USA > Oklahoma > A history of Oklahoma > Part 11
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Suffrage .- Political rights are extended to women in some states. In Oklahoma, except in school district elec- tions, the right of franchise is extended to men only. A citizen must be at least twenty-one years of age, and must have resided in the state one year, county six months, and precinet thirty days, before the right of franchise may be exercised.
Persons adjudged guilty of felony, or persons who are kept at public expense, are not entitled to vote or to hold office.
Registration .- The laws of Oklahoma require voters in cities of the first class to register. This precaution is taken to insure that only those who are entitled to vote will be permitted to do so. In rural or town precincts the judges of the precincts are usually personally ac- quainted with the individual voters and registration is hardly essential.
Mandatory Primary Elections .- In the general elec- tion the voter may vote for any person, but previously all
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
but one candidate in each political party for each office have been eliminated by a primary election.
The constitution of Oklahoma provided that a man- datory primary law should be enacted and that whenever the "Federal constitution may permit, the election of United States senator shall be by direct vote." A manda- tory primary law is now in force in this state, and United States senators hereafter will be elected by direct vote.
Elections .- Elections for state officials are held every four years,-1914, 1918, etc .; for county officials, every two years,-1913, 1915, etc.
State Election Board .- The state election board con- sists of three members. Two members are appointed by the governor. The third member is ex officio secretary of the board. He is the secretary of the state senate. Not more than two of these board members shall be of the same political party. The duties of the board are as follows: to canvass the election returns for the state; ' to appoint and supervise county election boards; and to supervise the elections.
County Election Boards .- Three members, appointed by the state election board, constitute the county elec- tion board. This board canvasses county returns ; super- vises all matters appertaining to county elections; and appoints precinct election board members.
Precinct Election Boards .- Three members, appointed by the county election board, constitute the precinct elec- tion board, and this board has powers and duties in the precinct election similar to the powers and duties of other election boards in their respective units.
The Ballot .- With each of the ballots is printed a "stub," which has blanks for the voter's name, post office, street number. ete. This information is retained by the election officials to be used as a means of verifica-
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STATE GOVERNMENT.
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tion in case of contests. As the voters are previously reg- istered, this "stub" becomes of vast importance in contest proceedings.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
In the national government what officials are elected ? In Oklahoma government what officials are elected ?
Who may vote in Oklahoma elections? Who may not vote in Oklahoma elections ?
Why is registration required of voters in city pre- cincts ?
How are candidates nominated ?
How often are general elections held for electing state officials? County officials ?
Describe the duties of the state election board; county ; precinct.
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الأخضر
NATIONAL CAPITOL
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PART FOUR
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER XIII
Constitution of the United States
United Efforts of Colonies .- Each of the English coi- onies of America had a separate government, but all the colonies had some common interests. As the differences with the mother country became more grave the common interests of the colonies became more apparent.
Continental Congress .- The acts of the British gov- ernment, Stamp Act, etc., finally brought about a united effort of resistance on the part of the colonies. In 1774 the first continental congress was held by the colonies. In this congress all but one of the colonies were repre- sented. In the following year, 1775, all the thirteen col- onies were represented in the second continental con- gress. It was this congress that organized the continental army, appointed George Washington as commander-in- chief, and adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Articles of Confederation .- After the Revolutionary War the colonies became states. As each adopted a writ- ten constitution, the Articles of Confederation were adopted as a fundamental body of laws for the nation.
Ratification of the Articles of Confederation by al states was not secured until 1781. It was soon found that the Articles of Confederation were not sufficient for the general government. Under the Articles of Confedera- tion, the general government had not sufficient power
الرازق الحجـ
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
to act for the common welfare of all the states. There was no way of enforcing the orders of the general gov- ernment in raising revenue or providing an army even for defense. Since the general government could not raise adequate revenue, the public debts could not be paid and the credit of the nation was injured.
Several unsuccessful attempts were made to amend these defects of the Articles of Confederation.
Constitutional Convention .- When further attempts to amend the Articles of Confederation were deemed useless, and when it was clearly imperative that the gen- eral government must have more power, a constitutional convention was called.
This convention met at Philadelphia, May 25, 1787. The state of Rhode Island took no part in this conven- tion, but each of the other twelve of the thirteen original states sent delegates.
The convention, as finally constituted, consisted of fifty-five delegates. Among these delegates were some of the most illustrious names in our history. Washington was made president of the convention. Hamilton and Madison were most active in debates, but the venerable Franklin and all the other patriots worked faithfully for building up sound principles of government. Daily ses- sions were held until September 17, when the engrossed copy of the constitution was signed and the convention adjourned. 1
Ratification of the Constitution .-- In framing the Constitution many compromises were made, but serious objections still remained in many states so that it was a long time before all the states had ratified. Only the ratification of nine of the thirteen states was required and the ninth state ratified the Constitution in JJune, 1788. From that date the Constitution of the United States has been the supreme law of the land. Because the powers
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
are divided between the national government and the state governments, our government is called .a federal government.
