schools of a higher grade can be established. The boards of supervisors of the counties and the councils of cities and towns provide for the levying of local school taxes. City Schools. The provisions for public schools in ities and towns 1 are essentially the same as those for The country. The system is administered by the State Board of Education, the superintendent of public instrucon, division superintendents, and city school boards. city school board has power, subject to the approval f the council, to divide the city into school districts, and appoints all the teachers for the city schools. The ty or town council appoints the three trustees for each hool district, and levies taxes, or makes an appropriation or the support of the schools. In other respects the city hool organization is the same as that for the country. he corresponding officers having also similar duties.

QUESTIONS

What law did the General Assembly pass in 1796 in regard to public education?

Why did the law not go into operation?

When was the Literary Fund formed, and how was all the interest at first used?

In 1817 how much of the interest was applied to the endowment of the University, and how was the remainder used?

When was adequate provision made for public education?

Tell about the division of the state into school divisions. What is a school district?

What officers administer the public school system?

How is the Board of Education constituted, and what are its chief duties?

. How is the superintendent of public instruction elected, and what are his chief duties?

. How is the division superintendent appointed, and what are his duties?

Who compose the School Trustee Electoral Board, and
what is the chief duty of this board?

Who compose the County School Board?
What powers has this board?

What are its duties in regard to property to be applied to
school uses?

How is the District Board of School Trustees formed?
With what important duty is this board charged?
Name some of its special duties?

What is the clerk of the District Board of School Trus

tees required to do every five years?

By whom must every applicant to teach be examined?
What certificate must be obtained?

What provision has the General Assembly made for the
improvement of teachers?

Who can attend public schools as pupils, and how many pupils are necessary to form a school?

What do the state funds for public schools embrace?

What constitute the local funds?

What is said of the provisions for city schools?

The Right

a free state is in the governm first guaranteed possessed by th suffrage, by wh tion of officers right does not as possess quali Qualification granted to every

one years

of

ag

two years, of h of the precinct immediately pre to take part, pro paid his poll tax laws in regard capitation taxes will have the ha

the right of suf

CHAPTER IX

ELECTIONS

The Right of Suffrage.— A characteristic feature of a free state is that the people are allowed to take part in the government, and this right is usually one of the first guaranteed by the constitution. The political power possessed by the people consists chiefly in the right of suffrage, by which is meant the right to vote in the election of officers and in deciding public questions. This right does not belong to all the people, but only to such as possess qualifications that are deemed necessary.

Qualifications Required. The right of suffrage is granted to every male citizen of the United States, twentyone years of age, who has been a resident of Virginia for two years, of his county, city or town for one year, and of the precinct where he offers to vote for thirty days immediately preceding any election in which he wishes. to take part, provided he has been registered and has also paid his poll taxes in the manner prescribed by law. The laws1 in regard to registration and the prepayment of capitation taxes are very strict, and, if properly enforced, will have the happy effect of restricting, in large measure, the right of suffrage to such citizens as are qualified to

1 For a full statement of these laws, see Sections 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 of the Constitution.

exercise it intelligently. Without such restriction, it is impossible to secure the best government.

Qualified voters are entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly and for all officers elected by the people.

Registration. The legislature provides for an annual registration of voters. Any person not allowed to register can appeal to the circuit court of his county or to the corporation court of his city.

The Election System.- For convenience to the people and to save expense, the same voting places are used for all elections, and officers of different kinds are elected at the same time. All elections are conducted upon the same general plan and by the same election officers. Magisterial district officers, county officers, State and Federal officers are elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. So also are all town and city officers except mayors and councilmen, who are elected on the second Tuesday in June. Notices of special elections in counties are given by sheriffs and in cities by sergeants. Elections in towns are made known by the sheriff.

Election Officers. The duty of carrying out the election laws is discharged by the Board of State Canvassers, an Electoral Board for each county and city, a Board of Commissioners of Election for each county and city, and precinct judges and clerks.

Board of State Canvassers.- This board is composed of the governor, the secretary of the commonwealth, the auditor of public accounts, the state treasurer, and the attorney general, or any three of these. Its chief duty

is to examine the election returns and determine the results for Federal officers and for the following State officers: The superintendent of public instruction, commissioner of agriculture and immigration, and members of the General Assembly.

County and City Electoral Boards. Each county and city has an electoral board of three members, who are appointed by the circuit court of the county or the corporation court of the city. The members serve for three years, but their terms of office are so arranged that they expire at different periods, one year apart. The board chooses one of its members to be chairman, and another to be secretary, and holds a regular session annually in the month of March. It appoints election judges, clerks, commissioners of election, and registrars for its county or city. It is also charged with the duty of having ballots printed and delivered at the voting places before each election.

Election Districts.- Each magisterial district of a county, and each ward of a city, constitutes an election. district or precinct, and for each precinct there is but one voting place. If it is found to be necessary, a magisterial district and also a ward may be divided into more precincts than one.

Precinct Officers.- Each precinct has three judges and two clerks. The judges and clerks are appointed by the Electoral Board of the county or city annually in the month of May, and whenever it is possible they are selected from different political parties. They serve for one year, and conduct all elections that take place in their precinct during their term of office. No person, if a can