Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

.66

[ocr errors]

rintered according to Act of Congress. in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-four

Rv W. 1. COCKER,

in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

The design of this book is to meet the want, for some time felt in our public schools, of a text-book on the government of our own State. There is a growing demand for accurate elementary instruction on the nature of our State Government, and the duties of our public officers. The attempt to group together the officers of different States and define their powers, is unsatisfactory, for the reason that States differ greatly in the number of officers, and in the nature of their duties. In text-books which thus treat of State Governments in general, many of our State, county, and township officers are omitted, and duties are assigned to some of our public officers which do not belong to them, although such duties are performed by similar officers in other States. Accurate knowledge concerning the functions of our own officers demands a text-book that deals exclusively with the peculiarities of our own State Government,

The aim of the book is to present, in as concise and clear a manner as possible, the political system of the State, indicate the functions of the departments of our State government, describe the duties and powers of the various executive, legislative, and judicial officers, and give some of the leading features of our educational, charitable, and reformatory institutions. Only the more important duties of officers are described, so that the minds of pupils may not be confused with numerous details, and yet ample means are afforded for obtaining a clear and discriminating knowledge of the powers of these officers.

The book is designed not only for schools, but also for general use. There is a lamentable amount of ignorance, even among educated men, as to the workings of our political system. It is absolutely indispensable in a republic that every one should understand the functions of the government and the obligations of citizenship, so as to discharge intelligently the duties of an elector.

The author is under great obligation to His Excellency, Gov. Charles M. Croswell, for valuable information, and for numerous State documents; and to IIon, C. A. Gower, Superintendent of Public Instruction, for valuable notes and suggestions. He is also indebted to various authorities for suggestions and subject-matter.

ADRIAN, Mich., Dec. 26, 1879.

217028

W. J. COCKER.

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »