Civil Government of Virginia   By: William Fayette Fox (1836-1909)

CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA

A TEXT BOOK FOR SCHOOLS BASED UPON THE CONSTITUTION OF 1902 AND CONFORMING TO THE LAWS ENACTED IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH

BY WM. F. FOX

SUPT. OF SCHOOLS, RICHMOND, VA.

NOTE. Important changes in every part of the fundamental law of the State were made by the Constitutional Convention of 1901 2.

A great many of these changes did not go into full effect until as late as Feb. 1, 1904; and some are yet to be made effective by the operation of laws already passed or to be enacted hereafter. Under the circumstances the author trusts he may be pardoned if some errors or omissions are found in this work, but it is believed that in all essential points it is in harmony with the provisions of the Constitution and the laws of the State as they stand at the present time.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION

I GENERAL PRINCIPLES Bill of Bights Who May Vote and Hold Office Elections

II LEGISLATIVE, DEPARTMENT The Senate House of Delegates General Assembly

III EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Governor Lieutenant Governor Attorney General

IV EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Continued

Secretary of the Commonwealth Treasurer Auditor of Public Accounts Second Auditor Register of the Land Office State Corporation Commission Superintendent of the Penitentiary Superintendent of Public Printing Commissioner of Agriculture and Immigration Commissioners of the Sinking Fund Board of State Canvassers

V. JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT

Supreme Court of Appeals Circuit Courts Circuit Court of the City of Richmond

VI. JUDICIARY DEPARTMENT Continued

Corporation or Hustings Courts Justices Courts Hustings Court of the City of Richmond Chancery Court of the City of Richmond Law and Equity Court of the City of Richmond

VII OFFICERS OF COURTS Clerks The Tipstaff and Crier Sheriff Commonswealth's Attorney Attorneys at Law Who May Practice Law in Virginia Juries Grand Junes Petit Jury

VIII. COUNTY ORGANIZATION

Counties

County Officers Sheriff Commonwealth's Attorney County Clerk Treasurer Commissioner of the Revenue Superintendent of the Poor County Surveyor Superintendent of Public Schools County Board of School Commissioners Electoral Board Board of Supervisors Assessors Coroner

IX. DISTRICT ORGANIZATION

Magisterial Districts. Supervisors. Justices of the Peace. Constable. Overseer of the Poor. Conservators of the Peace.

X. GOVERNMENT OF CITIES AND TOWNS

Council. Mayor. City Sergeant. Commissioner of the Revenue. Commonwealth's Attorney. Treasurer. Sheriff of Richmond City.

XI. EDUCATION

State: Board of Education. Superintendent of Public Instruction.

County: County and City Superintendents. School Trustee Electoral Board. County School Board.

District: School Districts. School Trustees. District Board of School Trustees.

School Funds.

Teachers.

OUTLINES or COLONIAL AND STATE HISTORY Colonial Governors. State Governors.

CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA

POPULATION OF VIRGINIA AT VARIOUS DATES

INTRODUCTION.

The word GOVERNMENT means guidance or direction or management. It means also the person or persons who rule or control any establishment or institution. Wherever any number of people live together in one house, or one town, or city, or country, there must be government of some kind.

In the family the parents are the government. They guide and manage the affairs of the house. They give orders to their children as to what they must do and what they must not do, and they see that their orders are obeyed. This is government, and it is for the benefit of the family. If the children were to do as they please, there would be no peace or happiness in the home.