QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT.

1.  What reason exists for beginning the study of government with that of the New England township?

2.  Give the origin of the township in New England according to the following analysis:—­

a.  Settlement in groups. b.  The chief reason for coming to New England. c.  The leaders of the groups. d.  The favouring action of the Massachusetts government. e.  Small farms. f.  Defence against the Indians. g.  The limits of a township. h.  The village within the township.

3.  What was the social standing of the first settlers?

4.  What training had they received in self-government?

5.  Who do the governing in a New England township?

6.  Give an account of the town-meeting in accordance with the following analysis:—­

a.  The name of the meeting. b.  The time for holding it. c.  The place for holding it. d.  The persons who take part in it. e.  The sort of business done in it.

7.  Give an account of the selectmen:—­

  a.  Their number.
  b.  The reason for an odd number.
  c.  Their duties.

8.  When public schools were established by Massachusetts in 1647, what reasons were assigned for the law?

9.  What classes or grades of schools were then established?

10.  What are the duties of the Massachusetts school committee?

11.  What is the term of service of teachers in that state?

12.  What are the duties of the following officers?—­

a.  Field-drivers. b.  Pound-keepers. c.  Fence-viewers. d.  Surveyors of lumber. e.  Measurers of wood. f.  Sealers of weights and measures.

13.  What are the duties of the following officers?—­

a.  The town-clerk. b.  The treasurer. c.  Constables. d.  Assessors. e.  Overseers of the poor.

14.  Describe a warrant for a town-meeting.

15.  For what other purposes than those of the town are taxes raised?

16.  Explain the following:—­

  a.  The poll-tax.
  b.  The tax on personal property,
  c.  The tax on real estate.

17.  What kinds of real estate are exempted from taxation, and why?

18.  What kinds of personal property are exempted, and why?

19.  Where must the several kinds of taxes be assessed and paid?  Illustrate.

20.  If a person changes his residence from one town in the state to another before May 1, what consequences about taxes might follow?

21.  How do the assessors ascertain the property for which one should be taxed?

22.  What difficulties beset the taxation of personal property?

23.  Mention a common practice in assigning values to property.  What is the effect on the tax-rate?  Illustrate.

24.  How do high taxes operate as a burden?