Assembly must submit the question of calling a convention to the voters of the State, and that if a majority of all the voters voting shall vote in the affirmative, then such convention shall be called in the manner described under heads 2 and 3.

In 1871 a majority of the voters of the State declared themselves in favor of a convention, and one was duly called; but the constitution framed, on its submission to the people, was voted down by a large majority. In 1891 the question of calling a convention was again submitted to the voters, but this time. they declared themselves against the proposition. In March, 1896, the General Assembly took the requisite action for submitting at the next general election the question of calling a new convention.

283.

Central and Local Authorities.-It has already been explained that the people of Ohio live under two governments, viz.-Congress and the State Legislature, the President and the Governor, the National Courts and the State Courts. But this is not all. The State itself contains several minor jurisdictions, or governments, that are so nicely adjusted one to another and to the Government of the State as not to

clash or jar. These minor governments are the townships, cities, and counties, The same state of things is found in all the other States of the Union. It may be remarked that the people of the United States place a high value on local government; they believe that such a division of powers leads to liberty, economy, and efficiency. Local self-government is considered one of the glories of the English-speaking

race.

CHAPTER XXVI

RELATIONS OF THE STATE TO THE UNION.

284. The Supremacy of the United States.We have seen in previous paragraphs that the United States are a Federal Government, and that Ohio is not a state in the sense of being a nation or an independent power. Ohio is merely a member of the Federal Union. The State is forbidden, like the other States, to enter into treaties, coin money, lay duties on imports, keep troops and ships of war in time of peace, and to perform various other acts of sovereignty that are essential to a nation (Constitution of the United States, Art. 1, Sec. 9). More than this, the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States are the supreme law of the land, and State judges are bound thereby, anything in State Constitutions or laws to the contrary notwithstanding. This means that the State judges, in administering their offices, when they find the State Constitution or laws at variance with those of the United States, must reject the former and hold to the latter (Constitution, Art. VI., Sec. 2). And again, to secure the supremacy of the National authority, it is further provided that all Senators and Representatives, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the States, must take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States (Art. VI., Sec. 3.) 285. The State to Perform National Functions. -The State, including both the people and the

Government, are therefore subject to the authority of the United States, or to the supreme law of the land. But, more than this, the State is called upon to assist the United States in carrying on the National Government. For example, the State officers conduct the elections of members of the National House of Representatives, the State Legislature chooses the National Senators, and the State appoints the Electors of the President and Vice-President.

286. The National House of Representatives.— Here two steps need to be taken.

1. Members of the National House of Representatives are apportioned by Congress among the States according to their population once in ten years. Under the last apportionment, twenty-one members fell to Ohio. The law apportioning the members among the States prescribes that they shall be elected by districts, containing as nearly as possible an equal number of inhabitants and composed of contiguous territory. In other words, the district cannot be made of two or more detached pieces of territory. The State is districted, as it is called, by the Legislature, commonly once in ten years. These districts are known as the Congressional districts.

2. The members of the House are elected every second year by the people of the States. The elections are held in all the districts of the State, and in nearly all the States also, on the same day, Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even year, 1894, 1896, etc. All persons may vote at these elections who are authorized by the State law to vote for members of the State House of Representatives.

The election is conducted by the State officers in precisely the same manner as the State elections. The National Government has handed the whole matter over to the States. If a vacancy occurs in any State, the Governor calls a special election of the district to fill it. (Constitution, Art. I., Sec. 2. See also paragraphs 321, 325-329 of this work.)

Senators of the United States are chosen, two from a

a State, by the State Legislature for six years. Unlike

the Representatives, Congress by law very carefully defines the manner of conducting the election of Senators. (The process is described in Part III. of this work, paragraphs 321-324. See also the Constitution, Art. I., Sec. 3.)

288. Presidential Electors.—Every State has as many Presidential Electors as it has Senators and Representatives in Congress. Ohio, therefore, has twenty-three. These Electors may be appointed in any way that the Legislature may direct (Constitution, Article III., Section 2, and Amendment XII.). The Legislature has directed that they shall be appointed by the people at a popular election. The other States have done the same thing. The time of these elections is fixed by Congress, and is uniform in all the States, viz.: Tuesday after the the first Monday of November of every second even year, 1896, 1900, etc. The election is conducted in all respects by the State. The qualifications for voting are the same as for Representatives and State officers generally. (The mode of electing the President and Vice-President is described in the present work, Chapter XXXIV.)

289. State Courts.-The United States has a complete system of courts of their own (described in Chapter XXXVIII. of this work). Nevertheless the National authorities sometimes use the State Courts to enforce the National laws, as in criminal offenses arising under the postal laws.

290. The State Militia. The militia system of Ohio is described in another chapter. The Constitution of the United States provides that Congress may provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the