273 flflb GIFT OF ! ; ;' timer for Voters A. G. RANDALL PRICE 25 CENTS DE WITT & SMELLING BOOKSELLERS 5 TELEGRAPH AVE. OAKLAND. CA Primer for Voters A. G. RANDALL A Primer for Voters provides reliable and concise information regarding registration, the process of voting, elections, etc., and is a publication of which I approve. J. H. ZEMANSKY, Registrar of Voters, City Hall, San Francisco. Primer for Voters is the title of a tabloid book on civics and the art of casting a ballot. . . . While it is a manual designed chiefly to instruct women, it may be read to advantage by all voters and kept as a book of reference. The San Francisco Call. A Primer for Voters is short but extremely comprehensive. . . . As a first aid to the new electorate of the State, the book fills a con- spicuous need. The San Francisco Chronicle. A little booklet entitled a Primer for Voters commends itself to the average voter. It is a paper-covered brochure, small enough to be carried conveniently, but compendious enough to be a repository of information concerning civil government and any directions a voter may need. The San Francisco Evening Post. COPYRIGHT 1911 BY THE BLAIR-MURDOCH Co. On Sale at Book Stores and News Stands Trade Supplied by The San Francisco News Co. and Cunningham, Curtis & Welch 565 Market St., San Francisco 260167 CONTENTS. Page. (I) Voting in California 5-8 Those Entitled to Vote 5 Regulations Regarding Registration 5 General Directions for Voting a Ballot 7 (II) Elections Held Throughout the State of California. 9-10 Presidential and Vice-Presidential Election 10-11 (III) Departments and Officers of the National Govern- ment 12-17 The Election of United States Senators and Repre- sentatives 14-15 (IV) Government Departments and Officers of the State of California 18-23 The Election of Senators and Members of the Assembly 20-21 (V) California County, City and Town Elective Officers. 24-25 (VI) San Francisco Municipal Elections 26-27 Municipal Departments and Officers of San Fran- cisco 28-37 (VII) The Initiative 38 The Referendum 39 The Recall 39 (VIII) The Congressional, Senatorial, Assembly, Equaliza- tion, and Judicial Districts of California 41-45 A Sample State Election Ballot A Sample San Francisco Municipal Ballot I. VOTING IN CALIFORNIA AT STATE, COUNTY, CITY, AND TOWN ELECTIONS. 1 Those Entitled to Vote. Citizens of the United States, and naturalized citizens who have become naturalized ninety days prior to any election, who are of the age of twenty-one years, who have been residents of the State one year next preceding the election, and of the county in which vote is claimed ninety days, and of an election precinct thirty days, and who have conformed to the laws governing the registra- tion of voters, are entitled to vote at any election held within the county, city, town, or district within which they reside. Registration. To be entitled to vote at any election, registration must be made from the precinct in which the Voter resides not later than thirty days before the day of the election. City registration is made at a City Registrar's office, or at such places as the Election Board appoints. County registration is made at the office of the County Clerk, or at such places as the Election Board appoints. Registration is in progress at all times except during the thirty days immediately preceding any election. When registered, a person is entitled to vote at any ensuing election without re-registration, provided that 1 Book of Reference: "Registration and Election Laws of California," pub- lished by the Board of Election Commissioners of San Francisco, 1911. residence is retained within the precinct from which regis- tration has been made, and provided that the period for a new registration of voters has not begun. When residence is changed from one precinct to another, before registering from the new precinct, regis- tration from the former precinct must be cancelled. By law, a new registration of Voters is made every two years, beginning on the first day of January of even- numbered years. Thus persons having registered in 1910 and 1911, in order to vote at elections held in 1912 or 1913, must register after the first of January, 1912. Election Precincts. Before a General Election the Boards having control of elections in counties divide the counties into Election Precincts, and the Boards having control of elections in cities divide the cities into Election Precincts. Polling Places. The Boards having control of elections before an elec- tion designate a place within each Precinct where voting is to take place. A Voter must vote at the appointed Polling Place within his, or her, Precinct. Directions for Voting a Ballot. 