Questions-What two lines were adopted as a basis for surveying the Territory of Michigan? How was the Territory divided? How many miles square are the townships of Michigan? In what way are the Townships designated? Will you make a diagram explaining this? How are the townships subdivided? How many sections are there in a township? How are they numbered and designated? Will you make a diagram explaining this? How many acres are there in a full section? How are the sections subdivided? Are these subdivisions always uniform? In what way are some of the subdivisions made fractional? Will you illustrate the subdivisions of sections by a dia gram? What is said of a grant from the United States of certain lands to this State?

CHAPTER XII.

OF THE ORGANIZATION OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY.

To enable the people to defend their rights and to do right and justice, they unite together in a body politic; and when the people are so united and have agreed upon certain rules by which they are to be governed, we speak of such union, in its most enlarged sense, as a State. Bouvier defines a State as follows: "In its most enlarged sense, it signifies a self-sufficient body of persons united together in one community for the defence of their rights and to do right and justice to foreigners."

In a more limited sense, a State means the territory occupied by the united body of people, as, the State of Michigan.

In many countries the rulers are sovereign; that is, they exercise control, authority and power as they see fit, regardless of the wishes or consent of the governed. But in this country no single individual has the right to exercise this power. Here the people choose their rulers, and, by written constitutions, define and limit their powers and duties.

Sovereignty, the supreme or highest power among men, in this country, resides in the people. This power, however, the people authorize their officers to exercise, and, having instituted a government, they have agreed to submit to and abide by certain rules and regulations; have conferred power upon their officers to enforce obedience to such rules and regulations.

66 the manner in which sover

Government is defined as, eignty is exercised in each State."

In every State there is either some individual or body of men whose duty it is to see to the enforcement of the laws; and we sometimes refer to them as the government.

Questions-What is a State, and for what purpose is it organized? 'Give Bouvier's definition of a State. What is a sovereign? With whom does sovereign power reside in this country? Who exercises the power of sovereignty in this country? In what way and by what authority are the people required to submit to the power we call Sovereignty? What is government? In what other sense do we sometimes use the word government?

CHAPTER XIII.

OF LAWS AND THEIR NECESSITY-RIGHTS AND DUTIES..

The rules of action adopted for the government of the
Hence a law is that which commands

people, are called laws.
us what to do and forbids the things we are not to do.

The necessity for these rules or laws is apparent when we observe and consider the many differences and difficulties among men which arise either from mistakes, honest disagreements, want of judgment, or intentional misconduct or wrong. They are necessary, to indicate to us our duties as members of society, and to protect us in the enjoyment of our rights. A right is a legal title or a just claim to anything. have a right to life, a right to our earnings, and a right to act as we please, and to go where we please, provided we do not interfere with the rights of others.

We

These rights, however, are subject to certain restrictions or

limitations and may be forfeited, or, when the public good requires it, may be taken from us. By violating the law we may forfeit our liberty and our property. If called upon to take up arms in behalf of the country, it is our duty to respond, and if needs be, to surrender our property and our lives.

As children are dependent upon their parents, they owe them certain duties, not the least of which is obedience to their commands. So with the citizen, dependent upon the State for the protection of himself and his property; he is bound to observe the rules prescribed for his conduct.

Questions-What are human laws? How is the necessity for law apparent? For what are laws necessary? What is a right? Mention some of our rights. To what are these rights subject? How may we forfeit our liberty and property? What duty do we owe the country? State one of the grounds on which obedience is a duty.

CHAPTER XIV.

OF THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF GOVERNMENT-CONSTITUTIONS, AND THE PURPOSE THEY SERVE.

Different forms of government prevail in different countries. In those countries where the power to govern and make the laws, is vested in one person, we call the government a monarchy. Where the great body of freemen assemble to-gether to make the laws and to transact the b siness of the State, we call the government a democracy.

Where the chief magistrate gets his power to rule by inheritance, but has no power to make the laws, we call the government a mixed government, or a limited mon

archy. Such is the government of Great Britain. The laws are framed by Parliament, and when approved by the monarch become operative.

Where the people enjoy common rights and privileges, but exercise the sovereign power by and through representatives elected by them, we call the government a republic. Every State in the American Union is a republic.

A pure democracy and our American Republic differ in this, that in the former, the citizens assemble in a body to make the laws, while in the latter, the people choose representatives to act for them. Both are governments of the people and derive their powers from them.

The form of government in each of the United States is represented by a written constitution. These constitutions are called the fundamental or political law. They are adopted as the agreement of the people-as the framework of the government—and limit the power of the various departments.

Any act of the Legislature or of any officer of the State which conflicts with any of the provisions of the constitution is invalid. Thus the people are protected against unjust enactments and usurpation of power by their public servants.

Questions-Are the forms of government the same in all countries? What is a monarchy? What is a democracy? What is a mixed gov. ernment or limited monarchy? What form of government has Great Britain? What is a republic? What form of government have the States of the American Union? Wherein consists the difference between a democracy and a republic? From whence do republics and democ racies derive the r power? By what are the forms of government represented in the severa! States of this Union? By what names are constitutions sometimes called? What is the object or purpose of constitutions? How do they protect the people?