CONTENTS V. Powers and Duties of County Officers. 2. VI. The System of Township Survey XI. Public Education-District School System. 2.. XIV. Government of Cities, Towns, and Villages. 1... XV. Government of Cities, Towns, and Villages. 2.. XVI. The State Government-Legislative Department XVII. Legislative Department-The Senate...... MISSOURI ITS STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAPTER I FROM SETTLEMENT TO STATE Preliminary — Civil government in the United States has been a development from simple colonial forms of control into those of the comprehensive system of to-day. Quite early the town or township of New England, possessing full powers of self-government, rose into prominence. Then with the lapse of time there came the union of several townships to form the county. This was the next stage of governmental development. The county at first was simply for judicial purposes; each township retaining undiminished power to direct its own local affairs. Objectively Considered-The State as an objective fact came later, its development being concurrent with colonial growth and expansion. Almost with the first settlements of America the general courts of New England and the House of Burgesses in Virginia began legislating for the people. The power of the colonial assembly was far-reaching, and became more and more 5 important as the years rolled on, developing at last into the legislature of to-day-the core of our governmental system, the very heart of the State. Evolution When certain colonies united to form the government of Massachusetts there was the founding of a State. The new government was invested with a centralized power. A new outline was given governmental authority-an outline which, if wanting permanence in some of its features, was still an important step in the evolution of American government. In Virginia-The settlement of Virginia presents a phase of development quite distinct from that of New England, the difference being not in the results, but in the steps leading thereto. In Virginia we find governmental control vested in centres of authority having jurisdiction over broad counties. These counties, constituting the governmental units, were much larger than the townships of New England. Early Legislatures-In all the colonies there were representative assemblies. But while the members of the Virginia House of Burgesses sat for counties, those of the general courts of New England sat for townships. Origin of States-The territory and the settlements or separate groups of people included in one of the original states, were determined more by existing conditions and circumstances than by prearranged plan. In some instances the union of several settlements for common defense against Indian depredations constituted the founding of a state. The junction thus effected involved plans for centralizing elements of authority which, in more than one instance, was the first organic aspect of the later state government. Revolutionary Epoch The revolution wrought various changes in governmental structure. At its close most of the colonial charters were replaced by written constitutions. This was an important advance towards the American state as it now exists. It should be noted, however, that in passing from charter to constitution the changes made were not radical but conservative; the forms of government prevailing in the colonies being followed closely so far as vital principles were concerned. The Descent of Government-From what has been said, it will be seen that our State governments received impress from those of the colonies. With the settlement of the public domain and the consequent erection of new States, the original forms of government have served as models for instituting the later commonwealths. By this natural sequence self-government has been preserved and developed. Unity of Plan-Throughout our country there is a unity of plan. Although a large administrative authority over local affairs is given to county and township, supremacy vests in the State alone, the sovereign power residing in the people. TOPICAL ANALYSIS FOR STUDY, RECITATION, AND REVIEW Settlement to State. I. EARLY DEVELOPMENT: a. Township. b. County. II. SUCCEEDING FACTS: a. Concurrent growth. b. The rise of the legislature. III. MASSACHUSETTS: a. An embryo State. b. A step forward. IV. VIRGINIA : a. A different phase. b. The legislative body— a. In New England. b. In Virginia. V. THE ORIGIN OF STATES: a. The defensive unions. VI. THE DESCENT OF GOVERNMENT: b. State to nation. c. Unity preserved. VII. EXISTING UNIFORM PLAN: a. Productive of harmonious conditions. 2. Subordination of its parts. CHAPTER II PAST AND PRESENT Louisiana Purchase-The great tract which is now Missouri was formerly a part of Louisiana, a vast territory held by France. In 1762 France ceded it to Spain, and the latter power retroceded it to France in 1800. In 1803 the United States purchased the whole, of |