1 (1) A person desiring to vote, on entering the Polling Place, must write his, or her, name and address on a Roster 2 of Voters provided. 3 (2) The Voter must then announce his, or her, name and address to one of the election officers. (3) Whereupon the Judge announces the name aloud to an officer, who, if he finds the name on the Register, repeats it aloud, whereupon a challenge may be inter- posed. 4 (4) If no challenge is interposed, the Judge in the presence of bystanders compares the signature of the Voter on the Roster of Voters with the signature on the Register. (5) The Judge then gives the Voter a ballot, and the Clerk writes on the Register opposite the name of the Voter the number of the ballot given. (6) The Voter is then allowed to enter the place en- closed by the guard rail, and to go to a voting booth. (7) In each booth there is provided by law a stamp marked with an (X). When voting, this (X) must be stamped in the voting square after the name of every candidate for whom it is desired to vote. A candidate whose name is not printed on the ballot may be voted for by writing his name in the blank space left for that purpose. To vote for a person not on the ballot, his name must be written under the title of the office in the blank space left for that purpose. If two or more candidates for the same office are to be elected, an (X) must be stamped after the name of all the candidates (not exceed- ing the number to be elected) for whom it is desired to vote. (8) In case of a question, proposition, or constitu- tional amendment, the Voter must stamp in the appro- priate voting square an (X) opposite the answer to be made. (9) Before leaving the voting booth, the ballot must be folded in such a way, that the number of the ballot and 1 Election Laws, pages 33, 34, and 35. 2 Roster, i. e. list. 8 If unable to write, the Voter must have his or her name written on the Roster of Voters by an Election Officer. * A person's qualification to vote may be challenged. the endorsement on the back shall appear on the outside, without displaying the marks on the face. (10) The Voter then delivers the folded ballot to the Inspector, who announces the name of the Voter and the number of the ballot. (11) If the Judge having in charge the Register, or affidavits of registration, finds such number marked opposite the Voter's name on the Register, or affidavits of registration, he repeats aloud the number and the name and writes opposite the name the word "voted." (12) The Inspector then separates the slip contain- ing the number from the ballot, deposits the ballot in the box and destroys the number slip. 1 Spoiled Ballots If a ballot is wrongly stamped, torn, or defaced, it must be returned to the Judge, who will give a fresh ballot. Not more than three ballots may be given, one being given at a time. If a ballot is not voted before leaving the voting booth, it must be returned to the Judge. 1 See Sample Ballot, pages 46-47. II. ELECTIONS HELD THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. (Presidential, Primary, General, and Special Elections). (1) A Presidential Election is held every fourth year on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The next Presidential Election is held on November 5, 1912. (2) 1 A Primary State Election is held on the first Tuesday of September in every even-numbered year for the nomination of candidates to be voted upon at the General State Election, and for the election of delegates to Party County Conventions. (3) 2 A General State Election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in every even-numbered year for the election of the following: (1) United States Representatives (term two years), (2) eighty Members of the Assembly (term two years), (3) twenty State Senators (term four years). Every fourth year at a General State Election the fol- lowing are elected to serve a term of four years : A Governor^ Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Con- troller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Surveyor General, Superintendent of Public Instruction. The next Election for a Governor and for the foregoing State officers will take place in 1914. 1 This election is held according to the provisions of the Primary Act of 1911. 2 A popular "Advisory Vote" for U. S. Senator is cast at a General State Election, see page 15. 9 Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the District Courts of Appeal, and Judges of the Superior Courts are also elected at General State Elections. 