All subordinate employees in all departments are appointed under a civil service law which requires competitive examinations.

Associated with most of the departments are “advisory boards” consisting of citizens who serve without pay.  Thus, the department of agriculture has a board of agricultural advisers composed of fifteen persons, and a board of state fair advisers of nine persons, not more than three of whom shall be appointed from any one county.

The things aimed at in this reorganization are:  (I) fixing responsibility for the entire service-organization in one place—­ with the governor; (2) responsible, trained leadership in each department of service; (3) responsiveness of leadership to the people’s wants, as provided for by the advisory boards; (4) a system of accounting and records that will make for efficiency and economy, and that will inform the people as well as the officers of government.

Investigate and report on: 

The name of the governor of your state, his political party, when elected, for how long a term.

Advantages and disadvantages of a long term for the governor.

The constitutional powers of the governor of your state.

The influence of the governor of your state with the people.

The principal executive and administrative officers of your state.  Those that are elective and those that are appointive.

A complete list of the administrative bureaus, boards, commissions, and other state agencies, with their duties.

The application of Governor Lowden’s statement regarding Illinois to your state.

Any proposed reorganization of the executive branch of your state government.

THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The legislative branch of government consists, in all states, of a legislature ("general assembly,” “legislative assembly,” or “general court”) composed of two “houses” or “chambers,” the house of representatives and the senate.  The senate is the “upper house,” and is usually from one-third to one-half the size of the “lower house”; in Massachusetts only one-sixth the size.

THE TWO HOUSES

A bill to become a law must pass both houses separately, each house acting as a check upon the other, thus securing greater deliberation in lawmaking.  The senate is supposed to be, and usually is, a more conservative, or cautious, body than the house of representatives, partly because of its smaller size which makes possible a more careful consideration of business.  Its members are elected from larger districts, thus increasing the opportunity to select able men.  A higher age qualification is required for membership in the senate than in the house of representatives; and only a part of the senate is elected at each election, so that it is a continuing body, always containing members of experience, while the lower house may be almost entirely changed at each election.