NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE

1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVE., N. W.,

WASHINGTON, D. C.

BAWI MARY'S COLLEGE LIBi

12*82

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THE

FUNDAMENTALS

OF CITIZENSHIP

A supplementary text and review
book for use in the elementary

schools, in naturalization classes,

civic study clubs and in civic

education generally. \

Fifth Edition

NATIONAL CATHOLIC WELFARE CONFERENCE
1312 Massachusetts Avenue

Washington, D. C.





INTRODUCTION

Every nation in the world is yearning for democracy. But a

democratic government is not secured simply by taking the name.

As it is the most priceless heritage and the bestower of great bless-

ings, democracy demands a knowledge, a sense of responsibility;

respect for human rights
;
personal interest in the affairs of gov-

ernment. It means a people willing to take upon themselves the

burden as well as the privilege of government.

As the history of the modern world unfolds, we Americans are

becoming more conscious and appreciative of the inheritance our

fathers left us. We see how well they built and with what care

we must safeguard the building.

Our country is the land of freedom and of opportunity. The

knowledge of its Constitution is necessary for the American-born

if he is to be a desirable citizen
;
and for the foreign-born if they,

too, are to take up the task of faithful citizenship. The millions of

foreign-born among us are anxious to be intelligent, worthy citi-

zens. For the general work of reconstruction in citizenship for

both the native and the foreign-born this pamphlet is published.

The success of a democracy depends on knowledge and moral

character. If all the people are not acquainted with their civic and

social responsibilities they cannot act intelligently on the common

affairs. The right of suffrage means very little if the people do

not have some knowledge of the issues passed on at the polls. The

citizen who does not possess some knowledge of the working of

our democratic institutions may easily become the prey of the

demagogue or of persons who are anxious to advance their own

interests at the expense of the people.

The Catholic Church has always taught the fundamentals of

citizenship. It has emphasized the social rights and responsibilities

of citizens. On account of the great changes coming over the



4 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

world today, it is necessary that the fundamentals of government

be taught in a more formal way. There was no time when people

needed solid instruction more than at present, if they are to be

protected against extreme radicalism, and secure their just rights.

There are three motives which influence people in the fulfill-

ment of their civic duties, self-interest, fear of punishment and

conscience or religion. In all teaching of civics it should be kept

in mind that religion supplies the highest and the noblest motives

for the discharge of civic obligations. Our democracy cannot long

endure unless all the people are animated by motives of religion in

their dealing with one another.

The N. C. W. C. Citizenship Campaign is based upon the fol-

lowing principles : That every youth should have before leaving

school adequate training in the duties, obligations and rights of

citizenship, to which end such training should be given in the ele-

mentary grades
;
that a broad program of instruction in social sci-

ence should be given in the high schools and colleges for the de-

velopment and more extensive training of civic leaders; that all

persons, native or immigrant, who have not had courses in citizen-

ship should have the opportunity of taking such courses in order

better to fulfill their obligations to the community
;
that immigrants

who come to this country with the intention of staying for any

great length of time should assume their part of the common bur-

dens of society by seeking citizenship and by performing the tasks

of citizenship with understanding; and that development of indi-

vidual character, the teaching of correct moral principles and the

inculcation of religion are essential to the making of good citizens.

While this handbook is not intended to serve as a complete text

in civics, both the Fundamentals of Citizenship and the Civics

Catechism on the Rights and Duties of American Citizens

,

also

published by the N. C. W. C., have been found exceptionally help-

ful in introducing the subject in the elementary grades. Both are

especially recommended for use in the elementary schools as sup-

plementary texts or review books, as textbooks for classes prepar-

ing for the naturalization process, and in the conduct of civic study

clubs by adult groups.



CHAPTER I.

AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

The people of all lands have had a hand in forming the

American Democracy. America was discovered in the year 1492

by Christopher Columbus, an Italian, who was sailing under the

flag of Spain. The country was settled by people from nearly

all of the countries of Europe. Spain, France, England, Holland

and Sweden sent colonists. Men from other countries came to

find a home here.

Some of the people came to this country seeking fortunes.

It was thought that gold and precious metals would be found

here. Others came to take up lands, but the majority of people

came to find freedom which they did not have at that time in

their own lands. Some came in order to have free speech
;
some

to have freedom of religious worship
;
some came to get away

from harsh laws which imprisoned men for debt; some came

because they saw a chance to build up a great free country

where the laws would be made by the people themselves and

where every man might have a hand in the management of com-

mon affairs.

The small settlements made by different countries along the

Atlantic Coast grew rapidly and soon all the way from Maine

to Georgia large numbers of colonies were settled. The colonies

finally became subject to Great Britain, although they managed

almost all of their own affairs.

While these people were finding a home for freedom in

America, a movement for greater freedom and for popular

government was growing in the countries of Europe and espe-

cially in England. Strong forces, however, tried to prevent these

changes and for a time they succeeded in getting control of the

government in England and attempted to stop the growth of

freedom both in America and at home. When the effort was



6 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

made to tax the colonists in America without their consent and

to take from them a part of their freedom, the American Revo-

lution broke out. The thirteen colonies declared that they were

free and independent.

The famous American Declaration of Independence written

by Thomas Jefferson was signed on the Fourth of July, 1776.

From that time, the American colonies have been a separate and

independent country. Many American patriots led the people:

Patrick Henry, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel Adams,

John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John

Adams and George Washington are names known all over the

world for the part they took in the Revolution. Many liberty-

loving people in other countries also helped America greatly in

those early times.

Heading English statesmen, including William Pitt and Ed-

mund Burke, were against a war with America because they

thought the American patriots were fighting the battle for Eng-

lish freedom as well as for American freedom. These friends

helped the leaders in America to a great extent. William Pitt

said: “I rejoice that America has resisted/’ Among the leaders

of the pro-American sentiment in the British Parliament were

all the members elected from Ireland, Edmund Burke, Barre and

Connolly being the leaders.

The story of America also spread to other countries in

Europe when the Revolution began. Great patriots came from

many countries. Eafayette came from France, Kosciusko and

Pulaski from Poalnd, Baron Steuben from Prussia, and De Kalb

from Bavaria to help America in her struggle for freedom.

Irish officers like Stephen Moylan, Joseph Reed and John Fitz-

gerald were Aides-de-camp to Washington, and a large number

of Irish soldiers fought in the Continental armies. These men

deserve the highest praise. They sacrificed much; they fought

valiantly in the cause of American liberty. Three of them,

Pulaski, Montgomery the Irish soldier, and De Kalb, the

Bavarian, died upon the field of battle. Kosciusko and Eafayette

returned to their native countries and became the leaders of their



ThS Fundamentals oE Citizenship f

own countrymen in their struggles for liberty. All of the men

who came to help America made themselves patriots of the world.

Many of them had had experience in military matters and they

helped General Washington in training and caring for the Ameri-

can army.

In 1783 the war was finally won and the United States was

recognized as a free and independent nation. Six years later,

the United States constitution was framed.

That constitution is the basis of the oldest government in

the world today. Every other nation has changed its form of

government. America has not, and yet she is the progressive

leader of democracy today for the entire world. You will see

the reason for this when you read and study the American

constitution. It is worth while, however, to recall some of the

reasons why the American constitution has been and is the

guaranty of true political liberty. It broke with tyranny; it did

not take up with license. It recognized and safeguarded the

sanctity of law. It was not instigated by greed; nor the spirit

of greed. It placed the framing of the laws in the hands of the

people. It demanded that after the law was declared everyone

should respect it. According to its declaration, the majority

rules; but the majority can never become a tyrant, else we might

have no more liberty than we would living under an autocracy.

The declaration and constitution based on the essential equal-

ity of man—that every man because a man has a God-given right ^
to equal justice and should receive it from his fellow-men as

he would receive it from God—state that there are certain in-
alienable rights that belong to every man as a man, and that no

authority on earth has power to take them away. Man must

respect law; but the law must also respect man. And so sacred

were these rights regarded that a supreme court was organized

whose power it is to preserve them. The American constitution

vindicates law because it exacts justice and gives liberty to all.

It permits no oppressor, neither autocrat nor anarchist.' This

constitution bound together the thirteen states into a single nation

and is the foundation stone of the great American Republic.



8 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

The successful fight for liberty in America spread rapidly

through Europe and deepened the desire of many peoples for

liberty. The new idea of liberty spread to all countries. Un-

fortunately, while it fostered a like political aim, it did not

always bring with it the same wisdom as marked the history of

American freedom. The European struggle for liberty is

marked oftentimes by terrible injustice, by disrespect for law,

by public disorder and public disasters. In its history injustice

is often revenged by injustice, not overcome by equality of op-

portunity. We see a noteworthy and terrible example of license
—not liberty—in Russia today. All these attempts are endeavors
after liberty and in that measure are praiseworthy. When they

grow to lawlessness, they must be condemned by every lover of

democracy. But the world learned to love liberty so much that

it hated oppression; it hated world-dominion; it believed in the

right of a people to rule themselves and enjoy their national

freedom. That is why the nations of the world resisted the

aggression of Germany in the late war.

That is why in that fight for liberty, the help of America

was sent across the waters to make the whole world safe for

democracy.

After a hundred years the seeds which had been planted in

America by the patriots of America, England, France, Ireland,

Poland, Bavaria and Prussia bore the fruits of democracy and of

liberty to all parts of the world.

The advance of freedom for one hundred and forty years

has been the work of men of many centuries. We are now living

in the time when the greatest battle for freedom has been won.

All countries of the world should be free to work out their prob-

lems as their people desire them to be worked out. Mistakes

may be made in different countries just as we have made mis-

takes in America. The mistakes will be, however, those whicn

the people make and for which no one is to blame but themselves

and which they must learn to remedy. The people will run their

own affairs. They firmly believe that if all will do their part

the people can handle their own affairs with success.



Tee Fundamentals oe Citizenship 9

CHAPTER II.

THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE

Democracy means that the people have the right to make

the laws under which they live. It does not mean one law for

one and another for another. The people have the right to make

the laws and upon the people rests the duty before God to make

them just with due regard for the God-given right of every

man. The people willingly place a limit to their powers. They

pledge themselves to keep the laws that they wish others to keep.

Democracy requires of each man a great respect for order;

a more unselfish consideration of every man’s rights and ad-

vantage. The people must provide for themselves and each

other the things which they need for common use
;
such as roads

and streets. They must provide the means for their common

protection; such as armies and navies. Democracy means that

they tax themselves to provide these things for their common

use and benefit. Each citizen is responsible for the conduct of

Government. IfiTis part of the state, not merely a subject of it.

The Government is his. If it is bad it is his fault. He has put

power into the wrong hands.

We will confine ourselves for the most part in this pamphlet

to speaking of the material, temporal things that benefit the

people as a whole.

What are the things which any body of people need for

their common use? First, they must have roads and streets to

enable them to travel and to carry goods. Second, they must

have post offices to send letters and packages from place to place.

Third, they must have schools and libraries for the education of

the children as well as for the older people. Fourth, they must

have water supplies and means of disposing of sewage, garbage



10 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

and other waste. Fifth, they need to have parks and play-

grounds where all can have pleasure as well as a means of

physical training. In all their dealings with one another the

people should learn to respect the principles of justice and the

restraints of moral law.

What are the things which people must have to protect them-

selves? First, they must have means of caring for sickness and

preventing the spread of disease. Second, they must have police-

men and other guards to prevent crime, protect the people and

arrest persons who break the laws. Third, they must have

means of preventing and stopping fires. Fourth, they must have

an army and navy to prevent other countries from invading their

lands and taking away their freedom. Fifth, they must have

laws to prevent fraud and unfair dealings, and courts and officers

to enforce them.

There are many other things which people need for their

common use and for their protection, but these are some of the

principal ones. In the crowded cities a great many means of

protection and many more things for the use of all peoples must

be provided. These things are all done to make it easier for

people to live safely and happily and to make it more certain

that everyone will receive fair play and a square deal.

In the United States are many millions of people. Some live

in the city and some in the country. Each person does his work,

whatever it may be, and seeks to have fair dealing among all.

There will, of course, always be found people who do not play

fair; for this reason it is necessary to provide ways to prevent

and correct injustice. When new means of injustice are found,

new methods to correct them must also be found. It is a good

sign when people strive to correct evils which appear. It is the

display of those Christian virtues which should underlie the

dealings of men with men.