1 Persons in order to have their names placed on a Gen- eral Election ballot must be nominated as candidates at a Primary Election, or must be nominated as candidates by means of a nominating petition signed by a required number of electors. (4) Special Elections. A special election may be held at a time appointed by the Legislature for the purpose of submitting Proposi- tions, or proposed State Constitutional amendments to popular vote. A Special Election may be held at a time appointed by the Governor for the purpose of electing candidates to fill vacancies in State offices. A Special Election may be called for the Initiative, 2 or for the Referendum, 3 or for the Recall. 4 PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. The United States Constitution provides that the Pres- ident and Vice-President shall be elected by the vote of chosen Electors. Each State is entitled to elect as many Presidential Electors as it has Senators and Representatives in Con- gress. 5 Each State elects its entitled number of Electors on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every fourth year. 1 See pages 22 and 23. 2 The Initiative, see page 38. 8 The Referendum, see page 39 4 The Recall, see page 39. 8 At the Presidential Election in 1912 California, being entitled to eleven Representatives and two Senators, will elect thirteen Electors. 10 The election of Electors is called a Presidential Elec- tion. The Electoral candidates of each political party are pledged, if elected, to vote for National party candidates for President and Vice-President. Thus the political party having the greatest number of electoral candidates elected throughout the Country at a Presidential Election, has won the election of its candidates for President and Vice-President. The actual voting of the Electors for President and Vice-President has become a mere matter of form, to comply with the provisions of the Constitution. It takes place as follows : Some weeks after their election the Electors of each State meet, on a day fixed by law, at their State Capitol, and each give a vote in writing for a President, and for a Vice-President. These votes in writing are transmitted to Washington and there counted by the President of the Senate, in the presence of both Houses, and the names of the candidates elected as President and Vice-President announced. CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION. In the Spring of the year of a Presidential Elec- tion, a Primary Election will take place in California for the election of delegates to the National Party Conventions, held to nominate candidates for Presi- dent and Vice-President. Only those persons may vote at the Presidential Primary Election who, when registering, declared their Party affiliations. 11 III. DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS OF THE NA- TIONAL GOVERNMENT. The National Government has three departments of government: (1) The Executive Department; (2) the Legislative Department; (3) the Judicial Department. The Executive Department. (President, Vice-President, and Cabinet.) President. The President takes office on the Fourth of March fol- lowing his election, and serves a term of four years. He receives an annual salary of $75,000. As Chief Executive of the Nation he has the follow- ing powers and duties: (1) He commands the Army and Navy; (2) he has power to make treaties, with the consent of the Senate ; (3) he has power to convene both Houses of Congress on extraordinary occasions ; (4) he has power to veto any bill or resolution passed by Congress, subject to the power of Congress to finally pass the same by a two-thirds majority vote of each house; (5) he appoints Ambassadors and Consuls; (6) he appoints Justices and Judges of the Federal Courts, (subject to the assent of the Senate) ; (7) he commissions all Officers of the United States ; (8) he grants reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, (except in cases of impeachment) ; (9) he keeps Congress informed of the state of the Union ; (10) he recommends measures to Congress; (11) he ap- points the Members of his Cabinet. The holder of the office of President for the term 1909-1913, is William Howard Taft. 12 Vice-President. -^ The Vice-President takes office on the Fourth of March following- his election, and with the President serves a term of four years. His chief duty is to act as President of the Senate. In case of the prolonged illness or death of the President he succeeds to the Presidency. He receives an annual salary of $12,000. The holder of the office of Vice-President for the term 1909-1913, is James S. Sherman. The Cabinet. The Members of the Cabinet form a private council to the President. Each is at the head of a Department, being appointed to office by the President. The nine Members of the Cabinet are : A Secretary of State, a Secretary of the Treasury, a Secretary of the Interior, a Secretary of War, a Secretary of the Navy, a Secretary of Agriculture, a Secretary of Commerce and Labor, a Postmaster-General, and an Attorney-General. Each receives an annual salary of $12,000, except the Secretary of State, who receives an annual salary of $8,000. Those holding office for the term 1909-1913 are : Secretary of State, Philander C. Knox. Secretary of Treasury, Franklin Macveagh. