XII. The future of political parties.

A. Parties were at one time purely voluntary, extralegal organizations. That was due to a failure. to see the importance of the organization and direction of the electorate. With the breakdown of representative government, attention was focused on popular control. Then the importance of parties was felt. Gradually parties have become recognized legal organs of government: (1) compulsory registration in order to vote, (2) declaration of party affiliation in order to vote at primaries, (3) official printing and distribution of ballot, (4) regulation of elections, counting ballots, etc. Parties will become complete organs of government when the state helps bear the expense of primary and other elections. It might penalize candidates who fail to secure a certain percentage of votes to discourage irresponsible and unknown persons from running.

Direct primaries were supposed to eliminate the "machine" but the "machine" has captured the primaries. The short ballot would give the primaries a chance.

Development of parties along the lines of conservatives, liberals and radicals would make issues more clear and enable voters to vote more intelligently, thus tending to eliminate boss rule which is established upon manufactured consent.

SUGGESTED READINGS

FORD, HENRY JONES-The Rise and Growth of American Politics.
LOWELL, A. L.-Public Opinion and Popular Government.

MACY, JESSE-Party Organization and Machinery.

MERRIAM, C. E.—The American Party System.

OSTROGORSKII, M. I.—

Democracy and the Organization of Political Parties.

Democracy and the Party System in the United States.

RAY, P. O.-Introduction to Political Parties.

SLOANE, W. M.-Party Government in the United States of America. WALLAS, GRAHAM-Human Nature in Politics.

CHAPTER XXXV

COUNTIES AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

I. Likenesses and differences of local institutions in the United States.

A. Under likenesses, it appears that American local communities enjoy a large share of local autonomy through officials who are traditionally elected, and who, on the whole, are not closely supervised by state officials. Moreover, the states are, with the exception of Louisiana, divided into counties, which are in turn divided into towns and townships, and comprise chiefly administrative and electoral units. Then the local government bodies. are, as a rule, under the absolute authority of the state legislature, except as limited by the state constitution. Historical and dominant types

according to location.

1. The New England town and its open meeting. 2. The Southern county or parish, with little township influence.

3. The town or township of the middle states, subordinate to county administration.

II. General characteristics.

A. Counties vary in size from 25 to 20,000 square miles. Generally range from 300 to 900 square miles in area. Divergences in populations vary from two million to less than a hundred inhabitants. Average populations from ten thousand

to thirty thousand. Differences in number
through the states; Texas has 253 counties; New
York sixty-one; and Delaware three.
county has a "county seat."

III. Functions of the county.

Each

A. Unit for the administration of state laws, as police and taxation. An important unit of judicial administration with county courts, a court house and a county jail. A recording station of legal documents of various descriptions, as deeds and wills. An important educational unit, especially as regards rural schools. Leading agency for highway construction and repair, and for poor relief. A political unit for elections and representation in the state Legislature.

IV. Rights and duties of the county.

A. The county is a quasi-municipal corporation, and as such, can acquire, hold, and dispose of personal and real property, make contracts, and can sue and be sued. Powers are generally less than those of a municipality. The county is the creature of the state legislature, but its existence is usually guaranteed by the state constitution. Many constitutional limitations are placed on the county.

V. The board of supervisors or commissioners. A. The board of supervisors is elective in all states except Connecticut, where it is appointed, and in Georgia and Rhode Island, where it is not found. Usual term two years. Elected from town or city wards or from districts. Some elected at large. Vary in size. Usual number

is from three to seven. Each board elects its chairman, who is generally only a presiding officer. Usually there is no chief executive officer. B. Powers and functions of the county board are: 1. Financial activities. The levying and collection of taxes.

2. Trustee of all property of the county.

3. Has general supervision of elections.

4. Is charged with the administration of charities. 5. Has a limited power of appointment.

6.

Exercises a number of miscellaneous functions which do not lend themselves readily to classification.

VI. Additional county officers.

A. The sheriff. This official is found in all states, and

is everywhere elective except in Rhode Island. Term is generally two, three or four years. He has an unlimited power of appointing deputies. His duties relate chiefly to the police power and to administrative work in the courts.

B. The prosecuting attorney is generally elected in each county. Has to do chiefly with the enforcement of the criminal statutes. He is the legal representative of the county and has more than any other official to do with the general enforcement of law. Opportunities of the office for good or evil. The work of Mr. Folk of Missouri. The work of Mr. Heney of California.

C. The coroner is usually an elective official. His principal duty is to investigate cases where any person has died under obscure, uncertain or suspicious circumstances.