The frontiersman., 1958-07-31
Our Stale Constitution SimpIified

One Of the duties of the tIrst legislature Will be tO set up procedures for registration n future pri- mary and general elections
 Establishment of Boroughs
 Contrary to popular belief the election districts 0f the new state are not the Wel-publicized bOr- Oughs which Will he set up as the intermediate Unit between state and local government Estab- iShmenl 0f the bOrougha will take time, the manner and standards hy Which they win be set lp must be determined hy the legislature. Such factors as population, geography economy and transportation Will be considered in setting up these organized and unorganized internediate units into which the state must be divided. The legislature will prescribe the powers and functions 0f bOrOughs, methods Of organization, incOTpOra- tioR. etc.
 H is entirely possible that Some boroughs Will follow existing cty limit lines or independent school district lines. Others. in less populated areas, may be very large until such time as reorganization is necessary
 Duty of Citizens
 Because the future Well-b being Of the State Of Alaska depends VA great part upon the action Of the first legislature one cannot urge too strongly that each and every citizen of Alaska carefully and general elections. lt s the duty 0f Alaskans to elect the most skillfu highly qualified people from their election districts to represent Them at
 Voting Qualifications
 The new Constitution provides that every citizen Of the United States, nineteen and over who meets registration requiremnts (which will be clarified soonl may vote provided he meets the following qualifications.
 He shall have been a resident of Alaska for one
 
 thirty days preceding the election
 tie shall be able tO read speak the English language unless prevented by physical disability Citizens who legally voted in the November 4 1924 general election and meet resident require ments for voting shall also be entitled to Vote
 l9-Year-Old Vote
 ln allowing the vote Of l9- and 20-year Old citizens the makers of the Constitution have recognized the youthful character of Alaska's population and its importance to the future strength of Alaska
 It s expected that tfla l9- and 2O-yeAr oIds Will take full advantage of this right Alaska Georgia and Kentucky are the only states granting this privilege.
 Power of the People of the new state will be the governor reading of the constitution will convince most that tha neal power in the new state is the laW" or the legislature composed of elected representatives of the people, The system of governmental checks and balances is carefully established in the C0n4 stltutlon whereby the power actually dOes rest in the people of Alaska NJ they have the interest in their government to accept that power
 Next week win discuss the executive branch of the government its powers and its limitations Editors pote: The above article is the first in series of six public service articles which are being prepared and released for publication by Miss Patricia Oakes of Fairbanks and printed ir The Frontiersman. They are designed 10 help Aaskas citizens better understand the chance from territorial to state government. Miss Oakes pre- sentlY teaches English. journalism and Alaska h;s tory at Fairbanks high scnoo4. The articles are being written in place of graduate research paper for a course in Alaska history at the Uni- verslfY ot Alaska. pr. Donald R. Moberd head nf The department of history and political srfenra will check the articles for factual accurarv and correctness of interpretation