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson. Attorney-General, George W. Wickersham. Postmaster-General, Frank H. Hitchcock. Secretary of Navy, George Von R. Meyer. Secretary of Interior, Walter L. Fisher. Secretary of Agriculture, James Wilson. Secretary of Commerce .and Labor, Charles Nagel. 13 The Legislative Department. Congress. (1) The Senate; (2) The House of Representatives. Congress is the National Legislature. It is composed of an Upper, and a Lower House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. These Houses pass bills which become National laws. The First Session of Congress begins in the fall of the year after the election of members of Congress, and continues, with a recess for Christmas, until the July or August following. The Second Session begins in De- cember after the July or August adjournment, and con- tinues until the following Fourth of March. The present is the Sixty-second Congress. Its term is March 4, 1911- March 4, 1913. (1) The Senate. Each State is represented in the Senate by two United States Senators. United States Senators are not elected by popular vote, but are elected by their State Legislatures. They take office on the Fourth of March following their election, and serve a term of six years. One-third of the Members of the Senate retire every two years, so that the whole body is renewed in a period of every six years. The Vice-President is the President of the Senate. Each United States Senator receives an annual salary of $7,500. California United States Senators are : George C. Perkins (Rep.), of Oakland. Term expires March, 1915. John D. Works (Rep.), of Los Angeles. Term expires March, 1917. 14 A POPULAR ADVISORY VOTE FOR CALIFORNIA U. S. SENATORS. In California at the general state election next preceding the ~\ Legislative Session at which a United States Senator is to be elect- ed, the names of party candidates, nominated for United States Senator at the preceding primary state election, are voted upon. 1 The names ot those candidates receiving the highest number of L votes at the general state election are later transmitted by the C Secretary of State to the Legislature. The Members of the Legis- lature may then, when electing a United States Senator, if so I desiring, vote for the Senatorial candidate chosen by the popular advisory vote of their respective parties. ' (2) The House of Representatives. The House of Representatives represents the Nation on the basis of population. Each State, according to its population, is divided into a number of Congressional Districts. 1 One Representative is elected to Congress from each District. There are at present 391 Represent- atives in Congress. Each State elects its Representatives at a general State election held in even-numbered years. Representatives take office on the Fourth of March following their elec- tion, and serve a term of two years. On assembling they elect a presiding officer called the Speaker. The present holder of the office of Speaker, is Champ Clark. The Speaker receives an annual salary of $12,000. Each Representative receives an annual salary of $7,500. California has eight Representatives in the present Congress. 2 They are : John E. Raker (Dem.), First Congressional District. William Kent (Rep.), Second Congressional District. Jos. R. Knowland (Rep.), Third Congressional Dis- trict. Julius Kahn (Rep.), Fourth Congressional District. E. A. Hayes (Rep.), Fifth Congressional District. , Pa l ty . can didates for the office of U. S. Senator have their names placed on the official Primary Election ballots of their respective parties in the manner provided for State Officers. 2 For Counties in each Congressional District of California, see page 41. 15 J. C. Needham (Rep.), Sixth Congressional District. W. D. Stevens (Rep.), Seventh Congressional District. S. C. Smith (Rep.), Eighth Congressional District. The Judicial Department. Federal Courts. (Justices of Supreme Court, Judges of Circuit Courts, Judges of District Courts.) The Federal Courts are the National Courts ; they deal with all cases beyond, or entitled to pass beyond the jurisdiction of the State Courts. There are four chief classes of Federal Courts: (I) The Supreme Court; (II) the Circuit Courts of Appeals ; (III) Circuit Courts ; (IV) District Courts. (I) The Supreme Court. The Supreme Court sits at Washington ; it tries cases appealed from the lower Federal Courts. It has a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices, who are appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate, and who hold office for life, being removable only by impeachment. The Chief Justice receives an annual salary of $15,000. Each Associate Justice receives an annual salary of $14,500. Circuit Courts of Appeals, Circuit Courts, District Courts. The territory of the United States is divided into nine Judicial Circuits. Each Judicial Circuit is divided into a number of Judicial Districts. There are in all eighty-eight Judicial Districts. In each Judicial Circuit are held a Circuit Court of Ap- peals, and two or more Circuit Courts. 