each township, on the first Monday in April in each year, at which there is elected the following officers: One Supervisor; one Township Clerk; one Treasurer; one School Inspector; two Assessors, if the qualified electors present at the opening of the meeting shall so determine by vote; one Commissioner of Highways; so many Justices of the Peace as there are by law to be elected in the township, and so many Constables as shall be ordered by the meeting, not exceeding four in number, and one Overseer of Highways for each road district, and as many Pound-Masters as the meeting shall direct.

Justices of the Peace hold their terms of office for four years, Highway Commissioners for three years, and School Inspectors for two years. The other officers hold their offices. for one year.

The elections at township meetings are held in substantially the same manner as general elections.

The Supervisor is required by law to prosecute for all penalties and forfeitures incurred within his township, and for which no other officer is specially directed to prosecute. He is the Assesssor of his township.

The Township Clerk keeps the records and papers of the township, when no other provision is made by law; he keeps the accounts of the Township with the Treasurer and with each of the several funds belonging to the Township; the minutes of the proceedings of the Township Board, and performs many other duties.

The Supervisor, the two Justices of the Peace whose term of office will soonest expire, and the Township Clerk, constitute the Township Board. It is the duty of this Board to settle all claims against the township.

It is the duty of the Township Treasurer to receive and take charge of all moneys which by law are to be paid into the township treasury.

Constables are ministerial officers of Justices of the Peace. A ministerial officer is one who acts under the authority of a superior, and does what his superior orders him to do.

Constables are also required to serve all warrants, notices and processes lawfully directed to them by the Township Board, or the Township Clerk, or any other officer.

Questions - What is said of townships? At what time is the annual township meeting held? What officers are chosen at the annual meeting? For how long a time do the officers hold their offices? How are the elections held? What are some of the duties of the Supervisor? Of the Township Clerk? What officers constitute the Town. ship Board? What are the duties of the Township Treasurer? Of Constables?

Commissioners of Highways have a general supervision and control of all the highways and bridges in their respective townships. They are required to divide their townships into road districts, and to assign to each of the districts such of the inhabitants, liable to work on the highways, as shall reside in such district, or own lands therein; to require the Overseers of Highways to have all persons assessed to work on the highways, and perform their labor thereon with such teams, carriages, sleds, or implements as said Commissioners, or any of them, shall direct. It is also their duty to lay out and establish all necessary roads, and to discontinue such old roads as have become unnecessary.

Overseers of Highways are required to repair and keep in order the highways within their districts; to direct persons assessed to work on the highways to come and work; to cause the noxious weeds within the highways to be destroyed; and to execute the orders of the Commissioners.

It is the duty of the School Inspectors to divide the township into school districts; they are to receive from the Treasurer of the township, the money appropriated for the township library, and to procure books for the library. They are also to act in conjunction with Inspectors of adjoining townships in the organization of school districts, lying partly in each of said townships.

When domestic animals run at large, contrary to law, they may be driven to the township pound; and the keeper of such pound, called a Pound-Master, shall keep them until the owner calls for them, and pays him his fees and the expense of keeping such beasts, and the fees due the person driving them to the pound, for his trouble, and whatever damage they may have done to the person who causes them to be impounded.

Questions What are the duties of Commissioners of Highways? Of Overseers of Highways? Of School Inspectors? Of Pound-Masters?

CHAPTER XXXIII.

CITIES AND VILLAGES.

A city is a town where a large number of houses and inhabitants are established in one place, and which has been incorporated and is governed by a mayor and aldermen.

A village is an assemblage of houses and people, less than a city, and not governed by a Mayor and Aldermen.

There are some villages in Michigan much larger than some of the cities.

Some of these villages are not incorporated; while others, like cities, find it necessary, for the preservation of good order, and for the purpose of making those public improvements essential for the convenience and comfort of the people, to exercise powers of government not conferred upon townships, and therefore such villages become incorporated, and are governed by a President and Trustees.

When we say a town is incorporated, we mean the people of that place have been, by law, united together and authorized to do and perform certain acts which, without such law, they could not do.

The cities, and some villages, have a greater number of officers than the townships. This is necessary for the protection of the people.

Cities are subdivided into wards or districts, and officers are elected in each ward to perform certain public duties.

Questions-What is a city? A village? Are all the villages incorporated? For what purposes are cities and villages incorporated? What is meant by an incorporated town? What is said of the number of officers? How are cities subdivided?

Able-bodied white male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, are, unless exempt by law, subject to military duty.

Ministers of the gospel, judges of the courts, members and officers of the Legislature; officers and guards of the State Prison; commissioned officers of the militia who have served six years; State and county officers, (except notaries public,) teachers engaged in public institutions and schools; keepers of poor-houses; officers and attendants of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane, in time of peace; firemen, and inspectors of provisions and merchandise, except in case of invasion and insurrection, are exempt from military duty.

The officers acting as assessors in the several townships and cities, on or before the first day of June in each year, are required to make out and send to the county clerk a list of the names of persons liable to do military duty. These lists constitute the enrolled militia of the State.

The County Clerk is required to send to the AdjutantGeneral of the State the number of persons in his county, returned to him by the assessors.

In case of war or threatened danger to the State or United States, from a foreign or domestic foe, the Commanderin-Chief (the Governor) may call out any portion or all of the enrolled militia.