What officers does a State
legislature
have, and how are
they selected?
they selected?
Beard - 1931 - Questions and Problems in American Government - Syllabus by Erbe
28. In what unit of government does the non-partisan or in-
dependent element play the most important part?
29. What is the most far-reaching non-partisan organization
in the United States?
30. What has been the effect of a half century of warfare on
party abuses?
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. What are the functions of a political party?
2. Do you think that every voter ought to join some political
party and support its candidates and policies?
3. If a voter does not approve the candidates nominated
by his party or the policies which it adopts, what should he do?
Do you think that independent voting ought to be encouraged?
Explain.
4. What is the method of procedure in calling and conducting
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? STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS 77
a caucus in your State? A primary election? A State conven-
tion?
5. How are the delegates to the county and State conven-
tions chosen in your State?
6. Which parts of the party organization in your State
complete their work in a short time and disband? Which con-
tinue in existence between elections though not active con-
tinually?
7. What is the difference between a "closed" and an "open"
primary? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
8. Which is more important in your State, the primary or
the general election? Explain.
9. If the direct primary is used in your State for nominating
candidates, how does the party proceed to prepare its platform?
10. What is meant by registration of voters? How frequently
must one register in your State? What is the procedure for
registration?
11. Make a list of arguments for and against compulsory
voting.
12. Explain how money is raised for the conduct of political
campaigns. Is it the duty of every party member to contribute?
13. Is your State predominantly in control of one party?
Would it be more conducive to good government to have two
parties of about equal strength? Explain.
14. On an outline map of your State indicate the number of
votes by counties that were cast by each of the major parties
for the office of Governor in the last election. Of what value
might these be to one interested in active politics?
15. Is an individual justified in standing with one party in
National politics and with another in State politics?
16. Is it inevitable that "in the democratic forms of govern-
ment the operation of universal suffrage tends toward the selec-
tion of the average man for public office rather than the man
qualified by birth, education, and integrity"?
17. Would it be better to vote for an undesirable candidate
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? 78 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
who will support the political program you want than for a more
desirable candidate who is opposed to your political program?
18. How can the voters secure dependable information as to
candidates and issues?
19. Was William Howard Taft right in saying that "The
general primary is a fraud"?
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XXX.
Munro's The Government of the United States, Third Edition, Chap.
XXXI.
Ogg and Ray's Introduction to American Government, Fourth Edition,
Chap. XXXVIII.
Bates and Field's State Government (1928), Chap. V.
Holcombe's State Government in the United States (1926), Chaps. VT-
VIII.
Mathews' American State Government (1924), Chap. IV.
Mathews and Berdahl's Documents and Readings in American Gov-
ernment (1928), Chap. XVIII.
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? CHAPTER XXIV
(pp. 554-585)
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
1. Of what importance is the legislature in State Govern-
ment?
2. In general, how do the powers of the State legislature
compare with the powers of Congress?
3. By what different names is the State legislative body
known in the United States?
4. Is the principle of legislative organization the same in
all of the States? How do you account for this?
5. How do the two houses of the legislature compare as to
the source of their authority and the nature of their powers?
6. List the merits of the bicameral system of legislative
organization.
7. Would a legislature organized on the unicameral basis
be equally as satisfactory as a bicameral legislature? Discuss.
8. What was the purpose of Mr. Colvin's study in New
York State and what significant information did it reveal?
9. How do State legislatures compare as to size? What is the
psychology of numbers, if any?
10. What is the usual basis for the apportionment of repre-
sentatives in the legislature? Is this the correct basis? Explain.
11. Does the apportionment of senators and representatives
in our State legislatures in any way violate the democratic
principle of equality in representation? Discuss.
12. In what way is the plan of distributing representatives in
Illinois unique? Of what value is it?
13. Should the term of legislators be long or short? Explain.
79
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? 8o PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
14. How does the length of the term of legislators vary in the
United States? The salary?
15. What in general is the character of the men and women
chosen as representatives to our State legislatures?
16. Characterize in general the powers of the legislature.
17. What limitations are imposed upon State legislatures by
the Federal Constitution? Where in the Constitution are these
to be found?
18. List the limitations that are placed upon the powers of
the State legislatures by the State constitutions.
19. How does the organization of the State legislature compare
with that of Congress?
20. Describe the organization of a typical State legisla-
ture.
21. What steps have been taken to regulate the powers of
committees in the legislature?
22. List in regular order the various steps through which a
bill must pass in the State legislature before it becomes a law.
Note all irregularities that might occur.
23. Is it true that "legislative procedure in the American
states is characterized by chaos and irresponsibility"?
24. What general criticisms are often made of our State legis-
latures?
25. Explain the attempts at reform that have been under-
taken in several States.
26. Point out the chief features of the "bifurcated" or "split
session" as adopted in California.
27. Of what importance is a legislative reference bureau?
Does your State have such a bureau?
28. Describe the plan of reorganized State Government pro-
posed by Herbert Croly in his Promise of American Life. What
is your attitude toward this plan?
29. Describe the structure of the legislature as provided for
in the Model State Constitution. Give your reaction to this
plan.
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? THE STATE LEGISLATURE 81
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. Give the following information concerning the legislature
in your State.
a. Type of organization g. Term
b. Number of members h. Salary
in each house i. Powers
c. Qualifications j. Special privileges
d. Disqualifications k. Method of removal
e. Method of nomina- I. Number and kind of
tion sessions
/. Method of selection
2.