16 In each Judicial District is held a District Court. The Judges of the Circuit, and District Courts, like the Justices of the Supreme Court, are appointed to office by the President, with the consent of the Senate, and hold office for life, being removable only by impeachment. (II) Circuit Courts of Appeals. Circuit Courts of Appeals try cases appealed from the Circuit and District Courts of their own Judicial Circuits. A Circuit Court of Appeals is held by a Supreme Court Justice, (one being assigned to each Judicial Circuit), and by the Circuit and District Judges of its own Judicial Circuit. (III) Circuit Courts. 1 Circuit Courts try cases appealed from the District Courts of their own Judicial Circuits. Each is held by a Circuit Judge. A Circuit Judge receives an annual salary of $6,000. (IV) District Courts. District Courts try cases within their own Judicial Districts. Each is held by a District Judge. A District Judge receives an annual salary of $6,000. 1 After January, 1912, the Circuit Courts will be abolished. The Circuit Court Judges will be retained to sit at Circuit Courts of Appeals. 17 IV. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. California, like all other States, has three departments of government : (1) The Executive Department ; (2) the Legislative Department; (3) the Judicial Department. The Executive Department. (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Executive Officers.) Governor. The Governor takes office on the first Monday after the first day of January following his election, and serves a term of four years. He receives an annual salary of $10,000. His chief powers are: (1) To convene the Legislature in special session ; (2) to veto a bill of the Legislature, subject to the power of the Legislature to finally pass the same by a two-thirds majority vote of each House; (3) to recommend to the Legislature at each session such measures as he may consider expedient; (4) to appoint certain State Executive Officers, Boards and Commissions. The holder of the office of Governor for the term 1911- 1915, is Hiram W. Johnson. Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor takes office at the same time as the Governor, and serves a term of four years. ' 18 His chief duty is to act as President of the Senate. In case of the prolonged illness or death of the Governor, he succeeds to the office of Governor. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. The holder of the office of Lieutenant Governor for the term 1911-1915, is Robert J. Wallace. Executive Officers. The following Executive Officers are elected at the general State election at which the Governor is elected : A Secretary of State, Controller, Treasurer, Attorney General, Surveyor General, Superintendent of Public In- struction. They take office at the same time as the Governor, and serve a term of four years. Each receives an annual salary of $5,000, except the Attorney General, who re- ceives an annual salary of $6,000. Those holding office are : Secretary of State, Frank C. Jordan. Controller, A. B. Nye. Treasurer, W. R. Williams. Attorney General, Ulysses S. Webb. Surveyor General; Wm. S. Kingsbury. Superintendent Public Instruction, Edward Hyatt. Included in the Executive Department are various heads of State Departments and Bureaus, and members of State Boards and Commissions, none of whom are elected to office except the Members of the State Board of Equalization. State Board of Equalization. There are four Members of the State Board of Equal- ization. They are elected at the general State election at 19 which the Governor is elected, and they serve a term of four years. The Board equalizes tax assessments throughout the State. The State is divided into four Equalization Dis- tricts; 1 one member of the Board is elected from each District. Those holding office for the term 1911-1915 are: Edward M. Rolkin, First District. John Mitchell, Second District. Richard E. Collins, Third District. Jeff McElvaine, Fourth District. [The Controller is also a member of this Board.] The Legislative Department. The Legislature. (1) The Senate; (2) The Assembly. The State Legislature is composed of an Upper, and a Lower House, the Senate and the Assembly. These Houses pass bills which become State laws. The Legislature meets for one regular session once every two years. 