V^These things which are needed for the use and protection of

the people are provided by the people through their government.

Since the people do these things for themselves there is no one



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 11

to blame except the people when things are not done right. It

should be plain to everyone that the handling of these matters

is the business of all the people and that no one has a right to

shirk his duties in this respect. Every person in the country

benefits by the things which are provided for common use, such

as roads and streets, and for protection, such as health and police

officers. All people use the roads and streets and most people

use the schools, library and post office. All are protected by

health officers, policemen, firemen and soldiers. It is clear, then,

that all should help do the work. The man who lives on others

without doing his part is called a “sponger/' The man who does

not do his public duty is called a “slacker.” The men who live

in a country without doing their part of the work are “spongers”

and “slackers.”

There are at least four ways to do one’s part in helping to

look after public affairs. First, every citizen should keep up

interest in the common affairs and vote at every election. Sec-

ond, he should be ready to hold office and thus help to manage

some of the common affairs. Third, he should understand public

questions so that he can vote intelligently and so that he can

criticize justly. Fourth ^_each person should pay his fair share

of the expense of doing the work. These duties are simple ones.

It is clear that each person should bear his part of the burden

and pay his fair share of costs of things from which all will

benefit. If a hundred people should go on a picnic, each would

expect to do his part of the work and share the cost. If ten

thousand people decide to build roads or pave the streets for the

benefit of all, then each should do his part.

The management of all of the work which is required for the

welfare of over one hundred million Americans puts a burden

upon everyone which each should be happy to carry because of

the benefits which he receives. It is a religious duty as well

as a patriotic duty to do one’s part in the common cause. Democ-

racy cannot be a success anywhere unless the people have the

will to do their part. After all, the cost which each bears is

very small when compared to the benefits received.



12 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

CHAPTER III.

THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

There are some rights which are guaranteed to every person

in America. •'These rights are sacred to everyone. They were

won by centuries of hard struggles against despots and are fixed

as a part of our Constitution. No law can be passed which take.;

these rights away, and no officer may prevent a person from

exercising them. Those who try to take away these rights

violate the Constitution.

Free Speech

We believe in America that every person should have a
chance to speak and write his opinions freely if he does not

abuse the privilege, and so the right of free speech and free

press is guaranteed. The United States Constitution says that

Congress shall make no law limiting the freedom of speech or

of the press. The state constitutions make the same statement

regarding the power of state legislatures. It is believed in this

country that if every man is allowed to say publicly whatever

he thinks, it will be safer than to attempt to keep the people

from talking. This right does not protect a man when he makes

statements that are not true and which defame the personal

character of his fellowmen. In time of war it is necessary to

limit free speech for the public safety. It is also wise to prevent

free speech on the part of those who make threats of violence

or preach sedition.

Religious Liberty ^
At the very beginning of the settlement of America the right

to freedom of worship was fixed as a part of our institutions

and has remained as one of our most important rights. No law

can be passed which deprives a man of the free exercise of his



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 13

religious duties. No law can be passed which compels the sup-

port of any church or which compels a man to go to any par^

ticular church. These rights are one of the goals which have

caused people to come to America from other lands. People of

all religious beliefs have sought freedom of worship in this

country and have found it. Catholics and Protestants alike

founded colonies here for religious freedom. The earliest guar-

antee of freedom of worship in America was secured by Ford

Baltimore, a Catholic, in Maryland.

Freedom of Search

Another right in America is the freedom of every person

from interference in his home. We accept the statement that
“every man’s house is his castle.” No person or officer may

enter a man’s house without permission, unless a court has is-

sued a warrant of arrest for a crime or a search warrant to

search for stolen goods.

/
~ If it is believed that man has committed a crime, or has in

his house stolen property, a warrant may be issued for his arrest

or a search warrant may be issued to search his house. The

warrant must name the place to be searched and the person or

thing to be taken. Without such a warrant an officer breaks

the law himself if he attempts to force his way into any home.

Sometimes, by mistake, an effort might be made to enter a home,

but anyone can stop an officer at his door and demand to see

bis legal right to enter. In this way homes are made safe from

petty officers who might annoy people by pretending to search

for persons or things.

/HProtection of Property and Fife

Every person has the right to the protection of his property

and his life. He also has the right to carry on his own occupa-

tion without interference from others. No man’s property may

be taken from him except by a court for cause after a fair tiiak

If a man’s property is needed for a public use, as for the build-

ing of u. road, it may be taken, but the owner must be paid the



14 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

fair value of the property. In this way, while the man is pro-

tected, the rights of all people are also protected against the

selfishness of one man who might otherwise stop public improve-

ments.

False Imprisonment

Another very important right is that which makes it impos-

sible to send a man to prison, except after a fair trial. In some

countries people are thrown into prison for pretended reasons

and are kept there at the whim of the officers. That has never

been possible in America. If a man is arrested, he has the right

to demand a trial at once and to have his own witnesses and

the assistance of a lawyer. He also has the right to be let out

of prison on bail until his trial, except in serious crimes when

the evidence is strong against him. Even if he is found guilty

he may take his case to the higher courts. Sometimes it hap-

pens that mistakes are made, but the number of mistakes is not

large. The purpose of all fair-minded people is to prevent any

imprisonment by mistake, even for a single day. It is a serious

injustice to anyone to be charged with a crime or to be taken to

prison without cause.

Imprisonment for Debt

No person may be put in prison for debt unless he has com-

mitted fraud. This is a valuable right which saves people from

being thrown into prison through no fault of their own. If a

man were sent to prison for debt, he could not get out until he

could pay the debt and he could not pay the debt because he

could not earn money while in prison. It is not allowed any-

where in America to send a man to prison, because through mis-

fortune or otherwise he is unable to pay his debts.

Voting and Holding Office

All persons who live in a country must bear a part of the

burdens in providing the things for common use and protection.

/Every citizen has the right to help decide by his vote how the

common work shall be carried on. He also has the right to hold

office if he can get a majority of the voters to vote for him,



The: Fundamentals op Citizenship 15

and as an officer he directly manages the people’s business for

them. Many citizens fail to vote, but they cannot be called good

citizens if they do not do this simple duty. It is the least that

should be expected of any person. Not every citizen will be

able to hold office, but every citizen should be willing to hold

office if the people want him. All persons who are not citizens

enjoy the rights we have discussed, except the right to vote, and

hold office, and it is only fair that every person who does enjoy

these rights should become a citizen so as to be able to do his

fair share of 'the work.



16 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

CHAPTER IV.

EDUCATION

The American people believe very strongly in education. The

immigrants who come to this country are also very anxious that

they and their children shall have the benefits of education. Al-

most from the beginning, in this country education been

provided and now it is possible for anyone in any part of the

country to be educated free. Education, according to the best

authorities of the country, is incomplete and insufficient if it

does not include religious training. Catholics particularly have

stood for this principle and for the sake of it support their own

free schools.

Education gives a better view of the relations of people to

each other. It makes better citizens by making better men. A
country is safer when the people are educated to do right by

their fellowmen and when fair play is the guide of everyone.

\/Education makes men and women able to do their duty as

citizens. To be good citizens everyone must be able to read and

write. A man who cannot read and write cannot keep track of

public affairs and act with intelligence. Everyone must be able

to use figures in order to keep track of '-ordinary business affairs

and prevent himself from being cheated. Every person should

learn how to be healthy and should learn to do work by which

he can earn a living and be more useful. Above all, every per-

son should learn the way in which public affairs are governed

so that he may take his part in politics and in public affairs.

Any system of education which fails to build character and im-

part correct views in regard to human nature is essentially in-

complete. knowledge without character cannot make good men

or good citizens.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 17

Elementary Schools, High Schools and Colleges

To meet the needs of all people, elementary schools are pro-

vided to train all children in the simple things which they should

know, namely, reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, composi-

tion, health, scientific history and vocational work. In every

one of the States of this country every child must attend school

for a certain number of years, usually between the ages of eight

and fourteen. In the elementary schools, both public and paro-

chial, we find all of the children of all the people up to the time

they are about fourteen years of age. It is well that the best kind

of elementary education be given because all children are in school

during those years.

It would be good if every child could continue school beyond

fourteen years and thus get more education in the high schools

and colleges. A large number, however, drop out at fourteen

years of age and go to work. Those who do go to work do not

always succeed as well as those who make special efforts to con-

tinue in school. In all parts of the country, high schools are

provided so that children may take four years of work after they

have had their regular course in the elementary schools. In these

schools many subjects are studied and children obtain a valuable

education. In all parts of the country, too, there are colleges

publicly and privately supported which gives a chance to everyone

for the most complete education of which they are capable. They

also give the chance to study for the professions such as law,

medicine, dentistry and engineering.

Vocational Education

Since the people engage in all kinds of occupation, it is a

good thing to teach occupation so that boys and girls or men

and women may become skilled workers in whatever they may-

undertake. Most of the children who leave school at fourteen

years of age have not learned how to do any kind of work and

they take poorly paid jobs. By taking time to learn a skilled

trade they are able to earn more and get ahead further. Voca-

tional schools are, therefore, provided to train boys in various



18 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

lines of useful work such as carpentry, machine shop, electricity

and plumbing, and girls in home making, millinery and dress
making. Those who take the vocational courses find that after
they go to work they earn much larger wages and get on faster
than the boys and girls who do not study to be skilled workers.

Part Time Schools

It happens many times that boys and girls go to work to help

earn the living for the family, especially in cases where the

father is disabled or dead. They are unable to continue in

school to take the high school work or the vocational work al-

though they would be anxious to do so if they could. The

American people are so concerned about the good of all that

these children are not forgotten. Means are provided so that

each boy and girl may go back to the school for an hour or

two a day or a few hours a week to take up further studies in

whatever line they select. This plan gives a chance to everyone

to get a better education no matter in what condition of life he

may be. In nearly all of the large cities of the country and in

some of the smaller communities it is possible to attend such

schools without losing time from regular work. Those who can-

not go to these part time schools are given a chance to get fur-

ther education by mail. A great many of the colleges and some
other schools give courses by correspondence to those who can-

not attend in person. Many young men and women by studying

at home, evenings, have been able to help themselves very greatly.

Libraries

There is still another chance to get an education by those

who are unable to attend school. Every section of the country

.is within reach of libraries from which books may be drawn

for the study of any line of work or to read about any subject.

These libraries are free and anyone may borrow books from

them. It is possible for anyone to educate himself by reading

well selected books. Many of the greatest men which the country

ever had, including Abraham Lincoln,, were educated in this way.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 19

CHAPTER V,

HEAL,TH

One of the best possessions a man can have is good health.

Everyone should be very careful of his health, because most

men depend upon their daily work for a living and they must

have health to be able to work.

In many ways a man may take care of his own health and

keep well. He cannot protect himself against some diseases by

his own efforts. He must, therefore, join with his fellows to

prevent sickness and the spread of disease. If a man eats or

drinks too much, it is his own fault if he becomes sick, it is not

usually his own fault when he gets smallpox or influenza from

someone else. -

Since health is so valuable to everyone and it is difficult to

protect one’s health, the people act through their government to

improve and protect the health of all and prevent diseases from

spreading.

A man who has some contagious disease may think he has
the right to go on the street. It is plain, however, that it is not

fair to others to expose them to disease. Laws and rules are

made by the people to protect all against the selfishness of one

man who would spread disease. It is right that a man who has

a disease which may spread should be kept away from others.

He is, therefore, quarantined. By quarantine we mean that the

health officers place a notice on the house and compel the per-

son to stay at home until he can no longer give the disease to

others. It is hardship upon the man who is sick to be quaran-

tined, but it is better that he should suffer than that many others

should be exposed to the disease.

There is also great danger to health in cities on account of



20 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

dirt and filth. One person might be so unfair as to refuse to

clean up his yard or remove his garbage. No matter how careful

all the rest might be, there would be danger of disease from this

one man’s neglect. In order to protect others, each person is

required to remove those things which would be dangerous to

health, because some would neglect to do such things. People

provide for the removal of filth, garbage and sewage so as to

make health conditions better for all.