Provisions of the Constitution of the United States. -The Constitution of the United States provides: Art. I, For the legislative department of government; Art. II, Executive department; Art. III, Judicial department ; Art. IV, Interrelations of states; Art. V, Amendments; Art. VI and Art. VII, Miscellaneous matters.
The first ten amendments were adopted immediately after ratification as a bill of rights; the eleventh amend- ment, which prevents a person from suing a state, was adopted in 1798; the twelfth amendment (regulating the election of president) was adopted in 1804; the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amendments were adopted after the Civil War, 1865-1870, to abolish slavery and grant per- sonal and political rights to ex-slaves.
An amendment providing for the election of United States senators by direct vote was ratified by the re- quiired number of states in 1913. ·
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
Why did the English colonies unite ?
What were the most important acts of the second continental congress ?
When did the Constitution of the United States be- come binding ?
What were the defects of the Articles of Confedera- tion ?
When and where was the constitutional convention held ?
Name some prominent delegates to the constitutional convention.
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
State the nature of each of the general divisions of the Constitution of the United States.
Discuss the several amendments to the Constitution of the United States.
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER XIV.
Executive Department
The President .- The chief executive is the president, elected, not by direct vote, but by presidential electors who are elected by direct vote. Ilis term of office is four years. His salary is $75,000.00 per year, and he is fur- nished an official residence in the White House. No one who has been naturalized in order to become a citizen may be elected president. To be elected president, one must have resided in the United States fourteen years.
The president and vice-president are the only na- tional officials elected by the nation at large. All other important officials are appointed by the president. The president has the power of removal over any officials ap- pointed by him except the judges.
The president has power to grant reprieves, com- mutations, and pardons for offenses committed against the United States. He may exercise the right of veto of acts of Congress. He nominates and with the advice and consent of the senate appoints ambassadors, ministers, consuls, and other officials who reside in foreign countries in order to attend to matters affecting the United States or its citizens. The regulations governing representation in foreign countries are fixed by treaties.
The president is commander-in-chief of the army and navy, including the state militia when it is called into the service of the United States. Congress deter- mines the size of the army and navy, and provides for their organization and government. Congress also has the power to declare war. The president, however, con- trols the movements of the entire army and navy.
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
Civil Service .- There are so many appointive posi- tions in the service of the national government that it is impossible for the president or any other single individ- ual to judge rightly of every applicant, hence laws to regulate the examination and appointment of persons to positions in public service have been passed by Congress. These are called civil service laws.
In 1910, there were 384,088 officials and employees in the civil service. Of these, over nine thousand were appointed by the president, and more than two hundred thousand were subject to civil service examinations. The government since 1883 has been gradually extending the civil service law to all parts of the public service.
The Cabinet .- The national executive departments established at first were state, treasury, war, and jus- tice. The following departments have sinee been estab- lished : navy, post-office, interior, agriculture, com- merce, and labor. The heads of these departments con- stitute the cabinet of the president.
It is the duty of the officers of this cabinet to advise with the president as to governmental policies whenever requested to do so. Regular and special cabinet meetings are held. The members of this cabinet are appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate.
The heads of departments are called secretaries, ex- cept in the cases of post-office and justice, where they are called postmaster-general and attorney-general re- spectively.
Departments are usually subdivided into bureaus or offices, and these into divisions. The head of a bureau is called a commissioner, and the head of a division is called a chief.
The department of state keeps a record of the acts of the president, the official documents of Congress, and
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
all treaties. The most important bureaus in this depart- ment are the diplomatic and consular bureaus.
In the department of the interior the bureau of edu- cation is of great importance. The bureau of child wel- fare is also of vital importance. This bureau was estab- lished in 1912. It has to do with all matters that may work for the betterment of child life, such as compulsory school attendance, child labor laws, and medical inspec- tion of schools.
Those living in rural communities come into direct contact with the department of agriculture through the bureaus of animal industry, weather bureau, and experi- ment stations.
People in cities come into more direct contact with the department of commerce and labor through the bur- eaus of standards, immigration and naturalization, navi- gation and light house service.
All of us come in contact with the post-office depart- ment.
Unclassified .-- The inter-state commerce commission, civil service commission, government printing office, Smithsonian Institution, and the library of Congress, are all of special value to the citizens, but they are outside of any established department.
The Vice-President .- The vice-president is the pre- siding officer of the senate, but he has little else in the way of public service to perform.
If the president, dies, resigns, or for any reason is un- able to perform the duties of his office, the vice-president becomes acting president. There have been five cases of presidential succession, and in each case the vice-presi- dent became president.