1 It begins regular session on the first Monday after the first day of January, after the election of its members. A regular session usually continues about ninety days. 2 The Governor may convene the Leg- islature when necessary at Special Sessions. (1) The Senate. There are forty members of the Senate. The State is divided into forty Senatorial Districts. 3 One Senator is elected from each District, to serve a term of four years. It is so arranged that at one general State election twenty Senators are elected from the odd-num- 1 For Counties in each Equalization District, see page 44. 2 After January, 1912, there will be two sessions, with an intervening recess of thirty days. * For Counties in each Senatorial District, see page 42. 20 bered Districts, while at the following general State elec- tion twenty Senators are elected from the even-numbered Districts. For example, in 1908 a Senator was elected from each odd-numbered District, while in 1910 a Senator was elected from each even-numbered District. Thus every two years twenty Senators are elected whose terms continue during the period of two Legislatures. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor. Each Senator receives the sum of $1,000 for a regular session of the Legislature, and $10.00 a day for each day of special session. (2) The Assembly. There are eighty Members of the Assembly. The State is divided into eighty Assembly Districts. 1 At each general State election one Member is elected to the Assembly from each Assembly District, to serve a term of two years. The Presiding Officer of the Assembly is called the "Speaker." The present holder of the office of Speaker, is A. H. Hewitt. Each Member of the Assembly receives the sum of $1,000 for a regular session of the Legislature, and $10.00 a day for each day of special session. The Judicial Department. (Supreme Court Justices, Justices of the District Courts of Appeal, Judges of the Superior Courts.) The State has three classes of Courts: (I) The Su- preme Court; (II) the District Courts of Appeal; (III) the Superior Courts. 1 For Counties in Assembly Districts, see page 43. 21 (I) The Supreme Court. The Supreme Court tries cases -appealed from the Dis- trict Courts of Appeal, and from the Superior Courts. It has a Chief Justice, and six Associate Justices, who are elected at general State elections, and who serve a term of twelve years. 1 Each Justice receives an annual salary of $8,000. The following are now serving: Chief Justice W. H. Beatty. Term expires January, 1915. Associate Justice F. M. Angellotti. Term expires Jan- uary, 1915. Associate Justice Lucien Shaw. Term expires January, 1915. Associate Justice F. W. Henshaw. Term expires Jan- uary, 1919. Associate Justice Wm. G. Lorigan. Term expires Jan- uary, 1919. Associate Justice Max Sloss. Term expires January, 1923. Associate Justice H. A. Melvin. Term expires January, 1923. (II) District Courts of Appeal. The State is divided into three Appellate Districts. There is one District Court of Appeal for each Appellate District. The Court of the First Appellate District meets at San Francisco ; the Court of the Second Appellate District meets at Los Angeles ; the Court of the Third Appellate District meets at Sacramento. District Courts of Appeal try cases appealed from the Superior Courts within their own Appellate Districts. There are nine Justices of the District Courts of Ap- peal, three for each Court. Justices are elected from 1 Justices of the Supreme Court are elected at large, i. e. not from Districts. 22 their Districts at a general State election, to serve a term of twelve years. Each Justice receives an annual salary of $7,000. The following are now serving: First Appellate District. Presiding Justice Thos. J. Lennon. Term expires Jan- uary, 1923. Associate Justice F. H. Kerrigan. Term expires Jan- uary, 1915. Associate Justice S. P. Hall. Term expires January, 1919. Second Appellate District. Presiding Justice Mathew T. Allen. Term expires January, 1915. Associate Justice W. P. James. Term expires January, 1919. Associate Justice V. E. Shaw. Term expires January, 1923. Third Appellate District. Presiding Justice Norton P. Chipman. Term expires January, 1919. Associate Justice E. C. Hart. Term expires January, 1915. Associate Justice A. G. Burnett. Term expires Jan- uary, 1923. (Ill) Superior Courts. Each County has a Superior Court. A Superior Court tries cases appealed from the Justices' Courts, and from the Municipal Police Courts of the County. 