Water Supply

Another danger to health is the water supply in cities and

also to some extent in the country. Water in the country is

generally gotten from wells and if wells are deep enough, the

water is pure. There are also some wells in the cities, but the

danger from wells is generally too great in a city unless they

are very deep, so the city people provide for water works and

bring pure water from sources outside the city. They also pro-

vide for examination of water from day to day to make sure

that there are no disease germs in it. The water supply of a

city can be made, safe for use and it is a matter of great neglect

on the part of the people if disease is spread through the water

supply. There is always danger in using water from any source

except the regular supply. When there is a fear of disease germs

in water, it should be boiled.

Milk and Food Supply

Milk is the most important food, especially for babies and

children. The country village gets milk from the farms nearby

•and there is very little danger of disease being carried in it. The

milk supply of a city comes from long distances, from farms,

perhaps hundreds of miles away. Milk does not keep sweet for

a great length of time and care must be taken to protect it until

it is used for food. Many cases of serious diseases, such as

typhoid fever, are often traced to the milk supply which comes

from places where there is typhoid fever. A person cannot,

by himself, make sure that the milk supply is pure. Since it is

a matter which is for the benefit of all people, provision is made



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 21

by the people for the inspection of the milk and also of the

places from which it comes. It is much safer than if left to

chance. The lives of thousands of babies are saved every year

by the care which is given to the milk supply.

The same may be said of the food supply. One person can-

not make sure that the food which he buys in the city does not

contain the germs of disease. Drugs are sometimes used to pre-

serve foods and they may be harmful when eaten. Foods kept

in unhealthy places may spread disease. The only way to pro-

tect the people is to have regular inspectors who see that all

food is pure and that the places where it is kept are clean. The

people provide such inspection through their government.

Flies and Mosquitoes

In the early springtime many cities and villages make a

campaign to kill flies. This is done because it is found that the

fly carries disease germs from place to place and from person to

person. If they are killed in the spring, the breeding of flies is

stopped and there will not be so many when the warm weather

comes. Everyone should join in such campaigns because it is

for the benefit of all the people. If one person permits breeding

places for flies on his premises, he will thereby permit harm to

others.

In some sections of the country mosquitoes are also a means

of carrying disease. The danger from them becomes so serious

at times that campaigns are conducted to destroy their breeding

places. Oil is used in the swamps where mosquitoes breed. In

the warmer countries mosquitoes, which are carriers of disease,

prevent important work from being done. It was only by kill-

ing the mosquitoes that the great Panama Canal could be built.

The men died Irom malaria fever and yellow fever until the

mosquitoes were destroyed.

Drinking Cups and Common Towels

Another means by which disease is spread is the common

drinking cup or common towel. One person who has a con-



22 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

tagious disease will leave germs of the disease on towels, cups,

soap, etc. The next person who uses them may take the disease.

The cities and states have, therefore, in many cases, stopped the

use of common drinking cups and common towels because of this

danger of spreading disease.

Spitting in Public Places

One of the habits which many people have is that of spitting.

It is harmful when it is done in public places or where there

are other people. In cases where it does no harm, no one cares,

but when it is done on the sidewalk, in the street car, the work-

room or the store it is likely to carry disease from one person

to another. Many laws and rules are therefore passed by the

people in states and cities to prevent spitting on the sidewalks

and in public places. It is for the benefit of all people that this

be done.

Accidents

There are many accidents taking place every day on the .

streets and in the factories. Some of these accidents are due to

carelessness on somebody’s part. An accident causes loss to the

person who is injured because he loses his wages and because it

costs money for medical care. It also causes loss to the country

because every man’s labor is needed. Every person should,

therefore, be careful and join in helping all movements which

prevent accidents. Most of the states provide for insurance in

case of accidents in factories. It is far better for all that the

accident should be prevented rather than that it should be paid

for afterwards. A person may, by being careful, prevent many

accidents to himself. Unless all persons are careful, some are

likely to be injured through the fault of others. Everything that

can be done should be done to prevent accidents.

Health Laws Necessary

Eaws and rules compelling men to do certain things for the

sake of health sometimes seem to be severe. Men say often

that these laws and rules interfere with their liberty. This is



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 23

sometimes true. But when the liberty of one means danger to

many, it is only fair that the liberty of the one should be taken

away in this respect for the safety of all the rest. Only in that

way can all the people be safe from those few careless and un-

fair persons who think about nothing except themselves and who

never care about the welfare of others.



24 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

CHAPTER VI.

MAKING LAWS

Kaws are rules which govern people in their relations to each

other. JThe object of laws is to keep people from doing things

which interfere with the rights of others. Even a small group

of people must have laws or rules so that they may know how

to do the work they are doing. A school could not be run with-
out rules. People would not be safe upon the streets or on the

roads if it were not for rules or laws. For example : People

must drive on the right upon the roads and streets. If it were

not for this rule and people should drive wherever they pleased,

there would be constant collisions.

It is necessary in the work of thousands and millions of

people to have a large number of laws and rules to keep things

going right. Whenever a new law or rule is needed the people

make it themselves. Whenever a law or rule is not needed or

is found to be bad, it is repealed. We have in this country those

rules and laws which a majority of the people think best and

which they have made in the proper way.

There are so many laws and rules to be made that the people

cannot do it entirely by themselves. It would take all of their

time. Moreover, it would be impossible for thousands or mil-

lions of people in a state to get together to make laws. Instead

of coming together for this purpose, the people choose men who

are called representatives. A man is elected to represent, say

10,000 people. He meets with the representatives of other ten

thousands and together they are the law-making body. It

amounts to the same thing whether people meet by their repre-

sentatives of by themselves.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 25

City Laws

People live very closely together in the cities and frequently

there are crowds upon the streets. Many automobiles, wagons

and carriages are being driven over the streets. It would not

be safe for anyone if there were no laws to regulate traffic in

the city.

There is also danger from conditions which cause disease.

It is so easy to spread disease in the city that laws are necessary

to prevent it. There is also such great danger of fires that

special rules and laws must be passed to remove the dangers as

much as possible. The people in the city make their own laws

on those subjects which concern the residents of the city. City

laws are generally called ordinances.

The laws are made, by the City Council or the City Com-

mission. This is a body of men elected by the people for the

purpose of managing the affairs of the people of the city. In

many cities the Council or Commission does not have the entire

control of making laws because the people have the right if they

demand it to vote whether the laws shall go into effect or not.

This is called the “referendum.” If a majority of the persons

voting are against the law, it does not take effect. Also the

people may decide that they want a law upon a certain subject

in spite of the Council or Commission. They may present the

law to a vote under what is known as the “initiative.” If a

majority of the voters who vote upon it are in favor, then it

becomes a law. The laws when passed by any of these, three

ways govern all persons in the city and remain laws until they

are changed or repealed by the people themselves or by the

Council or Commission acting for the people.

State Laws

The country is divided into states which take care of the

affairs of the people within their boundaries. There are forty-

eight states in the United States at this time. vLach state looks

after its own affairs and makes its own laws. The laws are



^6 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

made by state legislatures which consist of two separate bodies

of persons who have been elected by the people for the purpose

of representing them in the making of laws. One body is called

the Senate, and the other the House of Representatives or the

Assembly. The state governor must approve a law before it

takes effect. If he disapproves the law he may veto it and in

that event, it cannot become law unless passed again by both

houses usually by a two-thirds vote. The state laws are the most

important of any because the matters which concern us most

come under the control of the state. All the laws relating to

roads, education, police protection, and property rights are passed

by the state legislatures.

Whenever a law is needed it is drawn up and discussed at

the meeting of the State Legislature and if it is favored by a

majority of the members of the Senate and House of Repre-

sentatives and is approved by the Governor, it becomes a law.

Whenever a law has not worked well or a majority does not

favor it, the Legislature may do away with it or repeal it, in the

same way that it was passed. In nearly half of the states the

people may require that a proposed law which has been passed

by the Legislature shall be submitted to a vote of the people

under the referendum. If a majority vote against it, it does not

become a law. Likewise, the people may pass laws by the initia-

tive, whereby the proposed law is drawn up and submitted di-

rectly to the people. If a majority favor it, it becomes a law.

Federal Laws

We have seen that cities pass laws on matters which are their

own concern and that states pass laws on matters which are of

concern to the whole state. We have still another law-making

power which passes laws for the whole country on subjects

which concern the whole country.

The Congress of the United States has power to pass laws

which relate to matters in which all of the states are interested.

The laws of the United States are made by Congress in the same

way as those of the city and state. The members of Congress



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 27

are elected by the people as their representatives, to meet and

make whatever laws are necessary for the country.

There are two houses in the Congress, the Senate and the

House of Representatives. There are ninety-six senators and

four hundred and thirty-five members of the House. Two sen-

ators come from each state while each member of the House

is the representative of about 230,000 people. Each state has

one member, however, no matter how small the state may be.

Whenever any law is needed the Congress may pass it. When-

ever any law which has been passed is not favored, the Congress

may repeal it. Every law must be passed by the Senate and the

House. It must then be approved by the President of the United

States before it can become a law. If the President does not

approve, it may become a law if the Senate and House pass it

again by a two-thirds vote.

The people of the United States do not have the right to

vote through the referendum on national laws, nor to make laws

through the initiative as they do in some states and cities.

The fact that should be understood in law-making by the

city, the state or the nation, is that the people make the laws

themselves, either directly or by means of their representatives

who are chosen to speak for them. Thus a man who is elected

to the Congress of the United States speaks for 211,000 people

as their representative. It should be clear also that when laws

are passed they are the voice of a majority of the people. One

man or a few men may not like them, but if the majority want

the laws and the laws are just, then the few who do not like

them must give way^fo the majority.

In other words, the rights and interests of a few men cannot

stand in the way of the desire of the majority. But even a ma-

jority may not pass laws in cases of rights like those of free

speech, freedom of religion and freedom from search, trial by

jury, and freedom from false imprisonment or imprisonment

from debt. These rights are inalienable and are guaranteed by

the Constitution.



28 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

Another point that should be remembered is that laws and

rules are made to bring about fair play. Mistakes are sometimes

made which need to be corrected, but the mistakes are really the

election of men who do not know what is best, or who are not

honest and fair representatives.



The; Fundamentals of Citizenship 29

CHAPTER VII.

CARRYING ON THE PEOPLE’S WORK

We have seen that the people, either by themselves or through

their representatives, in the city councils, the state legislatures,

and in the National Congress decide what they shall do for their

common benefit and protection. After the laws are made which

decide what is to be done, the next problem is the carrying on of

the work. Who shall manage the work which it has been decided

shall be done? The people, of course, cannot by themselves get

together to do all of the work which must be done. The people

have their own work to perform. They have their farms, shops,

stores and professions to manage, and their labor to do. They

cannot give a large amount of time to the common work even if

it be possible for them to come together to do so.

In some parts of the country people are still called upon to

turn out and build and repair roads. But in almost all of their

public work the people select representatives to carry out what

they have decided to do. There must be many such representa-

tives because there is a great amount of work to be done. There

are the schools, hospitals, police departments, fire departments,

armies and navies, water works, roads and streets, postoffices and

numerous other things to be conducted and managed.

About two persons in every hundred in the United States

are engaged in doing the people’s work. The department of the

government which carries on the people’s work is called the

Executive Department. The people elect the chief executive,

who in the city is called the mayor
;
in the state is called the

governor, and in the nation, the president. They also elect some

other officers. The people elect these men and then expect them



30 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

to carry out their wishes in executing the laws for the common

benefit of all.

The people cannot elect every person who is to do the work.

Even that would take all of their time. They elect a few men

and leave to them the selection of their assistants and workers.

It is always easier to select one man and make him responsible

for the work which he manages, than to elect a number of

people who are not under the control of some one person.

The United States

In the United States government there are only two officers

besides the senators and representatives who are elected by the

people, the president and vice-president. The president when

elected appoints the chiefs of the departments and they in turn

select their assistants. The persons who do the public work of

the United States are selected by civil service examinations and

remain in service as long as they are capable. The president or

his assistants do not appoint new workers for work except when

there is a vacant place. The president may remove any person

in the public service. It is possible to say to the president that

he is responsible if he keeps men who are unfitted to do the work

which needs to be done. It is possible also to praise the president

when things are done right because he is responsible for the ap-

pointment of the men who are at the head of affairs.

The vice-president, who is elected at the same time as the

president, does not have many duties to perform. He is the

president of the Senate and presides as Chairman at the sessions.

He is elected principally to become the president of the United

States in case the president should die, resign or be unable to

perform his duties.

The States

In the states the people elect a governor and several other

officers. The management of affairs is divided to some extent

between the governor and these other officers. This makes it

harder to blame anyone when things do not go right, or to praise



The: Fundamentals op Citizenship 31

anyone when things do go right. It is harder to decide who

is to be blamed or praised when there are several men than when

one is in complete charge. The governor appoints a number of

assistants who have charge of important work. He does not

have entire control of the management of state affairs in the

way the president has in national affairs.

The; City

In the cities, the people elect a mayor and usually some other

officers, such as the city clerk. In many cities, the mayor is

given complete management of the city’s affairs so that people

can fix the blame on him if things are not done right. In a great

many cities the people elect three or five men as a commission

who take the place of the mayor, and who are given charge of

the entire city’s affairs. In a number of cities the commission

which is elected by the people selects a business manager who

runs the affairs of the city just the same as the head of a store

or a plant runs the business.

Counties and Townships

There are many local matters which people attend to in the

townships or in the counties by the election of men who look

after such work. The people elect sheriffs who enforce the

law and have charge of the jail; overseers of the poor, who

help those who have no means of support
;
road supervisors, who

look after the building and repairing of roads; school commis-

sioners, who have charge of the schools, and many other local

officials.

Removing Officers

In most cases when a man is elected by the people as their

representative, he holds the office for a certain number of years.

Usually the term is from one to four years. When the end of

an officer’s term comes, the people may re-elect him if he has

done good service, or defeat him if he has not. It isn’t necessary

that all citizens should know whether a man has done good work



32 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

in order that they may reward the people who do good service,

and turn out those who do not.

In a number of cities and states, a plan of discharging « officers

has been put in use. This plan is named the recall. Under this

plan if a man does not give good service, a number of people, by

signing a petition, may demand that he be removed. An election

must then be held to decide whether the man is going to keep his

office or give it up. Any business man may be discharged by his

employer when he does not do good work, and the recall applies

the same idea to the public officers. In general, however, men

are not removed by the recall except for very serious causes.

About the only way public servants are removed is to turn them

out at the regular election when the end of their term comes.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 33

CHAPTER VIII.

THE COURTS AND THEIR WORK

Courts are maintained for the purpose of settling disputes

between persons over personal or property rights. Their duty

is to see that justice is done between man and man. They try

cases of persons who are charged with breaking the laws, and

fix the punishment of those who are found guilty. Nearly every

person has need at some time or other to use the courts for one

reason or another.

If a dispute arises between two oersons over the ownership

of property, which they cannot settle Dy themselves, the courts

are called upon to decide which is right. If one man does harm

to another, he may be sued in court for damages and the court

will decide the matter. When a man dies and leaves property,

the court looks after the fair distribution among the heirs. These

are simple examples of the wav in which men use the courts to

secure their rights.

Then there is the other side of courts, the criminal side, which

deals with persons who are charged with breaking the laws. It

is plain to everyone that when laws are made they must be

obeyed or else they are useless. Even the simplest rules of the

home or the school, when not obeyed, are of no value. The

courts are called upon to decide the question whether a man

who is charged with breaking a law really did break it. If he

did break the law the court fixes the punishment which he ought

to suffer.

There are many types of courts because there are many dis-

putes growing out of three sets of law : The city laws, the

state laws, and the nations laws.



34 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

Justice of the Peace

The simplest court of all is the justice of the peace court,

where disputes over small amounts of property, or where the

claims for small debts are brought The justice of the peace is

usually elected by the people as the people’s representative in

settling these small cases. When one man sues another

man, he makes the complaint to the justice of the peace court.

The constable or other officer serves complaint on the person

against whom it is made. That person is then required to ap-

pear before the justice at a certain time and have the case heard.

Persons charged with the lesser crimes are also brought before

the justice of the peace. Such cases are tried before him. The

justice is allowed to decide some matters himself, but usually in

cases of disputes over property or claims, a jury may be de-

manded. Nearly always in the case of a person charged with

a crime, a jury is demanded to try the case. A person who
loses in a trial in the justice of the peace court may take his

case to a higher court.

The City Court

In the cities most of the cases in which men are charged

with crimes are brought before the city court rather than the

justice of the peace court. The city court tries cases of persons

who are charged with breaking the city laws, and also those who

are charged with the lesser crimes, such as drunkenness, and as-

sault. In most of the cases in the city court, the city judge de-

cides. Any person who does not feel that justice has been done

him may appeal to the higher courts.

The County Court

The county court, or as it is called in some states, the circuit

court or district court, is the next higher court. Its purpose is

to try the more important cases which do not come before the

justice of the peace court or the city court. In most places the

court tries cases between persons over property, and also tries

persons who are charged with breaking the laws. In many of



The; Fundamentals oe Citizenship 35

the larger cities a separate criminal court is provided which

handles all of the cases in which persons are charged with

breaking the laws. A person begins a suit in the county court
against another person in the same way that he does in the

justice of the peace court. A complaint is made and the person
complained of is summoned by the officers of the court. On a

certain day he must appear, and on a day which is fixed, the

case is tried. The judge of this court may decide the case un-

less one of the parties demands that it be decided by a jury.

The Criminal Court

A person who is charged with crime is first arrested and
brought into court. A day is fixed for a hearing and in most
cases the man may be let out on bail until the time of trial. In

the trial the man who is charged with crime usually demands a

jury to decide whether or not he is guilty. The judge acts as

the umpire to see that the facts are brought out fairly on both

sides. If a man is found guilty, the judge fixes the sentence.

Any person who has had his case tried in the court and who

has lost, may appeal to the higher state courts on the ground that

he did not have a fair trial. In matters of this kind the people

have been very careful to see that everyone can get justice by

appealing to higher courts. These courts go over the facts in

the case and decide whether a fair trial has been had. A case

may be taken to the highest court in the state, which is in most

cases called the Supreme Court. In some cases it may go still

higher to the Supreme Court of the United States.

All of this court process costs money and a man is unwise

to begin suit unless he knows that he has a fair chance of win-

ning. All persons against whom complaint is made should at-

tempt to settle the matter outside of court, unless they feel sure

that they are right.

Some courts may make mistakes. Juries may also make mis-

takes. But when the chance is given to have judges go over the

whole case on appeal, it is reasonably sure that justice will be

done to all persons.



36 The: Fundamentals oe Citizenship

The United States Courts

The last type of court to be discussed is the United States

Courts. We have seen that some matters are city matters; some

matters are state matters, and some matters are national matters.

Whenever any person violates the laws of the United States he

is charged with the crime in the United States courts and is tried

in these courts. The court which tries him is the district court.

If he is found guilty he may appeal to the next higher court, the

circuit court of appeals and to the Supreme Court of the United

States.

The federal courts have charge of all cases of importance

between citizens of different states or in settling disputes between

two states and in a few other matters. The way of beginning

suit is the same as in the state courts. The complaint is made

and the person is summoned to answer to the complaint in the

trial. The case may be decided by the judge or by a jury.

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court

in the land. It consists of nine judges who are appointed by

the President for life. The court is held in Washington. This

court does not try cases. It goes over the cases which are tried

in the lower courts to see that justice has been done. Cases may

be appealed from the federal courts to this court, and also some

kinds of cases may be appealed from the state courts.

Trial by Jury

One of the rights which people hold very dear is the right

of trial by jury. It has been believed for many centuries in

English speaking countries and some others, and always in

America, that a man would be more secure from injustice if

his cases were decided by a jury of his fellow-men. We have

always had in this country the right of trial by jury. A jury

consists of twelve persons, but in the justice of the peace courts

in some states, a jury of six is allowed. The jury decides the

facts of the case and in criminal cases determines whether a



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 37

person charged with a crime is guilty or not. When a jury has

decided a case it is usually final unless appealed. In all cases of

persons who are charged with serious crimes such as murder,

when a jury has set a man free he never may be charged with

that same crime again.

The people have considered the right of trial by jury so im-

portant that they have fixed in the Constitution of the United

States the provision that “the accused shall enjoy the right to a

speedy and public trial by an impartial jury of the state and dis-

trict wherein the crime shall have been committed,” and further

that in suits between man and man, where the value of property

in question exceeds $20.00 “the right of trial by jury shall be

preserved.” The provisions apply to the courts of the United

States. Every state in the Union has a similar provision in its

constitution which makes certain that trtial by jury may be had

in all state and local courts also.



38 The; Fundamentals oe Citizenship

CHAPTER IX.

DEALINGS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES

The people of America carry on trade with every country in

the world. They sell goods to the people of all countries and

the people of all other countries sell goods to them. We would
not be able to have many of the very simple things upon which

we live if we did not exchange goods with many countries. The

people in this country also travel in all the countries of the

world, and the citizens of all countries come to America from

time to time. Some of this travel is for the purpose of seeing

the country, some of it is to get education, some to find work and

some to get trade. People of each country are in other countries

at all times for one purpose or another.

It is necessary if we are to be fair with the people of all

countries that the citizens of any country shall be protected when

they are traveling in our country, and that our citizens shall be

protected when traveling in other countries. It is necessary that

all countries should play fair with their neighbors. Nations as

well as individuals depend upon each other for many of the

things upon which they live. Fair dealing among nations is just

as important as fair dealing among people.

It has not always been the case that fair dealing was found

among nations. Many times wars have been brought on because

of unfair dealings. Sometimes disputes have arisen which have

almost resulted in war. Citizens of one country have been

thrown into prison unjustly, or have had their property or their

lives taken without cause and without a fair trial.

The principal reason why there is unfairness between peoples

of different countries often arises from the fact that we do not

know each other well enough. Sometimes those whom we do not



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 39

know we do not trust. As people of one country meet the people

of other countries and learn that all desire fair play, the quarrels

which have been frequent soon disappear.

Ambassadors and Ministers

It is always necessary for each country to have its representa-

tive in other countries to look after the interests of its own

citizens and to act as its agent in presenting matters to foreign

governments. We have ambassadors and ministers in the capitals
of all of the countries of the world. All of the countries have

their ambassadors and ministers at Washington. These men are

friendly visitors who settle many of the differences which arise

between the people of their own country and of our country.

Consuls and Agents

We have also our representatives, not only at the capitals of

the countries of the world, but also in the leading cities. These

men help our own people in settling any differences which may

arise in their daily life or trade in a foreign country. The other

countries have their representatives in our leadnig cities for the

same purpose. These representatives are called consuls. The

citizens of any other country who are in a foreign country and

desire information or help of any sort apply to the consul of

their own country, whose duty it is to help them. By having

these representatives at the capitals and the leading cities, it is

possible to learn the facts in any case and thus to prevent quarrels

from arising. Consuls and agents also furnish information about

markets for goods to the manufacturers and merchants of their

own lands.

Nations can settle their differences by understanding each

other just as persons can settle their quarrels by understanding

each other. Many questions are likely to come up between the

people of different countries which might lead to trouble Sys-

tems of courts for the purpose of deciding such questions be-

tween countries have been set up. These courts are called

Arbitration Courts. Two countries agree to submit their quarrels



40 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

to an Arbitration Court, which they create. The court hears

the case and decides which country is right. We have settled

most of our troubles with other countries in this way and we

hope that all questions may be settled this way rather than by

going to war. It would be well for persons to consider the

settlement of their own quarrels in the same way rather than

to go into expensive actions in court.

, Immigration and Naturalization

Some people in one country may desire to go to another coun-

try to stay and to become citizens of that country. Many millions

of people have come to America from the countries of Europe

to stay and become citizens. America has always kept the door

open for people to come and has made it possible for other

people to become citizens of this country. All that is asked

of those who become citizens is that they give up their citizenship

in the country from which they came and become Americans

first and last. The millions from other countries who have be-

come citizens of the United States have been glad to call them-

selves Americans, and many thousands of our soldiers are

naturalized citizens of the United States.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 41

CHAPTER X.

MILITARY SERVICE

Every citizen of America is expected to do his part in any-

thing that concerns the safety and welfare of the people of this

country. He is expected to understand public questions and to

vote at all elections when the makers of the laws and the man-

agers of the people’s business are elected. He is expected also

to serve his country in time of need, even to the extent of giving

his life or his property for the safety of the country. If all other

honorable means fail and the country is compelled to go to war

with another country, it is the duty of every citizen to take part.

