EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSTITUTION OF ILLINOIS.

ARTICLE V.

SECTION 1. The executive department shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Attorney General, who shall each, with the exception of the Treasurer, hold his office for the term of four years, from the second Monday in January next after his election and until his successor is elected and qualified. They shall, except the Lieutenant Governor, reside at the seat of government during their term of office, and keep the public records, books and papers there, and shall peform such duties as may be prescribed by law.

ARTICLE VIII.

EDUCATION.

SECTION 1. The General Assembly shall provide a thorough and efficient system of free schools, whereby all children of this State may receive a good common school education.

§ 2. All lands, moneys, or other property, donated, granted or received for school, college, seminary or university purposes, and the proceeds, thereof, shall be faithfully applied to the objects for which such gifts or grants were made.

§ 3. Neither the General Assembly nor any county, city, town, township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever make any appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to help support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by any church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of land, money or other personal property ever be made by the State or any such public corporation, to any church, or for any sectarian purpose.

§ 4. No teacher, State, county, township, or district school officer shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, apparatus or furniture used, or to be used, in any school in this State, with which such officer or teacher may be connected, under such penalties as may be provided by the General Assembly.

§ 5. There may be a county superintendent of schools in each county, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation and time and manner of election, and term of office, shall be prescribed by

law.

ARTICLE IX.

SECTION 12. No county, city, township, school district, or other municipal corporation, shall be allowed to become indebted in any manner or for any purpose, to an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding five per centum on the value of the taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes, previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. Any county, city, school district, or other municipal corporation, incurring any indebtedness as aforesaid, shall before, or at the time of doing so, provide for the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such debt, as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof within twenty years from the time of contracting the same. This section shall not be construed to prevent any county, city, township, school district, or other municipal corporation, from issuing their bonds in compliance with any vote of the people which may have been had prior to the adoption of this Constitution in pursuance of any law providing therefor.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly: That, at the election to be held on Tuesday after the first Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be elected by the legal voters of this State, a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, who shall hold his office for four years from the second Monday in January next after his election, and until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

§ 2. Before entering upon his duties, he shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, and shall also execute a bond, in the penalty of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), payable to the People of the State of Illinois, with securities to be approved by the Governor, conditioned for the prompt discharge of his duties as Superintendent of Public Instruction, and

for the faithful application and disposition, according to law, of all school moneys that may come into his hands by virtue of his office. Said bond and oath, shall be deposited with the Secretary of State, and an action may be maintained thereon by the State at any time for a breach of the conditions thereof.

§ 3. And the said State Superintendent shall receive, annually, such sum as may be provided by law, as a salary for the services required under the provisions of this act, or any other law that may be passed, and also all necessary contingent expenses for books, postage and stationery pertaining to his office, to be audited and paid by the State as the salaries and contingent expenses of other officers are paid.

§ 4. It shall be the duty of the said State Superintendent of Public Instruction—

First-To keep an office at the seat of government of the State. Second-To file all papers, reports and public documents transmitted to him by the school officers of the several counties, each year separately.

Third-To keep and preserve all other public documents, books and papers relative to schools, coming into his hands as State Superintendent, and to hold the same in readiness to be exhibited to the Governor, or to any committee of either house of the General Assembly.

Fourth-To keep a fair record of all matters pertaining to the business of his office.

Fifth-To pay over, without delay, all sums of money which may come into his hands by virtue of his office, to the officer or person entitled to receive the same, in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

Sixth-To counsel and advise in such manner as he may deem most advisable, with experienced and practical school teachers, as to the best manner of conducting common schools.

Seventh-To supervise all the common and public schools in the

State:

Eighth-To be the general adviser and assistant of county superintendents of schools in this State.

Ninth To address circular letters to county superintendents, from time to time, as he shall deem for the interests of schools, giving advice as to the best manner of conducting schools, constructing school houses, furnishing the same, examining and procuring competent teachers.

Tenth-To, on or before the 1st day of November preceding each regular session of the General Assembly, report to the Governor the condition of the schools in the several counties of the State; the whole number of schools which have been taught in each county in each of the preceding years, commencing on the 1st of July; what part of said number have been taught by males exclusively, and what part by females exclusively; what part of said whole number

have been taught by males and females at the same time, and what part by males and females at different periods; the number of scholars in attendance at said schools; the number of persons in each county under twenty-one years of age, and the number of such persons between the ages of twelve and twenty-one years that are unable to read and write; the amount of township and county funds; the amount of the interest of the State or common school fund, and of the interests of the township and county fund annually paid out; the amount raised by an ad valorem tax; the whole amount annually expended for schools; the number of school houses, their kind and condition; the number of townships and parts of townships in each county; the number and description of books and apparatus purchased for the use of schools and school libraries under the provisicns of this act, the price paid for the same, the total amount purchased, and what quantity and how distributed, the number and condition of the libraries, together with such other information and suggestions as he may deem important in relation to the school laws, schools and the means of promoting education throughout the State; which report shall be laid before the General Assembly at each regular session.

Eleventh-To make such rules and regulations as may be necessary and expedient to carry into efficient and uniform effect the provisions of this act, and of all the laws which now are or may hereinafter be in force for establishing and maintaining free schools in this State.

Twelfth-To be the legal adviser of all school officers, and, when requested by any such school officers, to give his opinion in writing upon any question arising under the school laws of this State.

Thirteenth-To hear and determine all controversies arising under the school laws of this State, coming to him by appeal from a county superintendent, upon a written statement of facts certified by the county superintendent.

Fourteenth-To receive and file all proper reports made to him from time to time by the several county superintendents of this State as required by article II of this act.

Fifteenth-To grant State certificates to such teachers as may be found worthy to receive them, as provided for in section 2 of article VII of this act.

Sixteenth-To be ex officio a member of the board of trustees of the University of Illinois and of the Southern Normal University. Seventeenth-To be ex officio a member of the Board of education of the State of Illinois, and to act as secretary thereof.

Eighteenth--To report to the General Assembly of Illinois, at its regular sessions, the condition and expenditures of the Normal University, and such other information as may be directed by the Board of Education of the State of Illinois or by the General Assembly of

this State.