4. The division of the State into counties, and a minute. description of the boundaries of each county, is given. The division of the counties into towns, with the boundaries of each town, is given. The boundaries of each city in the State, and the boundaries of each ward in each city, are given. The State is also divided into senatorial, congressional, and judiciary districts, the boundaries of which are minutely described. In the State of New York the description of these divisions and boundaries occupies more than two hundred pages of the Revised Statutes.

5. The statutes, in most of the States, then describe the several officers in the State, with their qualifications and tenure of office. These officers are divided into three classes: 1. Legislative; 2. Judicial; 3. Executive. In the State of New York a fourth class is added, called administrative officers. No person is competent to hold a civil office under twenty-one years of age, nor unless he be a citizen of the State at the time of his election or ap pointment.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

MODE OF ELECTING STATE OFFICERS.

1. THE statutes next describe the mode of electing public officers. The mode adopted in a majority of the States is as follows. The secretary of state causes to be delivered to the sheriff, clerk, or county judge in each county, a notice in writing specifying the officers to be chosen at the next regular election. He also causes the same to be pub

4. What boundaries are next described? What space does this description occupy in the Revised Statutes of New York.

5. What is next described? Into what three classes are these officers divided? What fourth class is added in the State of New York? How old must a person be to hold office? Where must he reside?

1. What do the statutes next describe? What mode is here given!

lished in the State paper once in each week from the date thereof to the time of election. The sheriff, or other officer who receives the notice from the secretary of state, forthwith delivers a copy of such notice to the supervisor or one of the assessors in each town or ward in his county. He also causes a copy of the notice to be published in all the public newspapers in the county. The supervisors, assessors, and town-clerk in the several towns, and the common council in cities, designate the places for holding the election.

2. The inspectors of each election district meet at the time and place when and where the election is to be held, and organize themselves as a board. They appoint one of their number chairman, who administers the oath of office to the others, and one of the others administers the oath to the chairman. They then appoint a clerk, to whom the chairman administers the oath. When the poll is opened, proclamation thereof is made. The polls are usually opened at sunrise and close at sunset.

3. The electors vote by ballot. The ballots are so folded as to conceal their contents. Each elector delivers his ballot to one of the inspectors in presence of the board. If any person offering to vote is challenged by one of the inspectors, or by any elector who has voted at that poll, one of the inspectors tenders to him the following preliminary oath:

"You do swear that you will fully and truly answer all such questions as shall be put to you touching your place of residence and qualifications as an elector."

One of the inspectors then questions the person offering to vote. If the challenge is not withdrawn, and the elector

Who gives notice of the election? How? How does the sheriff give notice in his county? Who determine the place of holding elections? 2. Where do the inspectors meet? What do they appoint? How is the oath of office administered? For what time are the polls usually kept open?

3. How do the electors vote? How are the ballots folded? To whom does each elector deliver his ballot? By whom may any person offering to vote be challenged? What oath is then tendered to him? After this preliminary oath, what is done? If the challenge is not withdrawn, what

insists on his right to vote, one of the inspectors adminis ters to him the following oath:

"You do swear that you have been a citizen of the United States for ten days, and are now of the age of twenty-one years; that you have been an inhabitant of this State for one year next preceding this election, and for the last four months a resident of this county; that you have been for thirty days next preceding this election a resident, and that you are now a resident, of this election district in which you offer to vote; and that you have not made any bet or wager, and are not directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of this election." If any person offering to vote refuses to take the above oath, his vote is rejected.

4. Separate boxes are prepared and properly labelled. They are locked before opening the polls, and the key. delivered to one of the inspectors. An opening is made sufficiently large to admit a single ballot, through which the ballots are inserted. A list of the persons voting is kept by the clerk, and a list of the ballots cast by each voter. As soon as the polls are closed, the inspectors proceed to canvass the votes. The poll-list is examined and corrected. One of the boxes is opened nd the ballots therein counted, unexamined, except so far as to ascertain that each ballot is single. If two or more ballots are so folded together as to present the appearance of a single ballot, they are destroyed, if the whole number of ballots exceed the whole number of voters. If the whole number of ballots exceed the whole number of voters on the poll-list, the ballots are replaced in the box, and one of the inspectors draws out and destroys as many ballots unopened as are equal to such excess.

5. The inspectors then proceed to open and count the ballots. They make out a statement of the result, and at

other oath is administered? If the person offering to vote refuses to take the prescribed oath?

4. In what are the ballots deposited? How are the ballot-boxes made and secured? What list is kept by the clerks? As soon as the polls are closed, what do the inspectors proceed to do? What is first examined? Are the ballots examined before they are counted? If two ballots are folded together? If the whole number of ballots exceed the whole number of voters ?

5. What is the next action of the inspectors? What do they make

They also

The state

tach one ballot of each kind to the statement. attach such ballots as they deem defective. ment is certified by the inspectors to be true. A copy is filed in the office of the town or city. The original statement is delivered to the supervisors.

6. The supervisors, or assessors, form a board of county canvassers. They meet at the office of the county clerk. The clerk of the county is the secretary of the board. They elect a chairman. The clerk administers the oath to the chairman, and the chairman administers the oath. to the members of the board. A majority is sufficient to constitute a quorum. The original statements are produced, and the board proceed to estimate the vote of the county, and make a statement thereof. The statement is delivered to, and deposited with, the county clerk.

7. The county clerk records the statement of the board. He then prepares three certified copics. He deposits in the post-office one directed to the governor, one to the secretary of state, and one to the comptroller. The county clerk prepares certified copies for persons declared elected in the county, and delivers one of such copies to each person so elected. He also transmits a list to the secretary of state. The secretary of state files the certified statement of the county clerks. He appoints a meeting of the State canvassers at his office. The secretary of state, comptroller, State engineer, attorney-general, and treasurer are the State canvassers, three of whom are sufficient to form a quorum.

8. The board, when convened, proceed to determine

out? What do they attach to the statement? How certified? Where is a copy filed? What is done with the original statement?

6. Who form a board of county canvassers? Where do they meet? Who is the secretary of the board? By whom is the oath administered? What number constitute a quorum? What does the board proceed to make out? To whom is it delivered?

7. By whom recorded? What does the county clerk prepare? To whom does he send certified copies? What docs the secretary of stato file? What meeting does he appoint? Of whom does the board con

and declare what State officers have been duly elected by the greatest number of votes. They make a statement, and deliver the same to the secretary of state. The secretary of state records such statement in his office. He transmits a certified copy to each person thereby declared elected. He also publishes the same in one or more newspapers in each senatorial district in the State.

9. This is substantially the process of electing State, county, and town officers in the State of New York. This plan is adopted in most of the States. Some of the States have, however, adopted a plan slightly different. Each State has the right to adopt such plan as may appear to them to secure the unbiased expression of the will of the people.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

MODE OF ELECTING NATIONAL OFFICERS.

1. REPRESENTATIVES in Congress are elected in the sev eral congressional districts in the same manner as State officers are elected. The election occurs once in two years, at the time of the general election. Senators in Congress are elected by the joint ballot of both houses of the legis lature. Each senator, so elected, holds his office for six years, unless elected to fill an unexpired term.

2. In electing the president and vice-president of the United States, the electors do not vote directly for the candidates. Each State is entitled to the same number

8. What action do the board take? To whom delivered? By whom recorded? To whom does he transmit certified copies?

9. Do all the States adopt precisely the same plan? What right has each State?

1. How are representatives to Congress elected in the several States? How often does such election occur? How are senators in Congress elected?

2. Do electors vote directly for president and vice-president? To what