It is the right of citizens to compel each to do his duty.

American states declare in their constitutions that every able-

bodied man between the ages of 18 and 45 is subject to military

service in time of need. The national constitution does not say

anything about the subject, and therefore, when the American

people were forced to fight in the world war, the Congress of

the United States fixed the ages at 21 to 30, and afterwards ex-

tended it to the ages of 18 to 45.

In the earleir years of our history, the country depended upon

volunteers to fight in battles. We see now that many men who

ought to take their part will not volunteer. Other men who

ought for one reason or another to remain at home will enlist

through a sense of patriotism. There was a time when a person

could hire someone to take his place, or get out of going to war

by paying a sum of money. All this is changed now. It is un-

fair to permit anyone to escape his duty because he happens to

have money enough to get out. Instead of dependng upon vol-

unteers, Congress and the President decided at the opening of

the war to take the able-bodied men who could be most easily



42 The; Fundamentals of Citizenship

spared for war service. They did not permit anyone to escape

except for a good cause. Everyone was treated alike.

It is the aim of this country, however, that there shall be as

little need as possible for forcing men to go into armies. We are
a peaceful country and desire to remain at peace with all nations.

We do not keep an army larger than is necessary for our pro-
tection. We are very careful to see that the army is not placed
in a position to control the citizens of the country.

One of the things which the people of America have feared

from the very beginning was the interference by the army with

their affairs. At the time of the American Revolution it was

common in Europe to find the people compelled to obey the army

and its generals. Armies destroyed the governments of countries

and set up new ones for their own purposes.

Americans believed then and believe now that the army is for

the purpose of defence and that it should never be allowed to

run the affairs of the country. The Declaration of Independence

declared that one of the reasons why the colonies demanded in-

dependence was that the King of England had tried to make the

army independent of the people. They said he had “kept among

us in times of peace standing armies without the consent of our

legislature.”

Another evil which was feared was that the citizens without

their consent would be compelled to feed and keep soldiers in

their homes. This had been common in many countries. To

protect themselves against anything of this sort, the United States

Constitution declares that no soldier should in time of peace

be kept in any person's house without that person’s consent.

It had been common also for armies in other countries to

compel the people to tax themselves for the support of the army.

There has always been a just fear in this country of any power

outside of themselves compelling the people to pay taxes. It was

provided, therefore, in the Constitution of the United States that

no appropriation for the army should be made by Congress for



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 43

more than two years at a time. In this way it is made necessary

to vote money every two years, or else the army would have no

means of support. The people can control the army by refusing

to vote the money.

In ordinary times the army of the United States is very small,

but it may be rapidly increased to large size as was shown by

the creation of an army of 4,000,000 men for the war in Europe.

The people generally believe that a small army is sufficient be-

cause it can be readily increased in time of need. Being far

away from any nation which could attack us, there is less need

for a large army than if we were near some unfriendly military

power. The American army is an army of defence and not an

army which goes out to take territory from other countries.

It is the belief of many people that by the growth of better

understanding between the people of different countries and by

the organization of a League of Nations, the quarrels which

arise between nations can be settled, and that it may not be

necessar) to go to war for any purpose in the future. The

American people, while hoping that wars may be ended, are wise

enough to see that they must be prepared for their own defence.



44 The: Fundamentals of Citizenship

CHAPTER XI.

PREVENTING frauds

One of the principal objects which people desire to accom-

plish in the management of their affairs is the prevention of

fraud by one person upon others or by one group of persons

upon another group of persons. Most men and women desire

to be fair because it is the best policy. They see that if unfair-

ness is permitted toward anyone they too may suffer. There

are many people, however, who try to take advantage of others

by fraud, or by clever tricks, to get things which do not belong

to them and to keep others from having the things which are

theirs. Eaws and rules are passed to punish fraud and unfair

dealing. There are so many ways in which fraud may be carried

on that it often happens, in spite of the law, that some fraud

exists.

Of course, if a man steals outright, or if he does harm to any-

one, he is punished. It is always difficult to find a way to punish

a man when he steals from another, by means of unfair dealing.

Weights and Measures

One of the common ways of frauds is to give short weights

and measures in the sale of goods. The scales used for weigh-

ing are fixed so that while they appear to give a pound, they

actually give less than a pound. The purchaser is charged for a

full pound. Measures are sometimes made so that they seem

to hold a quart or a peck when they actually hold less than a

quart or a peck. This is only a form of stealing and it is so

difficult to prevent that in the states and cities laws have been

passed creating Departments of Weights and Measures, whose

duties are to test all weights and measures to see that they are



The: Fundamentals of Citizenship 45

correct. If a man uses short weights or short measures, their

duty is to arrest and punish him.

There are other kinds of short measures which people do not

always think of but which are really forms of stealing. If a

man is hired for a day’s work and shirks on the job, he is steal-

ing from his employer. If an employer overworks his men, or

• pays less than they are worth, he is really stealing from them.

There is need for a policy of fairness among employers and em-

ployees in this respect.

There is also fraud in selling goods which are not so good

as they are said to be. There are many imitatoins which only

an expert can see. There are some cheap materials which

are used in place of good material, such as imitation silks, gold

and silver. Old rubber is sometimes used in the manufacture

of rubber boots. Such unfair things as these are another means

of stealing. A man who pays $1.00 for something that is sup-
posed to be worth $1.00 but who finds that by fraud the quality

is not good and the article is worth only 50 cents, is robbed of

50 cents.

Many laws and rules have been passed on these subjects and

it is believed that conditions are better than they were.

Fraudulent Banking

The banking business has grown up in this country as a great

service to the people. A bank is a place where people may leave
their money and have it protected. While it is protected it is

earning interest. It is also providing the means by which the

business of the community is run. Good banking benefits both

the man who deposits money and the whole community. Good

banking is also safe because it is constantly looked after by the

government.

''There are some wicked persons who use the good name of

banking to give them a chance to steal from the people. They

do this by getting the people to deposit their money with them

and then using the money for their own purpose. Sometimes

such men escape the careful watching of the people’s representa-



46 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

tives and steal large sums from those who deposit money with

them. Taws are passed which punish men who steal and there are

many who are now in prison. While the law punishes such men,

people should be careful to select good banks for the deposit

of their money. The people provide their own postal savings

bank through the post office in which anyone may safely deposit

his money. There are plenty of other good banks also, and if

there is any doubt in any person’s mind about the matter he

should have the advice of some good business man.

Blue Sky Frauds

Another kind of fraud is found in the sale of fake stocks and

bonds, and of lands, which do not exist, or which are under

water or otherwise useless. These are usually called “blue sky”

frauds because it is like selling a place in the blue sky. Generally

these are plain cases of stealing. The men who sell the stocks

and bonds and lands know they have no value and yet take the

money of innocent people and give nothing. There are cases of

such sales by men who did not know that they were worthless.

They were poor business men and did not use common sense in

their plans. Sometimes also the men may have been honest in

their ideas, but have failed in carrying them out. The investors

lose the money.

There are laws to protect people in these matters but clever

men are sometimes able to get around the law. All people should

be warned against investing money in anything which they do

not know about, or upon which they have not had good business

advice.

Employment

Men are sometimes cheated also by others who pretend that

they can get jobs for them upon the payment of a part of their

wages each week. They sometimes pretend that they can have

a man discharged unless he pays money. No man needs to pay

anything for the right to work. All such cases should be re-

ported to the employer or to the public authorities.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 47

There are many other ways in which people are cheated, such

as selling fake steamship and railroad tickets, or charging more

than the price. The examples given show enough of the ways

in which it is done. The object which everyone should seek is

to make it impossible for men to succeed at such frauds and

to punish them for this kind of stealing, just the same as any

person should be punished if he took the same number of dol-

lars directly out of a man’s pocket. Because it is so difficult

to do this it is well that people be very careful, and make sure

that they deal with honest men.



48 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

CHAPTER XII.

INSURANCE

There are certain dangers which men face all the time and

which cause them to worry. When that which is feared happens,

it brings suffering to themselves and their families. The worst

of these worries is the fear that by sickness or accident they

may not be able to earn a living, the fear of becoming old with-

out means of support, and the fear of not being able to get work.

Some of these worries may be made lighter by insurance, which

is a means of bearing each other’s burdens. Each pays some-

thing into a fund, and those who happen to suffer from these

causes are helped in their troubles by payments out of the fund.

Accident and Insurance

In nearly all of the states, a plan of insurance against acci-

dents is in force, under which the worker receives a part of his

wages while he is disabled. A part or all of the cost of the
doctor or hospital bills is also paid. This insurance covers acci-

dents which take place while the person is employed. It does not

cover accidents at other times. When one is injured while em-

ployed, all that is needed to collect the insurance is to have the

proper papers made out by the doctor or by the employer. There

is no cost to the workman and no fee should be paid anyone to

collect the amount. A worker should know whether he is in-

sured and the conditions which govern the insurance.

In most of the states, the payment of insurance in case of

death is made to the man’s family, even though the family is in

another country. Every person should know his rights in this

matter and should know the law of the state in which he is

working on this subject



rhe Fundamentals of Citizenship 49

In the state where there is no system of accident insurance,

the worker may collect damages from his employer in certain

cases of accident suffered through the employer’s fault while

he is employed. An employer will usually pay the damages if

he is at fault. It is necessary to take legal steps to collect the

damages, the greatest care should be taken by the worker to get

a capable and honest lawyer to handle the case. He should be

careful not to sign any papers in connection with his accident

unless he understands fully their meaning, but should get good

advice in the matter.

Health Insurance

There is no system of health insurance conducted by any

of the states of this country under which the worker would re-

ceive part of his wages and the cost of medical care when sick

as in European countries. Some of the states are studying the

question of establishing state systems of health insurance. At

present the worker may carry health insurance in a fraternal or

friendly order. The sick pay is usually $5.00 to $7.00 a week

in these orders, and some give a little medical care. The worker

pays a small amount each week or month for this protection in

case of sickness.

The workers in some industries may insure in mutual societies

composed of their fellow workers in a shop. Each pays a small

sum per month and receives from the fund, made up from these

monthly payments, a part of his wages when he is sick. Work-

ers who belong to trade unions also have in many unions a chance

to insure in their own benefit fund for $5.00 to $7.00 a week

during sickness. This is one of the many advantages of join-

ing a labor union.

The loss from sickness is so great to a man who happens to

be sick that everyone should insure himself and his family so

that they may have enough for the needs of life while the sick-

ness lasts.



50 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

Fife Insurance

Every man should be certain of leaving enough money when

he dies to pay for sickness and burial, and to leave some sup-

port for his wife and children. The best way to do this at

present is by means of life insurance which may be carried in

fraternal societies, or insurance companies. By the payment of

a small sum regularly, a certain sum is made payable at death.

There are plans of insurance also by which a certain amount is

paid to the widow or children every month for a certain length

of time.

Unemployment

Some of the labor unions insure their own members against

lack of employment. When a man cannot get a job at his trade,

the union pays a small sum each week to him until he finds work.

Each member of the unoin pays something regularly to make up

the fund from which this insurance is paid. This is another

important advantage of joining a union. There is no plan for

such insurance by the government. The government, however,

does try to find work for people by means of public employment

agencies.

Old Age Insurance

When a man grows old and cannot work any longer he needs

something to depend upon for support. He may have saved some

money, and he may have children to support him. He is still

better off if he has a certain amount of money payable to him

every month as long as he lives. If he has that he need not

worry in his old age. There is no old age insurance or pension

system in force in America as there is in many of the countries

of Europe, but plans are being considered in several states for

such pensions. Some of the labor unions give their members an

old age pension from funds which all provide by regular pay-

ments. A few industries pay a pension to their old employees

;

policemen, firemen, teachers and soldiers usually receive a

pension from the public treasury when they are old or disabled.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 51

CHAPTER XIII.

TAXATION

It takes a large amount of money to do all of the things

which the people provide for their own use and for their pro-

tection. The cost of roads and streets, education, health pro-

tection, police and fire protection, the army and navy, hospitals

and asylums, is very heavy and the money must come from some

source. This work is all done by the people for their own bene-

fit. The cost should be borne by them. There is no one else to

pay the bills except the people themselves. No one else should

pay the bills because it is the people’s duty to do so. How is the

money to be raised to meet all the needs which we have ? Clearly,

it should be raised in such a way that every person will pay his

fair share.

