What is a township? It is in this State the unit of local administration within the county. In most of the cities the wards were originally townships. In the rural districts the township is the smallest local circumscription, its largest group of houses being a village. The number of townships in a county varies from six in Hamilton to thirtythree in Steuben. How is a township governed? It is governed by an assembly of all qualified voters resident within its limits, meeting at least once a year, usually in the spring, in the town hall, a church, or other appointed place. Notice is required to be given at least ten days previously of the hour and place of meeting, and of the business to be brought forward. Any elector may introduce motions or take part in the discussions. The meeting has power of electing local officers, enacting ordinances, regulating local affairs and levying taxes for the expenses of the town. Its powers cover the management of the town lands and other town property, and all local matters whatsoever. What are the town officers? There are elected by ballot in each township not excepted by statute, a Supervisor, Town Clerk, three Assessors, a Collector, two Overseers of the Poor, one or three Commissioners of Highways, four Justices of the Peace, Constables not exceeding five, and four Inspectors of Election to each election district. Assessors and Commissioners of Highways are elected for three years, Justices of the Peace for four years, and most of the other officers for one year. All are paid by fees or by a per diem compensation for the time employed. Towns are divided into School Districts, within each of which are chosen one or three School Trustees, a Clerk, a Collector of the School-tax, and a Librarian. The School Trustees are elected for three years, the other school officers for one year. There are about twelve thousand school districts in the State. The interests of the public schools are also looked after by School Commissioners, of which at least one is elected in each Assembly District, except in the large cities. This Commissioner serves for three years and is paid from the county treasury. C Are laws made at town meetings? Only purely local regulations are there established, and all regulations there made must be consistent with State laws and statutes. Who makes the laws of the State? The members of the State Legislature at Albany, the capital. The Legislature is composed of two Houses, the upper, the Senate; the lower, the Assembly. How is the Senate made up?. It consists of fifty men, each of whom is elected within a Senate District in an even year. The term of office for a Senator is two years, and the annual salary $1500, with an allowance of one dollar for every ten miles travelled in going to and returning from the place of meeting once in each session. A Senator may, during his term, hold no other civil office whatsoever. The Senate convenes every year the first Wednesday in January, and remains in session three or four months. How large is a Senate District? That depends on the density of its popula |