In case of a vacaney both in the presidency and viec- presidency, the appointive executive officers beginning with secretary of state would succeed to the presidency.
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
How is the president of the United States elected ? What is his salary ? Term of office?
Who succeeds in case of a vacancy in the office of president ? In case of a vacancy both in presidency and vice-presidency ?
Explain the president's powers. Civil service laws.
Enumerate the executive departments of the national government.
Who compose the president's cabinet ?
Describe the military powers of the president.
What are bureaus? Divisions? Commissions ?
With what departments, bureaus, or commissions do people of this school district have dealings ?
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
CHAPTER XV. Legislative Department
The legislative department of the national govern- ment consists of the senate and house of representatives. This branch of government is called Congress. Congress meets in regular sessions every year at Washington, D. C., on the first Monday in December. Special sessions may be called by the president.
House of Representatives .- Members of the house of representatives are apportioned to the several states ac- cording to population. The ratio now (1910-1920) is one representative for every 212,407 population. This ratio is fixed by congress once every ten years. Representative districts in each state are fixed by the state legislature thereof.
The representatives in congress are elected by direct vote of the citizens. Oklahoma at present (191-1) has eight representatives.
The house of representatives elects one of its own members as speaker, or presiding officer.
The Senate .- The states are represented in Congress by senators-two from each state. Senators hereafter will be elected by direct vote of the people. This plan of indirect election of senators has not been satisfactory. and a strong demand was made for a change in the na- tional Constitution so that senators might be elected by direet vote of the citizens. This amendment was rati- fied in 1913 and hereafter United States senators will be elected by direct vote. The term of office of a senator is six years.
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA
How Laws are Passed in Congress .- Acts of Congress are passed much as acts of the state legislature are passed : that is, the proposed measure, after receiving a majority of votes in the house in which it originated, is sent to the other house; and if a majority of that house vote for it the measure is then sent to the chief executive; and if he approves it by signing it the enactment be- comes law. If, however, the chief executive vetoes the measure, i. e., refuses to sign it, the bill, together with his objections, is returned to the house in which it, orig- inated. If, then, two-thirds of each house vote for the bill. it becomes a law. This is called "passing a law over the president's veto."
Committees. - In both houses of Congress certain committees have charge of all bills. When a committee recommends a bill for passage, it has a great advantage. On the other hand. many bills are "killed" in the com- mittees, i. e., the committee in charge fails to report or to allow the measure to come up for consideration.
Powers of Congress .- The principal powers of Con- gress are enumerated in the Constitution; that is, they are set forth in detail. They may be discussed under the following groupings: Revenue and Expenditure, Mili- tary and Naval Affairs, Commerce, Money, Postal Sys- tem and Miscellaneous.
Revenue and Expenditure .- Congress may levy any kind of taxes except export duties, that is, taxes on goods which are sent to foreign countries. However, since the smaller units of government, state, county, etc., employ the direct tax as a means of raising revenue, the national government does not, in general, use this means of tax- ing. Also, the Constitution of the United States (article I, section 9, paragraph 4) requires that, in collecting revenue, Congress shall apportion it among the several
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
states according to population, and not according to the value of the property taxed. For the two reasons aboy, stated, the taxes levied by the national government are customs duties and internal revenue tares. The Constitu- tion (article I, section 8, paragraph 1) provides that these duties and taxes shall be uniform throughout the severa! states. Congress can, of course, levy different rates o !! different articles, but the rate on any given article muy be the same in all of the several states.
Customs Duties are also known as imposts, or tares on imports, and are levied on goods that are brought into the United States from foreign countries.
These tax rates may be specific, that is, without re- gard to value; as three cents per pair on gloves. Or they may be ad valorem, that is, according to value; as, 20 per centum on the value of jewelry. In some instances, these rates are made high so that foreign goods. after the jm- port duty has been paid, cannot be sold for so low a price as the same goods produced in this country. Sul a tax or rate is called a protective tariff; that is, it is meant to protect home industries.
Internal Revenue Taxes are called excises. They are usually levied on things manufactured or offered for sale in the United States. The sources of this revenu. are intoxicating liquors. tobacco, oleomargarine and ma!) other articles. Income taxes are also classed as internal revenue taxes.
The receipts from taxation and all other sources an paid into the national treasury. The chief deposters at Washington, D. C., but sub-treasuries have been este lished at other cities. No money can be paid out of the treasury, except in accordance with congressional apps. priations.