Poll Tax

In nearly all parts of the country a special tax is placed upon

every man over a certain age, usually twenty-one years. This

tax is called a poll tax,—a head tax. It is usually a small tax.
As a matter of fact, only part of the people pay it. Almost

everywhere it is found that this tax does not work because it is

too hard to collect. In some states men must have paid their

poll tax before they can vote. The result often happens that peo-

ple do not vote rather than pay their tax. In some states the

tax is collected in the form of work. Each man is required to

work a certain length of time on the roads every year.

Property Tax

The tax which is most common is the general property tax.

This is a tax upon the amount of the property one possesses.

Those who have no property pay nothing directly, while those

who have a large amount pay accordingly. It should be clear,



52 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

however, that the property tax does not always come from the

man who pays it. If a man has ten thousand dollars worth of

houses and the taxes are raised he usually raises the rent to

make up the difference. If he owns a store and the rent is

raised, the storekeeper must raise the price of goods to pay the

extra rent. Really the tax upon property finally becomes a tax

upon those who use goods or rent property. The property tax

has also not worked well because people who have property that

they can hide, escape taxation. Those who have land and build-

ings cannot escape because they cannot hide their property.

Also men who have some kind of movable property take their

property out of the state where they live at tax time. The tax

officers are not able to find it.

Income Tax

Almost everyone believes .hat taxes should be paid by the

people according to their ability to pay. The ability to pay de-

pends upon the amount of income. A man who has no income
cannot pay any taxes. A man who has an income only large
enough to get a living, cannot pay any tax without taking from

him some of the means of life. As the income increases above

the amount which is necessary for living a man can afford to

pay more and more tax. The income tax, wherever it is used,

generally does not tax the small incomes. It exempts enough

for living expenses and then increases the tax as the income in-

creases. For example: A man getting less than one thousand
dollars a year is exempt; a man getting two thousand dollars a

year may be taxed twenty dollars. A man getting twenty-five

thousand dollars a year may be taxed two thousand five hundred

dollars. A man who receives a million dollars a year may be
taxed half or more of it. Almost everywhere the income tax is

coming into use because it is easier to make each person pay his

fair share of the cost by means of the income tax than the prop-

erty tax.

Inheritance Tax

Another form of tax is the inheritance tax by which a part



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 53

of the property that a man leaves when he dies is taken for pub-

lic use. This is also increased as the amount which a man leaves

increases. For example: When ten thousand dollars is left in

an estate, it may not be taxed at all. If twenty thousand dollars

is left, the tax may be fifty dollars; while if a million is left,

the tax may be half of it. There are many who believe that

large amounts of property should not be given at death but that

the tax should be high enough to take a large part of the large

fortunes for the benefit of all the people.

Special Tax

The taxes about which we have been speaking are paid di-

rectly. There is another kind of tax which is not paid directly

but which is added to the cost of goods used. There is a tax

on tobacco which the manufacturer or the dealer pays to the

government, and then, of course, adds the cost to the person

who uses tobacco. The man who uses tobacco pays the tax with-

out knowing it. Large taxes have also been collected on liquor.

During the war almost everything has been taxed in this way

to raise the large sums of money which were needed for com-

mon use in carrying on the war. People pay this kind of tax

without knowing it, but those who think about it believe that

they would rather pay the tax directly and know just how much

they are paying rather than to be paying without knowing the

amount.

There are many other ideas regarding taxation. Many plans

have been proposed for fairer systems of taxation, to the end

that all persons may bear their fair share of the burden. One of

the best known plans is called the single tax, which would place

all the tax on land but would not tax buildings and improvements.

Under this tax all increases in land value would be taken as a

tax because it is not the owner who makes the land increase

in value, but all of the people who live in the community and make

it prosper.



54 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

Bonds

Sometimes it is a good policy for the people to borrow money

rather than to try to colect everything at once by taxation.

When some large work is to be done, it is fair that the future

generations shall pay some part of the cost of the work by which

they are also going to benefit. Besides that, large sums of money

needed for large public works cannot always be raised at one

time without putting too much cost upon the people. When

money is borrowed by the people through their government, it

is usually borrowed upon the people’s notes which are called

bonds. A bond is a promise on the part of the people to pay
a certain sum of money at a certain time. It is not different from

a man’s note by which a man promises to pay a certain sum of

money at a certain time. To pay the expenses of the war, the

people of the United States gave bonds to the amount of many

billions of dollars. The ones who buy these bonds receive in-

terest on the money loaned, and in a certain length of time are

paid back the money which they loaned. Such bonds are the

best investment in the world.

While it is a good policy to borrow money for the use of

the people, it is not wise to borrow too much, nor to borrow for

things which are not needed. The country should act in this

matter just the same as a wise person would act, and borrow

only for the things which are very important. The people will

always provide for the payment of the interest and the principal

of their bonds right on the date when they are due. It is good

business to do so.

Conclusion

We sometimes think that the amount of money which is

raised in taxation and by the sale of bonds is increasing too fast,

and that we are compelled to pay too much money to support

the government. Of course, if the people do more things for

themselves it is going to cost more money. The one question

which should be asked is whether or not the things that are

being done are such as the people approve. All people approve



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 55

good roads and streets and are willing to pay the cost of making

them just as good as possible. All people approve of education,

health, protection, police and fire protection, libraries, armies and

navies for defence, parks and playgrounds, and many other

things. If we approve these things, as we do, we must be will-

ing to pay the cost for the benefits which they give us. The

benefits are far greater than the cost in all of these matters.



56 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

CHAPTER XIV.

THE CITIZEN’S PART

It has been the aim of this book to show some of the most

important things which people do for themselves in America

through their government and to point out the duty of each

man and woman as a citizen to help do the work and bear the

cost. There is not a single thing that is done by the government

from which nearly all the people do not profit. Men and women

should be ashamed to receive these benefits without doing their

share of the work.

The first duty of every citizen is to vote at every election.

He has no right to shirk this simple duty. He should not share

in the benefits of the government if he is not willing and anxious

to do the simple task oi helping co elect the men who are to act

as his agents in conducting the public affairs. No one has a right

to complain about how things are done if he fails to vote. It

is not fair play to the rest of the people when any man does not

help to do the work which benefits all.

In the second place every citizen should study public ques-

ions enough to vote wisely, and he should take the time above

all things to learn about the men who are to be voted for as

public officers. He should know whether these men are capable

of doing the work which the office requires. He should know

whether they are honestly trying to be faithful representatives

of the people. He should follow only those leaders who are

true to the people’s interests. It is important to him, for the

people’s interests are his own interests also. Every citizen should

study public questions and know about public men in order to

be able to praise and support those who do good work, and to

blame and condemn those who do not do good work. It helps



The: Fundamentals of Citizenship 57

to get good government to praise men who do good work, it

helps to prevent bad government to condemn people who do not

do faithful work.

Another duty which citizens have is that of holding office

whenever they believe that they can be of good service in

handling the public affairs. Most men are busy with their own

duties and many men do not like to give up their own work to

serve the public. When a man is able to be of special value in

doing public work, it is his duty to do it. The way in which

men and women of the country left their own work during the

war to help do the country’s work is one of the best proofs of

good citizenship. Every citizen at all times should be ready to

do the same for the benefit of his country.

It is the duty also of every citizen to understand that the

cost of government must be paid by all the people and that any-

one who does not pay his part is a shirker. Every citizen should

see that the benefits which he received from all of the work done

by government are far greater than the cost. Fie ought to pay

the taxes which are laid upon him with a feeling that he has

gotten his money’s worth. It is not generally true that men think

of their taxes in this way.

In past times in other countries, taxes were not paid for the

benefit of the people who paid them, but for the benefit of the

ruling classes, or the kings and nobles. Taxes were not levied by

the people themselves, but by men who controlled them and com-

pelled them to pay. Taxes were always looked upon as being

forced from them by some power that controlled them rather

than as the part which they should pay for the benefits of gov-

ernment. The situation is different in this country. Here the

people tax themselves for their own benefit. There is no outside

power which compels them to pay. They do certain things for

their own benefit through their government. They raise the

money to pay for these benefits through taxation. Since this is

the case it should be the duty of each to pay his share. It should

be his further duty to see that everyone else pays his share. The



58 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

man who does not pay his share lives at someone else’s expense.

The man who does not pay his part of the cost of roads and

streets, of schools and hospitals, of police and fire departments,

of armies and navies is not playing fair with the rest of his

fellows.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 59

CHAPTER XV.

NATURALIZATION

The process of naturalization, together with the requirements

and regulations for the admission of an immigrant to citizenship,

may, at first glance, appear difficult because of the legal wording

in which they are set forth. In fact, however, they are very

simple.

The process of naturalization may be conveniently divided

into three steps: The first step, “The Declaration of Intention;”

the second step, “The Petition for Naturalization;” the third

step, “The Final Hearing in Open Court.”

First Step

An alien who has reached the age of eighteen years, and who

desires to become a citizen of the United States, must go to the

office of the Clerk of the United States District Court, or to any

state court of record within the district or county where he lives.

Upon request here, he will be given an official form or blank

known as the “First Paper,” of the “Declaration of Intention to

Become a Citizen.”

The request for the “First Paper” may be made at any time

following the arrival of the alien in the United States. The ap-

plicant for the above papers is not required to know how to

speak or read English or to write his own name. However, all

applicants for “Final Paper” who have arrived in the United

States since June 29, 1906, must be able to speak English and to

sign their own names. The only requirement for taking out the

“First Paper,” or for making the “Declaration of Intention” is

that the applicant shall take an oath that “it is his bona fide

intention to become a citizen of the United States.”



60 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

For the “First Paper/’ which must be filled out and left with

the clerk of the court, a fee of one dollar is collected. Pater this

paper is sent to the applicant.

The main facts to be stated in the “Declaration of Inten-

tion” are: Name; age; occupation; date of arrival in the United

States; name of the vessel on which the applicant arrived, and

present address. The full, true name, and any other name or

names used, or by which he was known, must be specified.

Second Step

To obtain his “Final Paper” or “Certificate of Naturaliza-

tion,” the applicant must have resided continuously in the United

States for at least five years immediately preceding the date of

his application, and for at least one year within the state or

territory where he files his petition.

- The “Petition for Naturalization” may be made not less

than two years nor more than seven years after the filling out

of the “First Paper” or “Declaration of Intention.” The appli-

cant must go to the same court where he filed his “First Paper,”

or any court authorized to grant papers of naturalization within

the district wherein he has resided at least one year. He must

appear in person, taking with him his “First Paper.” In addi-

tion, he must have two witnesses who are citizens of the United

States, and they must be ready to take oath that they have known

the applicant for at least five years in the United States, and

to testify as to his fitness for citizenship.

Anyone arriving in the United States after June 29, 1906,

cannot petition for naturalization without a “Certificate of Ar-

rival,” duly executed. This certificate contains chiefly the name,

age, date of arrival, name of ship on which alien arrived, and

last place of residence. This form may be secured upon appli-

cation from the office of the county clerk. It should be filled in

and handed with the petition to the clerk.

The petitioner and his witnesses will then be questioned by

the naturalization examiner, and if the “petition” is accepted by



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 61

the clerk the petitioner is furnished with a certificate showing

the number of his application as filed with the court

The fee for the “Second Paper” is four dollars.

Third Step

Not less than ninety days after the filing of the "Petition,”

during which a thorough investigation of both applicant and his

witnesses is made, the court will summon the applicant and his

witnesses to appear before the judge in open court. Here he

must publicly satisfy the court that he is of good moral char-

acter, and qualified to become a citizen of the United States.

He must be able to answer intelligently any question which the

court may put to him to test his general knowledge of the laws

and government of the United States. There is no definite out-

line of the knowledge required by the applicant nor any uni-

formity in the questions likely to be asked him. Usually the

court is satisfied if the applicant is able to answer very general

questions showing that he understands the main privileges con-

ferred on him by naturalization, and that he knows the more

important points of American history and the government of

the United States.

If the applicant satisfies the court of his fitness for citizen-

ship, he is required to take the oath of allegiance to the United

States. The court will order a “Certificate of Citizenship” to

be issued. This the applicant must sign, receiving it immediately

or in some cases by registered mail.