What officers does a State legislature have, and how are
they selected?
3. Point out the importance and functions of committees
in the legislature.
4. Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of the
committee system in the State legislatures.
5. What are some of the difficulties involved in securing
sound and desirable legislation?
6. What are the essentials of a good law-making body?
7. Are there any classes in the legislature that are over-
represented? Do you favor a scheme of proportional repre-
sentation?
8. Is there any direct connection between the size of a legis-
lative body and its representative character?
9. What use have the legislatures made of their police power?
10. What is a joint committee? A joint resolution?
11. Do you think that the members of the legislature should
follow the instructions of their constituents when voting for
measures, or should they vote according to their judgment of
what is best without regard to the expressed will of the people?
Explain.
12. Is there an organization in your State whose duty and
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? 82 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
purpose it is to study the records of members of the legislature
in order that honest and efficient legislators might be elected?
If not, do you think that such organization would be desirable?
Give reasons for your answer.
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XXV.
Munro's The Government of the United States, Third Edition, Chaps.
XXXII-XXXIII.
Ogg and Ray's Introduction to American Government, Fourth Edition,
Chaps. XXXI-XXXIII.
Bates and Field's State Government (1928), Chaps. VI-VIII.
Holcombe's State Government in the United States (1926), Chap. DC
Mathews' American State Government (1924), Chaps. VI-VII.
Mathews and Berdahl's Documents and Readings in American Govern-
ment (1928), Chaps. XX-XXI.
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? CHAPTER XXV
(pp. 586-606)
THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
1. Of what importance is the office of Governor?
2. Is it true that "Politics, even more than the law, tends
to exalt the position of the governor "? Explain.
3. May the office of Governor be regarded as a stepping
stone to the presidency of the United States? Give reasons
for your answer.
4. List the usual qualifications for the office of Governor.
5. What are some extra-legal qualifications that improve
one's chances for election to the office of Governor?
6. What are the variations in the length of the term of
office of the Governor in the States? The salary?
7. Is there a tendency to lengthen or shorten the term of
office for Governors? Explain.
8. Characterize in general the scope of the Governor's
powers.
9. Should it be possible to remove a Governor from office
before the expiration of his term? Explain. What provisions
are made in your State for this purpose?
10. What is the relation of the Governor to administration?
11. Do all States of the Union have precisely the same type
of administrative organization? Explain.
12. What is the nature of the administrative machine in the
reconstructed States? Name some of these States.
13. Describe the organization of State adrninistration in New
York.
14. Does the Governor occupy a position of greater or less re-
sponsibility in the reconstructed States? Explain.
83
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? 84 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
15. What is the position of the Governor in the administrative
machine of those States that still retain their old administrative
organization?
16. Point out the advantages and disadvantages of adminis-
trative decentralization.
17. Have attempts been made to counteract the evils of de-
centralization in administration without consolidation of the
agencies of administration? Illustrate.
18. Who, in general, is responsible for the enforcement of the
laws of a State? How extensive is the power of the Governor
in this connection?
19. To what extent does the Governor enjoy the power to
grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences?
20. How significant is the GoverncA power as commander-
in-chief over the armed forces of the State?
21. List the legislative powers of the Governor. Explain each.
22. Is it true that the Governor is a leader in legislation?
23. What restrictions, if any, should be placed upon the
exercise of the veto power?
24. Compare the office of Governor with that of the President
of the United States.
Questions and Problems for Further Study and
Discussion
1. By what official title is the chief executive officer of your
State known? Where can you get this information?
2. Is it necessary to prescribe qualifications for the office of
Governor in the constitution? Explain.
3. Give the following information concerning the office of
Governor in your State.
a. Method of nomination e. Salary
b. Method of selection /. Powers
c. Qualifications g. Method of removal
d. Term h. Law of succession
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? THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR 85
4. Should a question arise as to who was actually elected
Governor, what authority in your State would determine this
matter?
5. Is the Governor of your State eligible to succeed him-
self? Does he hold office until his successor is elected and
qualified?
6. Is the order of succession in your State the same in case
of vacancy by death, resignation, impeachment, or recall?
7. Under what circumstances may a Governor call a special
session of the legislature? May a special session be of advantage
to him?
8. For what reasons may a Governor veto measures passed
by the legislature of your State? Should he have the power to
veto separate items in appropriation bills? Explain.
9. Does the power of the Governor to grant pardons overlap
or conflict with that of the President? Explain.
10. Is there a tendency to increase or decrease the appointive
power of the Governor?
11. Under what conditions, if at all, may the Governor of
your State remove officers appointed by him? May he remove
any officers elected by the people?
12. What use may a strong Governor make of his messages
to the legislature?
13. List the principal recommendations in the last message
of the Governor to the legislature of your State. Comment on
these.
14. Is it possible for a bill to become a law in your State after
it has been vetoed by the Governor? Explain.
15. Is there a real need for a Lieutenant-Governor?
16. How many Presidents within the last fifty years have had
experience as Governors?
17. List in order the names of all the Governors that your
State has had and give the dates during which each served.
Also indicate whether the Governor was a Democrat or a
Republican or of some other political faith.
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? 86 PROBLEMS IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
References
Beard's Readings in American Government and Politics, New and Re-
vised Edition, Chap. XXIV.
Munro's The Government of the United States, Third Edition, Chap.
XXXIV.
Ogg and Ray's Introduction to American Government, Fourth Edition,
Chap. XXXIV.
Bates and Field's State Government (1928), Chap. X.
