Our Government: Local, State, and National: Idaho Edition: Local, State, and National: Idaho Edition

.isaneducationaltextbookwrit ten in the early 20th century. This work serves as a comprehensive guide to the structures and functions of government at local, state, and national lev els, particularly tailored for high school students studying civics and gov ernment in Idaho. The opening of the text outlines the authors' inten tions and the importance of studying the practical aspects of government. It emphasizes the need to understand how government operates at various levels, highlighting key divisions: legislative, executive, and judicial func tions. The authors discuss the significance of local government in main taining order and providing necessary services such as education and public safety, while also indicating that students will learn about the comparative practices among states and localities. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for subsequent chapters that delve deeper into specific areas of gover nance, making the work a valuable resource for students seeking to become informed and responsible citizens The firstandmostimportantworkofanygov ernment is the preservation of order. We think of this function most frequently as exercised in the arrest of offenders who violate the law. In fact, most young persons receive their earliest ideas of government by seeing the policeman, or constable, who stands for the authority of the government. But he is not the only officer who is concerned in preserving order. The po lice officer who makes an arrest cannot punish hisprisoner, butmustmerely hold him until it is decided that he deserves punishment. This is the work of a court, with its justice, or judge, and the jury. If the prisoner is declared guilty, then the police officer executes the orders of the court by collecting a fine or by imprisoning him. We have here illustrated two divisions of gov ernmental authority: (1) the judicial, which decides whether the law applies in particular cases; and (2) the executive, which carries out the requirements of the law and the orders of the court