In addition to the foregoing rules and requirements for natu-

ralization, the following are especially noteworthy:

1. If witnesses called are naturalized citizens, they must have

their “Naturalization Certificate” when appearing before court.

2. In case of sickness, or other cause of disability of wit-

nesses, others may be substituted, provided they can take oath

to the same statements as the original witnesses.

3. The original witnesses may be compelled by law to be

present.



62 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

4. If applicant has not lived in present state for five years he

may furnish depositions from witnesses in other state or states

in which he has lived, and the witnesses collectively must have

known him for at least five years.

5. Lost papers may be duplicated on the sworn statement of

the applicant.

6. No applicant can receive his citizenship certificate within

thirty days of General Elections in any state.

7. The applicant may change his name with the permission of

the court if he does it at the time of admittance to citizenship.

8. Applicants for citizenship holding a foreign title must

legally renounce such title before becoming citizens.

9. If an alien who has taken out his “First Paper” should die

before he becomes naturalized, his widow and children may com-

plete the naturalization.

10. The right of any woman to become a naturalized citizen

of the United States shall not be denied or abridged because of

her sex or because she is a married woman.

11. Should the applicant be refused Naturalization Papers, he

cannot recover any fees paid in.

12. There is a very severe penalty for false statements and

papers secured by fraud.

13. No one opposed to organized government can become a

citizen of the United States.

14. No one who believes in polygamy, or who is a criminal,

or an illiterate, can become a citizen of the United States.

15. No alien or foreigner can be admitted to citizenship while

the United States is at war with the country of which he is a

subject.

16. Only free white persons and those of African nativity or

African descent may be naturalized. However, any alien, other

than a Chinese person, who can prove that he is a white person,

may petition for citizenship.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 63

17. The naturalization of an alien, naturalizes such of his chil-

dren as are under twenty-one in this country at the time of his

naturalization, but a wife does not become a citizen through the

naturalization of her husband. An American woman who mar-

ries a foreigner does not lose her citizenship.

18. Any children who may be abroad at the time of natural-

ization of their parents, become citizens by this naturalization,

providing they take up residence in the United States before be-

coming twenty-one years of age.

19. Special dispensation from making Declaration of Inten-

tion and from complying with minor requirements are made for

men who have completed an enlistment in the United States Navy,

Marine Corps or Army.

20. Any alien seaman, who, after having declared his inten-

tion, serves three years on board a United States merchant vessel,

may petition for naturalization upon production of his Certificate

of Discharge and good conduct during that time, thereby relieving

him from proof of any further residence.





DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES





The Fundamentals op Citizenship 67

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE—IN CONGRESS

JULY 4, 1776

The Unanimous Declaration op the Thirteen United

States op America

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary

for one people to dissolve the political bands which have con-

nected them with another, and to assume among the powers of

the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of

Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to

the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the

7
se which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are

created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with cer-

tain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and

the pursuit of Happines^wTkat to secure these rights, Govern-

ments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from

the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Gov*

efnment becomes destructive of these emds^/fi is the Right of thf;

People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government

laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its power)

in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their

Safety and Happiness^/Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Gov-

ernments long established should not be changed for light and

transient causes
;
and accordingly all experience hath shewn, thar

mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable-*,

than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which thu

are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpi

tions, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design

to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is

lheir duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new



68 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient suf-

ferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which

constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government.

The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of

repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the

establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To

prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and

necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate

and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till

his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has

utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation

of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish

the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable

to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual,

uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public

Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance

with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for op-

posing with manly firmness his invasions of the rights of the

people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to

cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, in-

capable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large

for their exercise; the State remaining in the meantime exposed

to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions

within.

, He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States ;

for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of

Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations

hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of

Lands.



Thu Fundamentals op Citizenship 69

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing

his Assent to Caws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the

tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their

salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither

swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out of their

substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies

without the Consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and

superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction

foreign to our constitution, and unacknoweldged by our laws

:

giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for

any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of

these States

:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent

:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by

jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended

offenses

:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neigh-

boring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government,

and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an exJ

ample and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule

into these Colonies

:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable

Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Govern-

ments :

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring them-



70 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

selves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases what-

soever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of

his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our

towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mer-

cenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny,

already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely

paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the

Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow-Citizens taken Captive on the

high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the

executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves

by their Hands.

** He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has

endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the

merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an

undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for

Redress in the most humble terms : Our repeated Petitions have

been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose char-

acter is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is

unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British

brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts

by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over

us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigra-

tion and settlement here. We have appealed to their native jus-

tice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of

our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would

inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They

too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denouncer.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 71

our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind,

Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

we, therefore, the representatives oe the united

States oe America, in General Congress, Assembled, appeal-

ing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our

intentions, do, in the Name, and by authority of the good People

of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these

United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be EreE and in-

dependent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance

to the British Crown, and that all political connection between

them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally

dissolved; and* that as free and independent States, they have

full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, es-

tablish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which

independent States may of right do. And for the support of

this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine

Providence, We mutually pledge to each other our Rives, our

Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

(The foregoing declaration was, by order of Congress, en-

grossed, and signed by the following members:)

JOHN PIANCOCK.

Josiah Bartlett,

Wm. Whipple,

Sami. Adams,

John Adams,

Step. Hopkins,

New Hampshire.

Matthew Thornton.

Massachusetts Bay.

Robt. Treat Paine,

Elbridge Gerry.

Rhode Island, etc.

William Ellery.

Connecticut.

Roger Sherman,

Sam’el Huntington.

Wm. Williams,
Oliver Wolcott.



72 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

New York.

Wm. Floyd, Frans. Lewis,
Phil. Livingston, Lewis Morris.

New Jersey.

Richd. Stockton. John Hart,

Jno. Witherspoon, Abra. Clark.

Fras. Hopkinson,

Pennsylvania.

Robt. Morris, Jas. Smith,

Benjamin Rush, Geo. Taylor,

Benja. Franklin, James Wilson,

John Morton, Geo. Ross.

Geo. Clymer,

Delaware.

Cesar Rodney,

Geo. Read,

Tho. M’Kean.

Maryland.

Samuel Chase, Thos. Stone,

Wm. Paca, Charles Carroll of
Carrollton.

Virginia.

George Wythe, Thos. Nelson, jr.,

Richard Henry Lee, Carter Braxton,

Th Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Le

Benja. Harrison,

North Carolina .

Wm. Hooper, John Penn.
Joseph Hewes,

South Carolina.

Edward Rutlege, Thomas Lynch, junr.

Thos. Heyward, junr., Arthur Middleton.

Georgia.

Button Gwinnett,

Lyman Hall,

Geo. Walton.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship n

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA (1)

We the People of the United States, in order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,

provide for the common defence, promote the general Wel-

fare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and

our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution

for the United States of America.

ARTICLE I.

Section 1. All legislative Powers herein granted shall be

vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of

a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be com-

posed of Members chosen every second Year by the People of

the several States, and the Electors in each State shall have the

Qualifications requisite for Electors of the most numerous

Branch of the State Legislature.

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have at-

tained to the Age of twenty-five years, and been seven Years a

Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected

be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

(2) [Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned

among the several States which may be included within this

Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be

determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, in-

cluding those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and ex-

cluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other Persons.]

The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after

the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within

every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they

shall by Law direct. The Number of Representatives shall not

(1) Adopted 1789.

(2) The parts included in heavy brackets is amended by Amend-
ment XIV, page 90.



74 The; Fundamentals of Citizenship

exceed one for every thirty Thousand, but each State shall have

at Feast one Representative
;
and until such enumeration shall be

made, the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to chuse

three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode-Island and Providence Plan-

tations one, Connecticut five, New-York six, New Jersey four,

Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten,

North Carolina five, South Carolina five, and Georgia three.

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any

State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Elec-

tion to fill such Vacancies.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and

other Officers
;
and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Section 3. (1) [The Senate of the United States shall be

composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legis-

lature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one

Vote.]

Immediately after they shall be assembled in Consequence of

the first Election, they shall be divided as equally as may be

into three Classes. The Seats of the Senators of the first Class

shall be vacated at the Expiration of the second Year, of the

second Class at the Expiration of the fourth Year, and of the

third Class at the Expiration of the sixth Year, so that one-third

may be chosen every second Year; and if Vacancies happen by

Resignation, or otherwise, during the Recess of the Legislature

of any State, the Executive thereof may make temporary Ap-

pointments [until the next Meeting of the Legislature, which

shall then fill such Vacancies.]

No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to

the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the

United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant

of that State for which he shall be chosen.

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of

the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.

The Senate shall chuse their other Officers, and also a Presi-

(1) The part included in heavy brackets is amended Sec. 2 of

Amendment XVII, page 92.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 75

dent pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when

he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeach-

ments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath

or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is

tried, the Chief Justice shall preside : And no Person shall be

convicted without the Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members

present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further

than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and

enjoy any Office of honor, Trust, or Profit under the United

States : but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and

subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment, and Punishment, accord-

ing to Taw.

Section 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elec-

tions for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in

each State by the Legislature thereof
;
but the Congress may at

any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to

the Places of chusing Senators.

The Congress shall assemble at least once in every Year, and

such Meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, un-

less they shall by Law appoirL a different Day.

Section 5. Each House shall be the Judge of the Elections,

Returns, and Qualifications of its own Members, and a Majority

of each shall constitute a Quorum to do Business; but a smallei

Number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized

to compel the Attendance of absent Members, in such Manner,

and under such Penalties as each House may provide.

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings,

punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Con-

currence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

Each House shall keep a Journal of its Proceedings, and from

time to time publish the same, excepting such Parts as may in

their Judgment require Secrecy; and the Yeas and Nays of the

Members of either House on any question shall, at the Desire of

one-fifth of those Present, be entered on the Journal.



76 The; Fundamentals of Citizenship

Neither House, during the Session of Congress, shall, with-

out the Consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days,

nor to any other Place than that in which the two Houses shall

be sitting.

Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a

Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and

paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in

all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be

privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of

their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the

same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall

not be questioned in any other Place.

No Senator or Representative shall, during the Time for

which he was elected, be appointed to any civil Office under the

Authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or

the Emoluments whereof shall have been encreased during such

time
;
and no Person holding any office under the United States,

shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance D

Office.

Section 7. All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in

the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or

concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representa-

tives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented

to the President of the United States
;
if he approve he shall sign

it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House

in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections

at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after

such Reconsideration two-thirds of that House shall agree to

pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the

other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if

approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall become a Law.

But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be deter-

mined by Yeas and Nays, and the Names of the Persons voting

for and against the Bill shall be entered on the Journal ot each



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 77

House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the

President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall

have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law; in like

Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Ad

journment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a

Law.

Every Order, Resolution, or Vote to which the Concurrence

of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary

(except on a question of Adjournment) shall be presented to

the President of the United States; and before the Same shall

take Effect, shall be approved by him, or being disapproved by

him, shall be repassed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of

Representatives, according to the Rules and Limitations pre-

scribed in the Case of a Bill.

Section 8 . The Congress shall have Power To lay and col-

lect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and

provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the

United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uni-

form throughout the United States.

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among

several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization ,and uniform

Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United

States

;

To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign

Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures

;

To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securi-

ties and current Coin of the United States
;

To establish Post Offices and post Roads

;

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by se-

curing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive

Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries

;

To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;

To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the

high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations

;



78 The; Fundamentals oe Citizenship

To declare War, grant Tetters of Marque and Reprisal, and

make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money

to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;

To provide and maintain a Navy;

To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the

land and naval Forces;

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws

of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia,

and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the

Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively,

the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the

Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever,

over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by

Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress,

become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and

to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Con-

sent of the Legislature of the State in which the same shall be,

for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and

other needful Buildings;—And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for

carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other

Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the

United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

Section 9. The Migration or Importation of such Persons

as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit,

shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one

thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be im-

posed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each

Person.

The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be sus-

pended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public

Safety may require it. __



The; Fundamentals oe Citizenship 79

No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.

(1) No capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, unless

in Proportion to the Census or Enumeration herein before di-

rected to be taken.

