EXAMPLES OF CIVIC PRIDE IN CALIFORNIA.

1. Riverside High School and grounds.

2. Lake Merritt Boulevard, Oakland.

business, such as paving streets, granting franchises, protecting property and health. These are purely business matters that demand business ability and honesty on the part of those who manage them, and have no relation to the great national issues that divide the parties against each other. The national parties retain their hold on city affairs partly to prevent party spirit and interest from flagging in the period between national elections, and partly to have at their disposal the vast number of city offices as rewards for faithful party workers in the community. The result of this is that not only the responsible positions at the head of administrative departments, but minor positions, such as those of policemen and of clerks in the city offices, are too often filled with men who have some claim on the party in power, but very little on the confidence of the people.

Progress is now being made, however, in the direction of removing cities from partisan control. One means of doing this is by holding city elections at a different Civil service time from state and national elections, in the hope reform of avoiding confusion between local and national questions. More important than this is the introduction of the merit system in the appointment of city officials and employees (see page 184). Good city government cannot be expected until those who carry it on hold their positions solely on the ground of efficiency and faithfulness to the trust reposed in them.

FOR INVESTIGATION

I. What causes have led to the rapid growth of American cities? 2. Investigate your city charter with respect to the following points: By whom was it drafted? Did the people of the city have any voice in determining what the charter should contain? Has it ever been changed, and if so, how? Is it a special charter for your city alone, or is it a general charter, like that of other cities of the same size?

3. Investigate your city council with respect to the following points:

Has it one or two chambers? How are its members chosen? How many members from each ward? What is their term of office? What are the qualifications for councilmen? What is their salary? Where and how often do they meet? Who presides at its meetings? What are the important committees of the council?

4. How is the mayor of your city chosen? What is his salary? His term of office? Is the mayor of your city often reëlected for a second or third term?

5. Does the mayor in your city have large appointing powers? Does he have full power of removal from office? Is he held responsible for the acts of the various administrative departments? Does he have the veto power over the acts of the council?

6. Make a list of the administrative departments of your city government. Report on the organization of each department. How are the heads of the various departments chosen? What are the duties of each department?

7. Do any of these administrative departments have legislative powers? Does the council have any executive powers?

8. Ascertain about how many persons are employed by the city government. In what departments do you find the largest force of employees?

9. Does the merit system of appointment prevail in your city? If so, to what extent?

REFERENCES

Hart, "Actual Government," chapters XI, XII.
Forman, "Advanced Civics," chapter XXIX.

Bryce, "The American Commonwealth," vol. II, chapters L-LII (abridged edition, chapters XLIX-LI).

Goodnow, "City Government in the United States," "Municipal Problems."

Conkling, "City Government in the United States."

Eaton, “The Government of Municipalities."

Wilcox, "The American City."

Fairlie, "Municipal Administration."

Howe, "The City, the Hope of Democracy."

On state control of cities, see:

Goodnow, "City Government in the United States," chapters V, VI.

Wilcox, "The American City," chapter XI.

Goodnow, "Municipal Problems," chapter IV.

Review of Reviews, 9: 682-684.

On national parties and city government, see:

Goodnow, "Municipal Problems," chapter VIII.

On the growth of cities :

Forum, 10: 472-477; 19: 737-745.

Century Magazine, 55: 79-80.

Municipal Affairs, 3:534; 5: 367.

McClure's, 17: 470.

Review of Reviews, 22: 650.

For the model charter prepared by the Committee of the National Municipal League, see:

A Municipal Program (Macmillan).

Public Opinion, 27: 684.

Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 17: 431.

That instruction which helps the pupils to understand the care of the body, and the true value of fresh air, proper food, exercise, and cleanliness, will add much to the wealth of a nation and the happiness of its people.

DR. ALVIN DAVISON.

A man's or a woman's efficiency in this world is largely dependent upon his or her degree of health. Good health is the best investment that any one can possibly make. Bright minds can not make up for weak bodies.

Good health will bring in more money and produce more happiness than any other one thing in the world. Healthy people are nearly always happy; unhealthy people are rarely so. The world wants happy people.

- DR. ERNEST BRYANT HOAG.

State con

CHAPTER XXIII

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE

EACH state in the Union has a written constitution. This constitution is the fundamental law of the state, and gives to the government its form and powers. stitutions It is a law made by the people themselves, is superior to any law made by the government, and cannot be changed in any way except by the people themselves. The constitutions of the original thirteen states were adopted when these states declared their independence from England, and took the place of the colonial charters which had been granted by the king. They were a substitution of self-government for government by the king. The other states adopted their constitutions when they entered the Union. Each state constitution was framed by a convention of delegates chosen by the people for this purpose, and was ratified, in most cases, by a vote of the people.

Amend

ment and revision

The constitution provides for its own amendment and revision if defects appear, or if conditions change to such an extent that its provisions are not adequate. Amendment of the constitution consists merely in changing some of its provisions; revision is a recasting of the whole constitution. Both processes require the consent of the voters of the state. Amendments are usually enacted by the legislature and submitted to the vote of the people at the polls. Revision usually takes