years. The term of the judicial officers of the city are usually six years or longer.

2. THE CITY OF GREATER NEW YORK.

Its Organization.-We have seen that a city was the separation of a portion of some larger local division, such as a town or county, in order that it might meet the needs of its more densely populated area, but this is not true of the metropolis known as Greater New York, which was granted a charter by the Legislature in 1897. It is a union of several cities and villages into one immense municipality, which includes within its boundaries four counties.*

Counties in the City.-It should be first noted that these counties remain distinct from the city; but as there are no towns and the wards are represented in the city government, there is no county legislature. The people of each county elect a sheriff, county clerk and district attorney, which have directly to do with the administration of justice. Thus the county in Greater New York has become a judicial division very much like the English county.

Governmental Divisions.-The city, besides its divisions for judicial purposes, is divided in seven other ways for the purposes of government. The first three are divisions relating to the national and state governments and consist of congressional, and state senatorial and assembly districts. Three others are for the purposes of local government. Of these the most general is a division into five boroughs. There are twenty-five districts of local improvements, which are similar in size to the senatorial districts; and the city is further divided into wards, or aldermanic districts, in a general way equal in extent to the assembly districts. The seventh division is for the purposes of election, and cuts up the other divisions into a large number of election districts.

*The city of Rome embraces the whole town of Rome.

1. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

The Board of Aldermen.-The Legislative Branch consists of a single chamber known as the Board of Aldermen, each of whom is elected by the people of a ward for two years. The entire city elects for the same term the President of the Board, who besides his duties as presiding officer acts as mayor in case of the death, disability or absence of the mayor. The powers and duties of the Board of Aldermen are similar to those of the legislative body in other cities.

Boards of Local Improvements.-Besides the board of aldermen, who act for the entire city, each district of local improvements has a legislative body, known as the Local Board, which consists of the aldermen in the district presided over by the president of the borough in which the district is located. The legislative powers of the Board are limited to matters of local improvement in the district and are subject to the consent of the board of estimate and apportionment.

2. EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

The Mayor.-The Executive Branch includes the Mayor, the Administrative Departments and the Presidents of Boroughs. The Mayor is elected by the entire city for a term of two years. His powers and duties are similar to those of the mayors in other cities, but his appointive power is more extensive. His veto power is limited as that of other chief executives, except that his veto of a franchise is absolute.

The Administrative Departments.-These are at present fifteen in number and in general have a single officer at the head, who is appointed by the mayor for his term of office. The principle exceptions are in the Department of Finance, the head of which is the Comptroller, who is elected by the entire city, and in the Department of Education, the Commissioners of which number over forty and are appointed by the mayor for five years. The functions of these different departments are similar to those of the executive departments in other cities, except in the case of public works, which are chiefly under the direction of the borough presidents.

President of a Borough. He is elected by the voters in each borough for a term of two years. He is the executive officer having charge of the public works and local improvements in the borough, which are determined upon by the local boards.

The Board of Estimate and Apportionment.-This consists of the mayor, president of the board of aldermen, comptroller and the presidents of the five boroughs. Besides having a veto power upon the resolutions of local boards, it annually prepares and submits to the board of aldermen an estimate of the expenses of each administrative department for the succeeding year. These estimates, when passed upon by the board of aldermen form the city budget, which is the amount to be raised for municipal purposes by taxation.

3. JUDICIAL BRANCH.

The Judicial Branch of the city includes several minor courts which are referred to in the chapter on the Judiciary. (See pages 61, 65.)

3. THE VILLAGE.

Rural Communities. The public needs of a city are very different from those of the rural sections of the State, for its dense population requires lighted streets at night, a public water supply and other conveniences, which it would be impossible to have in a farming region; and the larger the city the greater the public advantages it has. Throughout the agricultural counties of the State there are scattered a great many small communities, called villages, in which there is a demand for sidewalks, police protection, water-works and many other things for public protection and convenience, which are found in a city.

Villages, Parts of Towns. Unlike a city, a village remains a part of the town or towns in which it is located

and is subject to their jurisdiction. Its residents pay taxes to the town, obey its by-laws and take part in the election of town officers. But for the purpose of its peculiar needs it has its own government and separate officers.

Organization of Villages.-Villages are organized under a general law which provides that upon the application of twenty-five adult freeholders residing in a "territory not exceeding one square mile, or an entire town, containing in either case a population of not less than two hundred, and not including a part of a city or village," the supervisor may direct an election of the resident taxpayers of the territory to determine the question of incorporating, and if at such election a majority of the votes be in favor of the proposition, then upon filing a certificate of that fact in the office of the county clerk the village is incorporated.

Classification of Villages.-There are, under the state laws, four classes of villages: that of the first class includes villages with five thousand or more population; of the second class, those from three thousand to five thousand; the third class, from one thousand to three thousand; and the fourth, with less than one thousand inhabitants. For each class there are general laws relating to their government, which, like that of the city, is divided into three branches.

Qualification of Officers. Any resident of the village is eligible to office, except that the president, trustees and fire, water, light, sewer or cemetery commissioners must be taxpayers.

1. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

President and Board of Trustees.-The Legislative Branch consists of the Village President, elected annually, and a Board of Trustees as follows: (1) In the first class villages, not less than two or more than eight. (2) In the second class villages, not less than two or more than six. (3) In the third and fourth class villages, not less than two or more than four. The President holds office for one year and the Trustees for two, one-half of the Trustees being elected at each village election, which is held annually on the third Tuesday in March. The President presides at the board meeting, and is entitled to vote, but he possesses no right of veto. The Board has power to make by-laws, or ordinances, for the village and to direct the expenditure of the public money; to regulate and maintain the public water supply, sewers, streets, public lock-up, fire and police departments; to regulate certain trades; to fix the salaries of village officers who are paid for their services; and to act as assessors in case none are elected. Any proposed expenditure which is of an extraordinary nature, has to be submitted by the Board to the tax-payers either at the time of the annual election, or at a special election called for the purpose.

2. EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

President, Treasurer, Clerk, etc.-The Executive Branch has as its chief the Village President. It is his duty to see that the by-laws of the village and the general laws of the State are enforced, and for this purpose he can command the village police and fire departments. Besides