1 Judges are allotted to each Superior Court in number proportionate to the population of the County. Superior Court Judges are elected at general State elections, and serve a term of six years. Their terms expire at varying periods. 2 1 A Superior Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases. 2 They are elected from the County at large. 23 V. ELECTIVE OFFICERS OF COUNTY GOVERN- MENT. 1 Each County is governed by a Board of Supervisors, and by various County Officers. Board of Supervisors. Each Board of Supervisors has five members, who are elected at a general State election, and serve a term of four years. In some counties they are elected from Supervisorial Districts, while in others they are elected at large. They take office on the first Monday after the first day of January following their election. Their duties in'general are : (1) To supervise the con- duct of County Officers; (2) to divide the County into townships, election, school, road and other districts; (3) to appoint inspectors, clerks and judges of election, and to canvass all election returns of the State of California ; (4) to fill by appointment certain vacancies in County offices. County Officers. The Officers of a County are : A District Attorney, Sheriff, County Clerk, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, License Collector, Tax Collector, Assessor, Superintend- ent of Schools, Public Administrator, Coroner, Surveyor, etc. They are elected at a general State election, and serve a term of four years. 1 Book of Reference: "General Election Laws, State of California," 1910, by Chas. F. Curry, pages 219-226. 24 In most of the Counties the duties of the following offices are consolidated : Sheriff and Tax Collector, Auditor and Recorder, County Clerk, Auditor and Re- corder, County Clerk and Recorder, County Clerk and Auditor, Treasurer and Tax Collector, Assessor and Tax Collector, Public Administrator and Coroner. County Justices of the Peace are also elected at general State elections. ELECTIVE OFFICERS OF CITY AND TOWN GOVERNMENT. (1) Elective Officers of City Government. Each city has a Chief Executive, i. e., a Mayor, or a President of Trustees, a Legislative Body, and various Municipal Officers. In some cities the Legislative Body is called the Board of Trustees, while in others it is called the City Council, or the Board of Supervisors, etc. The Municipal Officers of a city, in general, are: A City Attorney, Auditor, Treasurer, Assessor, City Clerk, Marshal, etc. The majority of cities hold their Municipal Elections every two years. Special elections may be held under the provisions of City Charters. (2) Elective Officers of Town Government. Each town has a Chief Executive, i. e., a President of Trustees, a Legislative Board, i. e., a Board of Trustees, and various Town Officers, (a Town Clerk, Town At- torney, Treasurer, Marshal, etc.). The majority of towns hold their elections every two years. 25 VI. SAN FRANCISCO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. 1 (1) Elections held ; (2) Officers elected; (3) Terms of office ; (4) The number of votes which elect at a Primary Election. (i) Primary Municipal Election. A Primary Municipal Election is held on the last Tues- day in September in each odd-numbered year, for the nomination of candidates to be voted upon at the en- suing General Municipal Election. General Municipal Election. A General Municipal Election is held on the first Tues- day after the first Monday in November in each odd- numbered year for the election of Municipal Officers. Special Election. A Special Election may be called for the following pur- poses : (1) For the Referendum; 2 (2) for the Initiative; 3 (3) for the Recall; 4 (4) for the acquisition of Public Utilities; 5 (5) to fill vacancies in office; (6) for amend- ments to the Charter; (1) for Bond Issues. 6 1 Book of Reference: "Registration and Election Laws of California," pub- lished by the Board of Election Commissioners, San Francisco, 1911. 2 "Registration and Election Laws," pages 159, 160. 8 Id., pages 154-157. 4 Id., pages 160-164. Id., pages 160-166. 8 Id., page 164. 