the superior court are brought before them by appeal from the county courts.

It is seen, therefore, that the judicial power of the State is extended to other than the central institutions; namely, to the county court and to the justice's court. But as the judges and o her officers of the county courts are elected by the counties over which their jurisdiction extends, these courts are commonly called county courts, while the superior and the supreme court alone are known as the judicial department of the State. All judges are paid out of the State treasury.

The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The jurisdiction of the supreme court extends over every county in the State and the judges thereof can hold a court of oyer and terminer in any county of the State. There are but few kinds of cases that may be begun in the supreme court. (See Constitution, Article 5, Section 3). Its work is confined almost exclusively to appeals from county courts and the superior court. Either party to a civil suit may make the appeal. A criminal suit may be appealed by the defendant; but he must first obtain permission from one of the supreme justices, a provision which serves as a check against numerous and unnecessary appeals.

The Manner of Trial.-The witnesses are not present at the trial, nor is there a jury. The evidence given before the lower court, and all the other proceedings, are printed in pamphlet form and presented to the supreme court for examination. No new evidence is admitted; the court simply reviews the case as disposed of by the lower court, hears the arguments of the lawyers, and then gives its decision, which must consist of the opinions of a majority of the justices. From this decision there is no appeal, unless the case involves the constitu

tion or laws of the United States; in that event there is an appeal to the United States courts.

The Reports of the Supreme Court.-Next in importance to the Acts of Assembly are the Supreme Court Reports. Lawyers and judges must be learned in the latter as well as in the former. The decisions of the supreme court, as long as they have not been reversed, are the law for all subsequent cases of the same nature. They are compiled by the reporter of the supreme court, an officer appointed by the Governor for a term of five years.

seven

The Justices of the Supreme Court.-There are justices. They are elected by the people for a term of twenty-one years, but they are not eligible for re-election. The justice who has been on the supreme bench longest is the chief justice. The sessions are held in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburg to accommodate the different sections of the State. The salary of the chief justice is $8,500 a year; that of the associate justices, $8,000.

The Superior Court.-Owing to the great amount of work to be done by the supreme court, the superior court was established in 1895 to relieve the former. It has no original jurisdiction, except to issue writs of habeas corpus. It has exclusive and final appellate jurisdiction in all appeals formerly allowed to the supreme court in the following cases:

(a) In all proceedings of any kind in the courts of quarter sessions, except in cases involving the right to a public office.

(b) In all cases of the oyer and terminer courts, except felonious homicide, which is appealed directly to the supreme court. But before either of these two classes of cases can be appealed, the consent of a judge of the superior court must be obtained.

(c) All other actions, claims, or disputes in which the amount involved is not greater than $1,000, except cases brought by the attorney-general in his official capacity, or cases relating to a public office.

But in all these cases there may be an appeal from the superior to the supreme court, if the jurisdiction of the superior court is in question; if the constitution of the United States or its statutes are involved; if the construction or application of the State constitution is involved; or if an appeal in any case is specially allowed by the superior court.

The manner of trial is the same as that of the supreme court; and a record of its proceedings is likewise kept and published by the State.

The superior court consists of the same number of judges as the supreme court, namely, seven. They are elected by the people for a term of ten years. The judge who has been longest on the superior bench is the chief judge. The sessions are held in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Harrisburg, Scranton, and Williamsport, at least once a year in each city. The salary of the judges is $7,500 per

annum.

ANALYTICAL REVIEW.-Explain the necessity of the tripartite form of government. What is the reason for having two houses in the General Assembly? What should be the purpose of our laws? By what is the validity of a law tested? Why are U. S. Senators elected by the Legislature? Explain apportionment. Why don't the counties and the townships fix the salaries of their officers, just as the cities and boroughs do? How does a bill become a law? What do you know of the sessions of the Legislature and the compensation of its members? What is the difference between the presiding officers of the two bodies? Between the num ber of members? Name the executive departments required by the constitution. By statute. What State boards have been organized? Chief duty of the Governor? Duties incidental to the

office? Why should a Governor not succeed himself? How is a convict pardoned? reprieved? What kind of papers are kept on file by the Secretary of the Commonwealth? What is said of the salary of this office? What are the duties of the Attorney-General? of the Auditor-General? of the State Treasurer? How did the office of Secretary of Internal Affairs originate? What are its departments now? What important financial duty is attached to the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction? What officials does he commission? Explain the National Guard. Size of the State Library? How are the State's public documents exchanged with those of other States? What are the duties of the Superintendent of Public Grounds and Buildings? of Public Printing and Binding? of Banking? of the Factory Inspector? of the Insurance Commissioner? What departments are included under the office of Secretary of Agriculture? In what courts is the judicial power of the State vested? Which are the appellate courts? How is a criminal suit appealed? a civil suit? How is the trial conducted before the superior or the supreme court? Why are the reports of these courts important? What cases must be appealed to the superior court? to the supreme court? From the superior to the supreme court? How are the superior and the supreme court constituted? Where do they hold their sessions?

CHAPTER VI.

LAWS AND CUSTOMS GOVERNING ELECTIONS
IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Nominations. The original method of electing officers in this country was for the voters to go to the polls on election day and cast their ballots for whomsoever they regarded as best fitted for the various offices to be filled. Of course, there was some understanding as to who was running for office; but the men to be voted for had not been decided on before the election as they are now. With the division of the people into political parties, came the system of nominations now so generally in use. In order to be voted for, a man must be on the ticket of his party; in other words, he must be nominated by a party. However, the right to vote for a candidate of his own choice, is not denied to the voter; but such a candidate stands little chance of election.

Conventions.-Nominations are generally made in conventions held by the various parties. There are State, county, township, borough and city conventions; though in townships and small boroughs they are simply meetings of the leading voters of the parties.

The State convention nominates the candidates for State offices and Presidential electors, and selects delegates-at-large to the Presidential convention. Its delegates are elected by the county convention, unless a county has some other way of nominating its officers. The parties hold their State conventions from three to