government. The county officials usually have their offices at the county seat, in a building called the "county building" or "county courthouse."

Usually there is a board of commissioners or board of supervisors in general charge of the county government. Sometimes the county board is very small, but sometimes it is quite large. If the board is small, it usually is made up of members elected by the voters of the entire county. If the board is large, it usually is made up of representatives chosen by the townships in the county.

Certain county officials help the board to do its work. The county officials are sometimes elected by the voters of the county. In some counties they are appointed by the county board, or by the governor of the State, or by the State legislature. Usually their powers and duties are fixed by State law. The following pages describe the duties of the officials usually found in counties throughout the United States.

Every county maintains at least one court of justice and the judicial officers necessary for its operation. It has its own courthouse, although the judges who hold court there sometimes do not live in the county but are members of the State judicial system and hold court in other counties as well. In many States the counties are grouped into judicial districts or circuits, each of which has one or more judges. In some States these judges are appointed by the governor or by the legislature. In other States, however, judges are elected by the voters.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS—SHERIFFS-CORONERS

The duty of one of the most important county officers, called the prosecuting attorney (or sometimes the district attorney) is to enforce the law against criminals of every kind, from the petty thief to the murderer. When he brings a criminal to trial, he explains the case to the court and asks that the criminal be convicted. He must have witnesses brought in and prove that the prisoner did the crime for which he is being tried. If this important officer

is not brave and honest, he may fail to prosecute the guilty as vigorously as he should. If he is honest and worthy of his office, he will enforce the law without fear or favor and thus help to preserve the good order and peace of his county.

Sometimes the less important cases are tried before a justice of the peace, who is usually an elected officer of the township.

Another important county officer is the sheriff. It is this official's duty to arrest and put in jail those who disturb the peace or otherwise break the law. He is the supervisor of the county jail. He carries out the orders of the judges. He notifies witnesses and jurors when to appear in court. When ordered by the judge, he sells the property of persons who do not who do not pay their taxes.

You learned in chapter 5 that the sheriff has the authority to call on any person in the county to help him arrest a criminal or preserve law and order against any outbreak of lawlessness. When a sheriff cannot keep order in his county even with the aid of such a group of persons (called a "posse"), he may ask the governor for help. In such cases-and particularly in cases of great disturbance the governor may send the State militia (called the National Guard) into the county to restore order and take over the local police power.

An officer called a coroner is given the duty of investigating sudden or violent deaths which happen under suspicious conditions and of determining the cause of such deaths. He may call together a jury of citizens to help him find out the truth about such cases.

COUNTY TREASURERS, AUDITORS, AND ASSESSORS

An officer called the county treasurer usually receives, guards and pays out the county's money. Sometimes he is aided in his work by assistant collectors. He turns over to State, city, and town officials those parts of the tax money which should go to them and uses the county taxes to pay the costs of the county government. This officer

usually has to put up a bond to protect the county against possible loss of money through the dishonesty or carelessness of anyone in his office. The treasurer is usually elected by the people. You can easily see that he must have a very high standard of honesty.

There is often a county auditor, who has the duty of examining the cash accounts of other county officers.

Some counties have assessors to study and decide upon the valuation of all the taxable property in the county. By setting an "assessed valuation" on property, they help the county board or the county treasurer to determine how much tax money should be collected from different property owners.

Often a special board or group of officials hears appeals from taxpayers who think the assessor has placed his valuation of their property too high. The board may lower the valuation, may agree with the assessor's figure or may raise it if they believe it has been set too low.

You have already learned that the county keeps important records. A county clerk keeps the records of births, deaths, and marriages in the county. He also keeps copies of deeds and mortgages, and usually copies of all wills which are brought to him to be made official records of the county. These become public records so that any person can find out the truth about property ownership; as such they must be kept accurately and in good condition by the county clerk.

In many counties there is a county superintendent of schools, who supervises teaching, selects teachers, and cooperates with the State superintendent of schools.

There may be health officers to fight diseases and unhealthful conditions in the county. There may be overseers of the poor to supervise the care of poor people in hospitals, in homes for the aged or on county poor farms. There may be county road commissioners responsible for the building and repair of county roads. And your own county may have still other officers who are not mentioned here.

THE COUNTY-MANAGER PLAN OF ORGANIZATION

In recent years a number of counties have decided to change their government organization. They feel that it is much better to have one man, a single leader, in general charge of the government. The voters in such counties elect a small board of commissioners, who in turn choose an official called a "county manager." The board also chooses an auditor and a prosecuting attorney. Nearly all other officials are selected by the manager. People who favor this plan feel that the manager can find the persons best qualified to work with him. He appoints his sheriff, his finance officers, general welfare officers, and others. Then he is responsible for their work and for the operation of the county government as a whole. You can learn more about this plan by studying Figure 38.

THINGS TO DO

Some questions to discuss in your study group:

1. What are the principal activities of your own township and county governments? Of your village or town? How do they help the people of the communities?

2. What needs do you find in your village or county which you would like to see your government serve? Would these services help the families of the neighborhood?

3. What are some ways in which the county government cooperates with the State government?

Your county, village, and township address:

If you live on a farm, you must have a town or village address from which your mail is sent by the Rural Delivery Service. Complete the following sentences:

My name is

My village address is

My rural delivery service address is

294529°-41-13