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
The following table shows the national receipts and `expenditures for the fiscal year ending June 30,- 1910:
REVENUE
Customs Duties $333,683,445
Internal Revenue Taxes
289,933.510
Postal System
1 224,128,658
Public Debt
31,674,292
Miscellaneous
51,894,751
Total
$931,314,665
EXPENDITURES
Postal System $234.246,565
Pensions 160,696.416
War Department
158,172,957
Navy Department
1 123,974.208
Other Executive Departments
184,531,272
Congress
1 13,616,496 1
Judicial Department
8,596,135
Panama Canal
33,911.673
Public Debt
33,0419,696
Total
$950,795, 118
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The Army .- Congress has full power to regulate the size of the army, and the national policy has always been to have a small standing army. Since we have acquired the Philippine Islands. Porto Rico, and Hawaii, the size of the standing army has been increased. In 1898 the army included only about 25,000 men, but in 1910 there were more than 70,000 men enlisted in the army.
The Navy .- The navy of the United States now (1914) includes more than three dozen battleships and about 169 other fighting vessels. In 1910, there were about 10,000 men in the regular navy.
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NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
Commerce .- Many commercial transactions arise be- tween residents of different states. This is called inter- state commerce. Railroads, pipe lines, etc., operate through! several states, and Congress is given power to regulate all such transactions. In other instances, transactions arise between citizens of the United States and citizens of other countries. This is called foreign commerce, and is also regulated by Congress. Congress has passed laws regulating trusts and corporations, pure food laws. laws for the inspection of meats, etc., in order to regulate in- terstate commerce.
Standards of weights and measures are also set by Congress.
Money .- Money, as the standard of value and medium of exchange, is of great commercial importance. There are two kinds of money-coins and paper money.
,Coins are either gold, silver, nickel, or copper. Con- gress regulates the value of each kind of money to be place in circulation, and provides heavy penalties for counterfeiting.
There are five kinds of paper money in the United States,-gold certificates, silver certificates, treasury notes, United States notes and national bank notes. Gold and silver coins are not convenient to carry in large amounts, hence the law permits any one to deposit coins in the United States treasury and receive in exchang . certificates for the same amount. Between 1890 and 1893 the government purchased a large amount of sil- ver and paid for it by issuing treasury notes. Only : small per cent of these notes remain in circulation. During the Civil war the government issued United States notes, called "greenbacks," each of which w. a promise to pay a certain amount. These notes Wer" made legal tender; that is, persons were obliged to av. cept them in payment of debts. They represent a part
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GOVERNMENT IN OKLAHOMA.
of the national debt, but do not bear interest. Congress · gives national banks the right to issue paper. money called bank notes. These notes are promises of the bank to pay the amounts named. People are willing to ac- cept them, as they are guaranteed by United States bonds which are deposited by the bank with officials of the treasury.
The total amount of money in the United States on June 30, 1910, was $3,419,591,483, of which the sum of $317,235,878 was in the treasury of the United States and the remainder in circulation. The following table shows the amount of each kind of money in the United States :
Gold Coin $833.289,279
Silver Coin
241,167,018
Gold Certificates 1
802,754,199
Silver Certificates 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 478,597,238
1 1 United States Notes 346,681,016 1 I
Treasury Notes 3,672,000
National Bank Notes
713.430,733
Total $3,419,591,453
National Territories .- Our nation has acquired ter- ritory by various means. As this territory is not a part of any state, Congress has full power to govern it or provide laws for its government.
The original territory belonging to the United States, that is, the contiguous territory, was divided into terri- tories to be governed until they became states. Pro- visional governments were provided for them.
Since the Constitution was adopted, 35 territories have been admitted as states. New Mexico and Arizona, admitted in 1912, were the last continental territories admitted to staichood.
*Does not include nickel and copper coins.
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NATIONAL, GOVERNMENT.
The District of Columbia is of course a continental territory, but it was set apart as a seat of national gos- ernment, not to be erected into a sovereign state.
Reservations .- Congress has full power to regulate and control Indian reservations. All forest reserves, mili- tary reservations, etc. are governed according to the regu- lations provided by Congress.
Implied Powers .- Congress was granted certain pow- ers or rights, and other rights were reserved to the states respectively, but the Constitution (article 1, section >, paragraph 18) also gives Congress power to make such regulations as are necessary to carry its expressed powers into execution.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
Of what does Congress consist? When are where are the sessions of Congress held ?
How are representatives apportioned? How chosen! What is the present ratio? How many representatives has Oklahoma ?. How are representative districts fixed
How is the speaker of the house ehosen ?
How many senators from each state?
How are senators chosen? For what term?
How are laws passed in Congress?
Explain the committee plan.
What kinds of taxes are levied by Congress? D ... it levy direct taxes ?
What are customs duties? How are they colle te ? What is meant by a protective tariff ?
What are internal revenue taxes? Name the 18 -: important taxes of this class.
How are national expenditures authorized? W.m are the chief items of expenditure? What are the chart sources of revenue ?
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