some laws administered justly under a free government. The safeguard of republics is the free public school.

208. Law. Law is a rule of action. The law forbids wrong actions and commands right actions. Law is the basis, or foundation of government. The several kinds of law are (1) divine law; (2) international law; (3) constitutional law; (4) municipal law.

209. Divine Law. Divine law is the law of God. It is also called the moral law and the law of nature. Man owes his first allegiance to divine law. All other laws should conform to divine law. No one should obey any law contrary in principle to the divine law. One's conscience is the judge. Furthermore, divine law is the basis of all other kinds of law.

210. International Law. Next to divine law in importance stands the law of nations. International law consists of the well established customs which govern nations in their intercourse with one another. International law comprises the various principles of common law recognized by all civilized nations as rules of action to be observed and practiced by all nations. Treaties between nations belong to this species of law. Constitutional Law. A constitution embraces a system of fundamental laws for the government of a state or nation. A constitution usually defines the form of government and extent of its powers. Constitutions may be written or unwritten. The constitution of the United States and the constitutions of the several states are written. That of Great Britain, un

211.

written, yet the principles of the British constitution are as well known and as closely observed as those of our own state and nation.

212.

Municipal Law. The prescribed laws made for the government of the people of a state or its divisions, are called municipal laws. Municipal laws consist of two kinds, (1) common, or unwritten law; (2) statute, or written law.

213. Common Law. Common law consists of all those customs, rules and maxims which have been in use from time immemorial. In technical language, "the memory of man runneth not to the contrary,” i. e., when the particular custom, rule, or maxim did not prevail. Common law consists largely of judicial decisions.

214. Statute Law. The enactments of the legislative department of a government constitute what is called statute law. Statute law may be found in the printed codes of the several states.

Government

215. Departments of Government. consists of three departments, (1) legislative; (2) executive; (3) judicial. In some forms of government these three functions are vested in one person or body, but in a republic they usually consist of three distinct bodies. Such is the case in the United States general government and also in the several state governments. Laws are made by the legislative department, interpreted by the judicial department, and enforced, or administered by the executive department.

216.

Divisions of the State. For the purposes of local government a state is divided into counties of towns, sometimes called townships. In some of the states of the Union the county is the unit of government; in some the, town, or township is the unit, while some states have both the township and the county, forming what is called a mixed system of local government. These divisions had their origin. in the divisions of the territory of England into counties, counties into hundreds, hundreds into tithings or towns. The states having the town as the unit of government, have followed the system of Massachusetts. Those having the county as unit, have followed Virginia. Those having the mixed system, have followed New York and Pennsylvania. For a complete discussion of this topic, see Hinsdale's American Government. The county is the unit of government in the state of Washington. The state constitution makes provision for local option township organization. [See section 4 of article XI.] Several counties have voted upon the question of township organization, but it has failed to carry in every instance. Perhaps on account of the natural features of the country the county will always remain the unit of local government in the state of Washington.

217. The Government of Washington. Every person in the state of Washington is subject to at least three systems of government, and may be subject to six. The three systems are: (1) The general or United States government, (2) the state government,

(3) the county government. The six systems arranged in the order of treatment in this book are: (1) The family, (2) the school, (3) the city or town, (4) the county, (5) the state, (6) the United States. Each of these except the last* will form the subject of a subsequent chapter and complete our analysis of the government of Washington.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

I. Is government of divine or human origin? Why? What are the natural rights of man?

2.

3. How do we distinguish between right and wrong?

4. Are men happier in a civilized state than in a state of barbarism? Why?

5.

Is theocracy a good form of government? Why? 6. Does the patriarchal form of government now exist? If so, where?

7.

Does the tribal form now exist?

If so, where? 8. Under what conditions would an aristocracy be

a good form of government?

9. Why is a monarchy the strongest form of government?

IO. Is a republic a better form of government than a limited monarchy? Why?

II. Does a pure democracy now exist? where?

If so,

12. Why is a democracy, or republic the best form of government?

*The last system constitutes the subject of Part III.

13.

What is true liberty? Has a man the right to

do as he pleases?

14.

Why is the free public school the safeguard of a republic?

15. Why is law the basis of government? 16. Should a man obey a bad law? Why?

17. law?

Why should all other laws conform to divine

18. What is the penalty for the violation of international law? How administered? By whom?

19. Which is the better, a written or an unwritten constitution? Why?

20. Is it wise to enact a voluminous code of municipal laws? What should govern the limit in such enactments?

21. Can a common law be repealed? How?

22. Why should the three departments of government be separate, or distinct bodies?

23. What caused the county to be made the unit of local government in the state of Washington?

24. What natural features and what conditions will probably prevent township organization in the state of Washington?

25. What residents of Washington live under three systems of government? Four? Five? Six?

QUESTION FOR DEBATE.

Resolved, That the township system of local government should be adopted in the state of Washington.