=3. What your township officials do.= =References=: JOHN A. FAIRLIE, _Local Government in Counties, Towns and Villages_, pp. 164-181; H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, pp. 268-283; JOHN FISKE, _Civil Government in the United States_, pp. 89-95; EVERETT KIMBALL, _State and Local Government_, pp. 333-344; Annual Reports of Township Supervisor or Chairman. Short Studies 1. =The importance of local government in a democracy.= A. DE TOCQUEVILLE, _Democracy in America_, Vol. I, pp. 74-87. 2. =French and English methods of local government.= H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, pp. 1-65. 3. =The county board.= JOHN A. FAIRLIE, _Local Government in Counties, Towns and Villages_, pp. 75-94; EVERETT KIMBALL, _State and Local Government_, pp. 317-332. 4. =Politics in county government.= H. S. GILBERTSON, _The County_, pp. 43-65. 5. =Where the county’s money goes.= H. G. JAMES, _Local Government in the United States_, pp. 232-250. 6. =City and county consolidation.= _Ibid._, pp. 437-448. 7. =A New England town meeting.= JOHN FISKE, _Civil Government in the United States_, pp. 16-34. 8. =The enforcement of the state laws in rural communities.= J. M. MATHEWS, _Principles of American State Administration_, pp. 430-462. 9. =How good planning helps the small town.= C. S. BIRD, _Town Planning for Small Communities_, pp. 1-19; 76-99. 10. =Home rule for counties.= H. S. GILBERTSON, _The County_, pp. 207-250. 11. =The government of an urban county.= Cook County, Board of Commissioners, _A Study of Cook County_, pp. 5-21. 12. =The county courts.= J. W. SMITH, _Training for Citizenship_, pp. 185-197; American Academy of Political and Social Science, _County Government_, pp. 120-133; Illinois Constitutional Convention, 1920, _Bulletins_, No. 11, pp. 905-925 (Local Government in Chicago and Cook County). Questions 1. Why do we need a system of local government? Suppose all the areas of local government were to be abolished and the management of local affairs taken over by the state, what advantages and disadvantages would result? 2. To what extent does the constitution of your state restrict the freedom of the state legislature in interfering with local government? Are these restrictions too great? Why should not counties and towns be given complete home rule? 3. Name the qualifications which a good sheriff ought to have. An efficient coroner. 4. Why do we need a registry of deeds? If deeds were not registered what difficulties would be encountered? Is a deed invalid if not registered? 5. If counties were to be abolished, which of their present functions would you transfer to the state and which to the townships, towns, or villages? 6. Why is it thought desirable that when places become thickly-settled they should be given separate incorporation? 7. Explain how local government serves as a school for democracy.