The Colorado statesman., 1923-01-06

of the state are vested in the justices
of the peace, the county, district, and
supreme courts, and such other courts
us may be provided by law" which are
the police courts, and the juvenile
courts. The third department is the
Executive. and consists of the Gov
ernOr, the Lieutenant Governor, Secre-
| tary of State. State Treasurer. State
Auditor, Attorney General, and the Su
perintendent of Public Instruction. All
of these persons are elected for u two
year term.
The Governor is the most powerful
of all state officials, since the supreme
authority of the state is vested in him.
In his oath, he Is charged to take care
that the laws be faithfully executed
He is commander-in-chief of the State
Militia, makes many appointments, may
remove officials for cause, exercises
the pardoning power, offer rewards for
the capture of criminals, and has the
veto power He must address the AS
sembly on the condition of the com
monwealth, and recommend legisla-
ton.
but InlS series Ol dTlltltS Will utdl
especially with the legislative branch
of our government, and to that we will
give attention.
The House of Representatives has
membership of siXtyfive, apportioned
among the various counties of the
state from its membership, on CON
vening, a presiding officer is chosen,
known as the Speaker, and who has
vote on all matters, the same as other
members on the floor. In the Senate
the Lieutenant Governor presides.
The duty of the General Assembly
is to enact laws for the good of the
people, though all revenue bills must
originate in the House. Laws on tax
es, control of corporations, and those
relating to public health and safety,
give an idea of the work of the AS
sembly. All laws enacted must be in
harmony with the national and state
constitutions; no law relating to To-
cal, or special, case may be enacted
since, in such cases, the principles of
general law are supposed to apply.
In these articles the terms bill and
claw" will be used; a 'bill'' is the form
of proposed law, presented to the
Assembly; after it is enacted, it be-
comes u law, and remains so until re-
pealed, amended, or declared uncon-
sttutional.
The restrictions on passing bills are
as follows: Bills, to become laws,
must be introduced the first fifteen
days of the session, except the appro-
priation bill must relate to one topic
only, and that must be stated in the
title; must be then referred to the
proper committee, returned therefrom,
and then printed for the use of the
members must be read, on different
days, in each house; and majority
vote is necessary to their passage.
The bill must be signed by the presid-
ing officer in each house, in the pres
ence of the members.
If the Governor vetOeS bill, ii must
be returned to the House in which it
originated, reconsidered, and if it is
passed again by Il twO-thirds vote of
the House wherein it originated, it is
sent to the other body; if it there re-
selves Il like majority, it becomes
law without the Governors signature.
In this introductory article, we have
dealt with matters of civil government,
largely: before our next appears, the
Legislature will be getting down to
business. and we will have something
interesting for our readers; and to all,
we extend an invitation to sit under
our study lamp, and watch the build
ing of Greater Colorado, in the
shadow of whose massive mountains,
fertile prairies, and wondrous sunsets,
it is a pleasure to live.