The Meeker herald., 1923-01-13

Of the state are vested In the Justices
Of the peace, the county, district. and
supreme courts, and such other courts
rs may be provided by law" which are
the police courts, and the juvehue
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 two
year term.
The Governor 10 the most powerful
Of all state officials, since the supreme
authority Of the state 10 vested In him.
In his oath, he IN 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 psrdoning 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
nonwealth. and recommend legisla-
tiOn.
But this series Of articles will deal
especially with the legislative branch
of our government, and to that We will
give attention.
The House Of Representatives has q
membership Of sixty-five, apportioned
among the various counties Of the
state; from Its membership, on con-
vening. presiding officer Is chosen,
known as the Speaker, and who has
vote on all matters, the same ms 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 "blll" and
"law" will be used a bill" IL the form
Of proposed law. presented to the
Assembly: after 1t Ii enacted. 1t be-
comes law, and remains 70 until re-
pealed, amended, or declared uncon-
stitutiOnal.
The restrictions on passing bills are
a. followa: 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 tho
and then printed for the use Of the
members; must be read, on different
days, In each house; and majority
vote Ii necessary to their passage.
The bill must be signed by the prexid-
ing officer In each house, in the pres
ence Of the members.
II the Governor vetoes "A bill, 1t must
he returned to the House In which 1t
originated, reconsIdered, and II 1t Is
passed again by II two-thlrds vote Of
the House wherein 1t originated, 1t ID
sent to the other body II 1t there re-
selves ike majority. It becomes q
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 renders; and to NIL,
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 pralries, and wondrous sunsets,
II Il a pleasure to live.