Hart, A.B., Actual government, Chapters iv, V.

Ashley, R.L., The new civics (Macmillan), Chapters, vi, VII.

Reed, T.H., Form and functions of American government, Chapters V-
viii, (World Book Co.).

Bryce, James, the American commonwealth, Vol.  II, Part iii, The party system; and Part V, Chapters, xcvii-xcix, The faults and strength of democracy.

Encyclopedia of American government, under the several topics referred to in this chapter.

Teachable Facts about Bolshevism and Sovietism, Institute for
Public Service, 51 Chambers St., New York City.

CHAPTER XXV

OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

When the first colonists of America undertook to organize governments for their local settlements, they naturally adopted forms with which they had been familiar in England.  There were two such forms which met their needs, the town, or township, and the county.  These have remained to this day the chief units of our local government.

THE NEW ENGLAND TOWN

Geographical conditions were such in New England that the colonists settled in compact communities.  There the township, or town, was adopted as the more convenient unit.  It included a central village and the neighboring farming region with irregular boundaries.  It is still the unit of local government throughout rural New England, and in many communities that have grown to the proportion of cities.  It has been said of the New England town government that it is “the fullest and most perfect example of local self-government either then or now in existence ... .  The state might fall to pieces, and the town would still supply all the wants of everyday government.” [Footnote:  Henry Cabot Lodge, A short history of the English colonies in America, p. 414.]

THE TOWN MEETING

The chief feature of the New England town government is the town meeting, which is an assemblage of the voters of the town at the town hall (formerly often at the church), the regular annual town meeting being held in the spring or autumn, and special meetings as necessary.  These meetings are called by the selectmen (see below) by means of a warrant which contains a statement of the business to be transacted.  At the annual meeting, reports are heard from the officers of the preceding year, officers for the new year are elected, by-laws (town laws) are enacted, taxes are levied and appropriations made for the various purposes of government.  It is direct self-government.