No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any

State.

No preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce

or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another : nor

shall Vessels bound to, or from, one State be obliged to enter,

clear, or pay Duties in another.

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Conse-

quence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular State-

ment and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all pub-

lic Money shall be published from time to time.

No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States

:

And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them,

shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any oerson,

Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any

King, Prince, or foreign State.

Section 10. No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance,

or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin

Money
;
emit Bills of Credit

;
make any Thing but gold and silver

Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pas any Bill of Attainder,

ex post facto Law, or Law impair' g the Obligation of Con-

tracts, or grant any Title of Nobility.

No State shall, without the Consent of Congress, lay any

Imports or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be

absolutely necessary for executing its inspection Laws : and the

net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Im-

ports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the

United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision

and Control of the Congress.

No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any

duty of Tonnage, keep Troops, or Ships of War in time of

(1) Amended by Amendment XVI, page 92.



80 The Fundamentals op Citizenship

Peace, enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State,

or with a foreign Power, or engage in War, unless actually in-

vaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

ARTICLE II.

Section 1 . The executive Power shall be vested in a Presi-

dent of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office

during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-

President, chosen for the same Term, be elected as follows:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature

thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole

Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may

be entitled in the Congress : but no Senator or Representative, or

Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United

States, shall be appointed an Elector.

The Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Elec-

tors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which

Day shall be the same throughout the United States.

No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the

United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution,

shall be eligible to the Office of President
;
neither shall any Per-

son be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the

Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident

within the United States.

In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of

his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and

Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-

President, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case

of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the Presi-

dent and Vice-President, declaring what Officer shall then act as

President, and such Officer shall act accordingly until the Dis-

ability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services,

a Compensation, which shall neither be encreased nor diminished

during the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he



The: Fundamentals oe Citizenship 81

shall not receive within that Period any other Emolument from

the United States, or any of them.

Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take

the following Oath or Affirmation -“I do solemnly swear (or

affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of

the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve,

protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Section 2. The President shall be Commander in Chief of

the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of

the several States, when called into the actual Service of the

United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the

principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any

subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he

shall have power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses

against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent

of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Sen-

ators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with

the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambas-

sadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the su-

preme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose

Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which

shall be established by Law
;
but the Congress may by Raw vest

the Appointment of such inferior Officers, s they think proper,

in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of

Departments.

The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that

may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Com-

missions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.

Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress

Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to

their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary

and expedient
;
he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene

both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement be-

tween them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may

adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper ; he shall



82 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take

Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission

all of the Officers of the United States.

Section 4. The President, Vice-President and all civil Offi-

cers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Im-

peachment for, and Conviction of. Treason, Bribery, or other

high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

ARTICLE III.

Section 1 . The judicial Power of the United States, shall

be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as

the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.
.
The

Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their

Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive

for their services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished

during their Continuance in Office.

> Section 2. The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in

Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of

the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made,

under their Authority to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other

public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and
maritime Jurisdiction;—t-o Controversies to which the United
States shall be a Party ;—to Controversies between two or more
States ;—between a State and Citizens of another State ;—be-
tween Citizens of different States ;—between Citizens of same
State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and be-

tween a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citi-

zens or Subjects (1).

In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers

and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the su-

preme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other

Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate

Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and

under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall

be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the

(1) See Amendment XI, page 88.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 83

said Crimes shall have been committed
;
but when not committed

within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as

the. Congress may by Taw have directed.

Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist

only in levying War against them, or, in adhering to their

Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be

convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses

to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of

Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of

Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Fife of the Person at-

tainted.

ARTICEE IV.

Section 1 . Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State

to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every

other State. And the Congress may be general Laws prescribe

the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall

be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Section 2. The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to

all Priviliges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.

A Person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other
Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another

State, shall on demand of the executive Authority of the State

from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State

having Jurisdiction of the Crime. Innes v. Tobin, 240 U. S., 127.

No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the

Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of

any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service

or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to

whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress

into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected

within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be

formed by the Junction of two or more States, or parts of States,

without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned

as well as of the Congress.



84 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all

needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other

Property belonging to the United States
;
and nothing in this

Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of

the United States, or of any particular State.

Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State

in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall pro-

tect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the

Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot

be convened) against domestic Violence.

ARTICLE V.

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem

it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or,

on the application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the sev-

eral States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments,

which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes,

as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of

three-fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three-

fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may

be proposed by the Congress
;
Provided that no Amendment

which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hun-

dred and eight shall in any Manner effect the first and fourth

Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article
;
and that no

State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suf-

rage in the Senate.

ARTICLE VI.

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before

the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the

United States under this Constitution, as under the Confed-

eration.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which

shall be made in Pursuance thereof ; and all Treaties made, or

which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States,

shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 85

State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or

Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the

Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and

judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several

States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this

Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a

Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United

States.

The Ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be

sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution between the

States so ratifying the Same.

Done in Convention by the Unanimous Consent of the States

present the Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of

our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty-seven and

of the Independence of the United States of America the

Twelfth. In Witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed
our Names,

ARTICLE VII.

Wm Sami Johnson

John Langdon

Nathaniel Gorham

Go WASHINGTON

Presidt and deputy from Virginia

New Hampshire.

Nicholas Gilman

Massachusetts.

Rufus King

Connecticut.

Roger Sherman

New York.

Alexander Hamilton

New Jersey.

Wil : Livingston

David Brtarley

Wm : Patterson
Jona : Dayton



86 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

B. Franklin

Robt. Morris

Thos. Fitzsimons

James Wilson

Pennsylvania.

Thomas Mifflin

Geo. Clymer

Jared Ingersoll

Gouv Morris

Geo: Read

John Dickinson

Jaco: Broom

Delaware.

Gunning Bedford jun

Richard Bassett

James McHenry

Danl Carroll

Maryland.

Dan : of St. Thos. Jenifer

John Blair

—

Virginia.

James Madison Jr.

Wm Blount
Hu Williamson

North Carolina.

Richd Dobbs Spaight,

J.
Rutledge

Charles Pinckney

South Carolina.

Charles Cotesworth

Pinckney

Pierce Butler.

William Few

Georgia.

Abr Baldwin

Attest: WIUJAM JACKSON,
Secretary.



The; Fundamentals oe Citizenship 87

Articles in Addition to, and Amendment of, the Constitution of

The United States of America, Proposed by Congress, and

Ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant

to the fifth Article of the original Constitution (2).

AMENDMENT I.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of

religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
;
or abridging

the freedom of speech, or of the press
;
or the right of the people

peaceably to assembly, and to petition the Government for a re-

dress of grievances.

AMENDMENT II.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of

a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall

not be infringed.

AMENDMENT III.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,

without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a

manner to be prescribed by law.

AMENDMENT IV.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses,

papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,

shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon prob-

able cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly

describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things

to be seized.

AMENDMENT V.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise

infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a

Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces,

or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or pub-

lic danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence

to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be com-

(2) The first ten amendments were ratified in 1791 and becam©
part of the Constitution.



88 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

pelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, no.

be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of

law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without

just compensation.

AMENDMENT VI.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right

to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State

and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which

district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be

informed of the nature and cause of the accusation
;
to be con-

fronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory

process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the As-

sistance of Counsel for his defence.

AMENDMENT VII.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall

exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be pre-

served, and no fact tried by jury, shall be otherwise re-examined

in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules

of the common law.

AMENDMENT VIII.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines im-

posed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

AMENDMENT IX.
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall

not be construde to deny or disparage others retained by the

people.

AMENDMENT X.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Con-

stitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the

States respectively, or to the people.

AMENDMENT XI. (1)
The Judicial power of the United States shall not be con-

strued to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or

(1) Ratified 1798.



The; Fundamentals oE Citizenseiip 89

prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of an-

other State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State.

AMENDMENT XII (2).
The electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote

by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at

least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with them-

selves
;
they shall name in their ballots the persons voted for

as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-

President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted

for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President,

and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign

and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the Government

of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate;

—

The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate

and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the

votes shall then be counted ;—The person having the greatest
number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such a

number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed

;

and if no person have such majority, then from the persons hav-

ing the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those

voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose

immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the Presi-

dent, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from

each State having one vote
;
a quorum for this purpose shall con-

sist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and

a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And

if the House of Representatives shall not choose a President

whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before

the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President

shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other con-

stitutional disability of the President.—The person having the
greatest number of votes as Vice-President, shall be the Vice-

President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of

Electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from

(2) Ratified 1804.



90 The Fundamentals of Citizenship

the two highest lumbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the

Vice-President
;
a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-

thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the

whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person

constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible

to that of Vice-President of the United States.

AMENDMENT XIII. (1)
Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except

as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been

duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place

subject to their jurisdiction.

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article

by appropriate legislation.

AMENDMENT XIV. (2)
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United

States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the

United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State

shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges

or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any

State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without

due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction

the equal protection of the laws.

Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the

several States according to their respective numbers, counting

the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians

not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the

choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United

States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial

officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof,

is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being

twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in

(1) Ratified 1865.

(2) Ratified 1868.



The Fundamentals oe Citizenship 91

any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other

crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the

proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to

the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in

such State.

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative

in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold

any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under

any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member

of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a mem-

ber of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer

of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States,

shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same,

or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress

may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such dis-

ability.

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United

States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment

of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection

or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United

States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation

incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United

States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave;

but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal

and void.

Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by

appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.

AMENDMENT XV. (1)
Section 1 . The right of citizens of the United States to vote

shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any

State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servi-

tude.

—

Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this

article by appropriate legislation.

—

Cl) Ratified 1870.



92 The Fundamentals oe Citizenship

AMENDMENT XVI. (1)
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on

incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment

among the several States, and without regard to any census or

enumeration.

AMENDMENT XVII. (2)
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two

Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six

years
;
and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in

each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of

the most numerous branch of the State Legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State

in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue

writs of election to fill such vacancies : Provided, That the Legis-

lature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make

temporary appointment until the people fill the vacancies by elec-

tion as the Legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the

election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid

as part of the Constitution.

AMENDMENT XVIII. (3)
“Section 1. After one year from the ratification of this ar-

ticle the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating

liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation

thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the

jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

“SEC. 2. The Congress and the several States shall have con-

current power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

“Sec. 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have

been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the Legisla-

tures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within

seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States

by the Congress.”

(1) Ratified 1913.

(2) Ratified 1913.

(3) Ratified 1919.



The Fundamentals of Citizenship 93

AMENDMENT XIX.

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote

shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any

state on account of sex.

Section 2. Congress shall have power, by appropriate legis-

lation, to enforce the provisions of this Article.

Note.—The above Amendment was proposed to the Legisla-
tures of the several States by the Sixty-fifth Congress, having been

adopted by the House of Representatives, May 21, 1919, and by

the Senate, June 4, 1919. On August 26, 1920, the United States

Secretary of State proclaimed it in effect, having been adopted

(June 10, 1919-August 18, 1920) by three-quarters of the states.

The Tennessee House, August 31st, rescinded its ratification 47

to 24.



A COURSE IN CIVICS
FOR USE IN THE PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS

BY

Sister M. Alcantara, O.S.F., Ph.M.

85 PAGES—PRICE, 25 CENTS
(Carrying Charges Extra)

Adapted to the requirements of the Catholic elementary schools

and prepared to enable teachers to make a good, practical beginning
in civic instruction in the elementary grades.

CONTENTS

:

Grade I:

I The Family

Grade II:

I The Home and the School
II The Home in Contact with Other Community Activities

Grade III:

I The Home and the School
II The Home in Contact with Other Community Activities

III The Neighborhood

Grade IV:

I The Larger Neighborhood

II Public Service

III Public Buildings

Grade V :

I Greater Co-operation

II Laws That All Should Know and Obey
III The Citizen’s Relation to Public Health

IV Means of Supplies and Communication

Grade VI:

I What the Government Does For Its Citizens

II What the Citizens Should Do in Return

III Good and Bad Citizens

IV Industrial Growth of Our City

Grade VII #
91

I The Community Idea

Grade VIII:

I Elements of Welfare

II The Organization and Workings of Government

ORDER THROUGH N. C. W. C. PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT,
1312 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE, N. W., WASHINGTON, D. C.