8. The Fathers of the Constitution wanted the judges of the Federal courts to be free from the control of

a. the Congress.

b. the newspapers.

9. Cases go before the Federal courts because of thea. subject matter of the cases.

b. sex of the parties.

10. When a law of the Congress goes against the Constitution, the Federal courts

a. refuse to let the law be carried out.

b. send the law back to the Congress to be changed. c. ask the President to veto the law.

CHAPTER XVI

The Purposes and Organization of State Governments

"A State can do whatever it sees fit to do unless it is restrained [limited] by some express prohibition in the Constitution of the United States or of the State."

-Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

The constitutions of the first thirteen States were older than the Constitution of the United States. We remember that the people did not want to delegate too much authority to the Federal Government. The people feared that the Federal Government might become strong and try to use the authority of the States. Thus the Constitution does not take from the States very many rights. that the State constitutions claimed for them.

The Constitution of the United States guarantees to each State a republican form of government. It tells the States not to pass laws that go against the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States. Many of the things that the States cannot do are listed in Article I, section 9, of the Constitution. We have studied some of

them.

WHAT WE FIND IN STATE CONSTITUTIONS

The Constitution of the United States is different from the State constitutions. The Constitution of the United States lists the authority of the Federal Government. That was one of the important matters that the Fathers of the Constitution always had before them. But State constitutions do not list the powers of the State governments.

A State constitution generally does two things. First, it divides the powers of government among the different

branches. Second, it limits the use of the powers of State government. The government of each State is decided by its constitution. The constitution tells each branch what authority it has and how it can be used. The constitution was accepted by the people of the State. It can be changed only by the people in the way set out in the State constitution.

Each State has a State constitution. A State constitution generally contains a statement of the purposes of the State government. It lists the rights of the people living in the State. It tells how the State government is to be organized to do its work. It sets out rules for the local governments of the State. It may list the different kinds of property that shall not be taxed. It always tells how amendments may be added to it.

Each of the State constitutions declares that the final authority in the State belongs to the people. Each tells how the State government departments shall work with other departments. And each State constitution gives the principles that the people of the State must follow in organizing their government.

A STATE HELPS TO GUARD THE HEALTH OF ITS PEOPLE

One of the most important services of the State government is to help protect the health of the people. There are many officers who do this work. The State laws usually declare that doctors and nurses, and persons who make and sell medicines must have licenses. The State gives them a license only after satisfactory examinations have been passed.

The State officers examine many different kinds of foods and drugs. Most States have laws limiting the sale of drugs and certain foods. The States try to prevent diseases among their people. They keep up hospitals for those who are sick in body or mind. State officers see that school children are examined and their health protected.

A STATE EDUCATES ITS PEOPLE

The State governments do many things to help their people get a good education. They provide State schools where all or part of the expenses are paid out of tax money. The public schools help to prepare the people for the American way of life. The States want this job done well. They often pass laws to require children to attend school because education is necessary in a democracy.

State officials decide what subjects shall be studied in the schools. The State often gives public money to poor communities for school purposes. Many of the States have special schools in which teachers, housewives, farmers, and wage earners may study and prepare for their work. You will want to study the school system of your State and learn about the different schools.

A STATE PROTECTS THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF ITS PEOPLE

Local governments have special officers who try to prevent crime and punish persons who break the laws. The State also has a militia that may be called upon to aid the local officers. The governor can send the militia to any part of the State when he thinks that the local officials are not able to enforce the laws. Also, States have a State police force to help keep order in the State.

The States protect their people by controlling certain kinds of businesses. Special officers inspect mines, facfortes, and other places where people work. Other officers control the gas, water, and other companies that serve the people. ple. They fix the charges for services. control the banks that are organized

under State lans

the State to pass laws to
its people coled

the

ience. The States, for example, use their police power when they control the sale of alcoholic drinks. They use this power when they limit the hours of labor of women and children in factories.

SOME STATES HAVE SPECIAL PROBLEMS

For many years the people of this country have wasted the natural riches. Trees have been cut or burned without any thought of the future. The soil has washed away. Wild birds that protect crops have been killed. The oil, coal, gas, and other natural riches have been used largely as we please. But the States are taking steps to educate their people to care for and save the natural riches.

Most of the roads are under the control of the different local governments. But they are used by all of the people. The State, therefore, helps to pay the cost of building and repairing the local roads. The State governments work with the Federal Government in planning, building, and paying for the most important roads.

SOME WAYS IN WHICH GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS ARE LIKE

ONE ANOTHER

Our fifty States are very different from one another in many ways. Some States are small while others are large. Only a few people live in some States while large numbers live in others. But all of the States have governments that are like one another in the way they are organized.

Our governments have three general branches. There is a legislative branch, which makes the laws. There is an executive branch, which enforces the laws. And there is a judicial branch, which explains and applies the laws when they come up in cases before the courts. This plan is used in the organization of our Federal, State, and city governments.