through the rapid increase of public libraries. Aworking-library on the subject of civics may be accumulated in a shorttime if only a few of the books given in Appendix D are procured eachyear. No attempt has been made to give references to all of the materialwhich has appeared within the past few years.
The ability of the reader and the time to be devoted to the subject havebeen kept constantly in mind. There may be more supplementary questionsand references than can be used by any one class. Should it happen, onthe other hand, that more work of this character is desired, the needmay be met by reference to similar questions in "Government in State andNation."
In preparing this new edition, we take the opportunity of acknowledgingthe assistance given by many teachers of civics, strangers to us, whoare using "Government in State and Nation," and others who are using"Our Government," for their helpful suggestions.
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS,July 1, 1913.
CHAPTER I. THE WORK OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT