Questions.

1.  Define government.

2.  Give some illustrations of the necessity of government.

3.  What is the necessity for laws in a country?

4.  Define civil.

5.  What is a republic?

6.  What does the government in a republic consist of?

7.  What is the duty of the legislative department?

8.  What is the duty of the executive department?

9.  What is the duty of the judicial department?

10.  What do you understand by majority rule?

11.  What is a convention?

12.  What is a party government?

13.  Why is it good for the state that there should be political parties?

14.  Why is it the duty of every citizen to become a member of one of the political parties?

15.  Why is it good for young people to learn about government and politics?

VIRGINIA CIVIL GOVERNMENT

I.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1.  All power is vested in and hence derived from the people; magistrates are their trustees and servants and at all times amenable to them.

2.  Government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection, and security of the people.

3.  No free government, or the blessing of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue, and by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.

—­Bill of Rights.

The bill of rights is the title of the first article, or chapter, of the Constitution of Virginia.  It is so called because it is a declaration or statement of the rights of the people in regard to government.  In English history the name bill of rights is given to a declaration of rights adopted by the two houses of Parliament in England in 1688, and soon afterwards passed into law.

Vested in means entrusted to or put in possession of.  To vest is to invest or clothe with power or authority.

Magistrates are public officers whose duty it is to administer the laws.  The President is the chief magistrate of the nation.  It is his duty to see that the laws of the United States are executed Or carried out.  The governor is the chief magistrate of the State; the mayor is the chief magistrate of the city.  Judges are magistrates who preside in the courts and administer the law as applying to the cases brought before them.

Trustees are persons who hold or have charge of the property of others in trust, and as guardians, for those to whom it belongs.  Magistrates hold their offices as trustees for the people, and they are amenable, that is, answerable, to the people.  If they do not perform the duties of their offices honestly, the people can call them to account and punish them.