THINGS TO DO

the word or group of words that will make each of the lowing a correct statement:

nly the National Government has the authority

a. make treaties with foreign countries.

b. make laws.

c. carry out laws.

he State governments have the authority to—

a. admit new States into the Union.

b. set up local governments within the State. c. declare war.

he National Government has the authority toa. set up a State church.

b. set up county governments.

c. tax goods coming into the United States.

he powers granted to the National Government in nstitution are called

a. delegated powers.

b. denied powers.

c. the final authority.

you are not a citizen of the United States and

to become one, you must be examined by

a. officers with delegated authority.

b. officers who have no delegated authority.

c. the President of the United States.

he Constitution of the United States places the final ity in our Nation in the hands of

a. the national courts.

3. the States.

. the people.

ur towns and cities have delegated authority which

t from the

7. State.

5. Congress. c. President.

8. Our form of government, in which we elect officers to act for us, is called

a. a representative government.

b. a limited government.

c. a town government.

9. In the National Government, the authority to make laws is delegated to the

a. national courts.

b. Congress.

c. President.

10. Delegated powers can be taken away from the National Government by the

CHAPTER IX

ow "The People" Use Their Final Authority "As governments are made and moved by men, so by hen they are ruined, too. Therefore, governments ather depend upon men than men upon governments." -William Penn.

have studied some of the rights of the people. We that "The People" have the final authority in the 1 States. But the people do not meet at fixed times ke the laws. Rather, the people have delegated auto others to carry on the work of the Government. all now study what is meant by "The People" and ey use their final authority.

THE VOTERS ARE "THE PEOPLE"

e People" means those persons who have the right . A A person who has this right is called a voter. The who vote govern our government groups.

persons cannot vote nor can all citizens vote. The place limits on the right to vote. They have ated to give the right to vote only to those citizens derstand what it means to vote.

WHO CAN VOTE?

Fifteenth and the Nineteenth Amendments of the tution limit the States. They say that no State can the right to vote to any citizen because of race, color, But each State can set up other qualifications for

limits on the right to vote are about the same in all States. The States will not permit a person to vote he is a citizen. All the States declare that a citizen

must have lived at the same place so many days before he can demand the right to vote.

If the right is to be used only by those who can understand what it means to vote, then there must be an age limit. In one State this limit is eighteen years, and in all other States, it is twenty-one. Almost half of the States declare that the citizen must be able to read and write. A few States will not let a citizen vote unless he has paid some taxes.

If the citizen is qualified, then he can demand that his name be placed on the list of voters. When he votes he helps to express the will of "The People." He helps to say how the officers shall use their delegated authority.

"THE PEOPLE" USE THEIR FINAL AUTHORITY BY VOTING

A citizen uses his final authority and influences the Government in many ways. If he is qualified, he can vote and help to elect the officers who enforce the laws of the Nation. He can vote for the electors of the President and Vice President of the United States. He can help choose the governor of his State and the head of his town. or city. Also, he can vote for those who make the laws of his Nation, State, town, or city. Periodically the voters in the United States elect about 200,000 officers.

The citizen can also vote on amendments to the constitution of the State. The lawmakers often ask the voters to say whether public money should be spent for a library, a school, or a water system. The State constitutions and city charters often declare that debts above a certain amount must be sent to the people for a vote and approved. In some States the legislature may let the voters decide whether they want a certain law. In a very real sense then, the citizen who votes has the final authority. He has many chances to express his opinion on public matters.

Although the people may express their will by votes, we decide most public questions in the United States by a majority vote. It usually takes more than half of those who vote to determine what shall be done.

However, in elections where several persons seek the same public office, the winning candidate may get less than a majority of the votes cast, although receiving more than any of his opponents. The excess of his votes over those of the next highest candidate is called a "plurality."

The citizen should give serious thought not only to the right that he has but also to his duty to vote. He should vote every time he is asked to do so. Only in this way can we have "a government by the people."

LEARNING THE WILL OF THE MAJORITY

How can we know the will of the majority on any public question? In our home group, we can talk things over. It is easy to learn what the majority wants. We can do the same thing in our work, our play, and our neighborhood groups. But our government groups are large. The members cannot come together and talk things over.

We have had to find some other way by which to learn the will of the majority. We cannot place all possible names and questions before the voters. We must select a few from among the many. So over the years, and as a result of experience, the voters learn the will of the majority on public matters through political parties. Parties are the means by which the voters can make their influence felt.

PLATFORMS AND CANDIDATES

Each party has a prepared statement of the things for which it stands. This statement is called the party platform. It has been written by the members or the leaders of the party. It tells the party's position on the more important public questions. It says how the party would like to see the delegated powers used by the officers. Perhaps it calls for less or different taxes. It may describe changes that should be made in the delegated powers.

Most men who seek public office are nominated by a political party. They are called "candidates."