26 (2) Officers Elected. The Municipal Officers nominated and elected at Pri- mary and General elections are : A Mayor, four Police Judges, a District Attorney, City Attorney, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Recorder, Public Ad- ministrator, County Clerk, Coroner, Sheriff and eighteen Supervisors. Office is taken on the Eighth day of January follow- ing election. (3) Terms of Office. At the Municipal Election of 1911 the following were elected to serve for the term of 1912-1916: The Mayor, two Police Judges, the District Attorney, Auditor, As- sessor, County Clerk, Coroner, Sheriff and nine Super- visors. The following were elected to serve for the term 1912- 1914: Tax Collector, Recorder, City Attorney, Treas- urer, Public Administrator and nine Supervisors. The nine Supervisors who received the highest number of votes at the Municipal Election of 1911 are to serve for the term 1912-1916, while the remaining nine elected are to serve for the term 1912-1914. In 1913, the Tax Collector, Recorder, City Attorney, two Police Judges, Treasurer, Public Administrator and nine Supervisors will be elected to serve a term of four years. Thus, henceforth, at each municipal election, cer- tain officers will be elected to serve a term of four years. (4) The Number of Votes which Elect at a Primary Election. Candidates may be elected at a Primary Election under the following conditions: (1) In case there is but one person to be elected to an office, the candidate receiving a majority of the votes cast for all the candidates for that office is elected; (2) in case there are two or more per- 27 sons to be elected to an office, those candidates who re- ceive the highest number of votes, are elected ; provided that no person shall be elected unless he receive a num- ber of votes greater than one-half the number of ballots cast at the Election. MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICERS OF SAN FRANCISCO. 1 (The City and County, coinciding in territory, are under one Municipal Government.) San Francisco has various departments of Municipal Government, the chief of which are the Executive and the Legislative Departments. The Executive Department. (The Mayor, Executive Officers.) The Mayor. The Mayor is elected at a municipal election, and takes office on the 8th of January following. After January, 1912, his term will be four years. The Mayor is the President of the Board of Supervisors. His duties in general are : To supervise the conduct of all public officers ; to see that the laws and ordinances are enforced; to exercise supervision over the depart- ments and public institutions of the City ; to see that all contracts with the City and County are kept; to appoint certain public Boards, and all public officers whose elec- tion or appointment is not otherwise provided for. The following are the Boards appointed by the Mayor : A Board of Public Works, a Board of Education, a Board of Police Commissioners, a Board of Fire Commissioners, a Board of Health, a Board of Election Commissioners, a 1 Book of Reference: The Charter of the City and County of San Francisco. 28 Board of Civil Service Commissioners, a Board of Play- ground Commissioners, and a Board of Park Com- missioners. The Mayor receives an annual salary of $6,000. The Mayor's office is in the Crocker Building. The holder of the office of Mayor for the term 1912- 1916, is James Rolph, Jr. Executive Officers. The following Executive Officers are elected with the Mayor at a municipal election, and take office on the eighth of January following: (1) Auditor, (2) Treasurer, (3) Assessor, (4) Tax Collector, (5) Coroner, (6) Re- corder. 1. Auditor. (Office in City Hall.) The Auditor is in charge of the City's Accounts. After January, 1912, his term will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. Thos. F. Boyle, serves for the term 1912-1916. 2. Treasurer. (pffice in City Hall.) The Treasurer is in charge of the City's Treasury. His term is two years; after January, 1914, it will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. John E. Macdougald, serves for the term 1912-1914. 3. Assessor. (Office, 1245 Market Street.) The Assessor makes valuations of property upon which taxes are to be levied. After January, 1912, his term will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $8,000. Washington Dodge, serves for the term 1912-1916. 29 4. Tax Collector. (Office, 1219 Market -Street.) His term is two years; after January, 1914, it will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. David Bush, serves for the term 1912-1914. 5. Coroner. (Office, 363 Fell Street.) After January, 1912, his term will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. Thos. B. Leland, serves for the term of 1912-1916. 6. Recorder. (Office in City Hall.) The Recorder is the custodian of Public Records. His term is two years ; after January, 1914, it will be four years. He receives an annual salary of $4,000. Edmond Godchaux, serves for the term of 1912-1914. Legislative Department. (The Board of Supervisors.) A Board of eighteen Supervisors form the City Leg- islature. They are elected from the City at large 1 at a municipal election. They take office on the 8th of Jan- uary following. Of the eighteen Supervisors elected at the municipal election of 1911 the nine who won the highest number of votes are to hold office four years, while the remaining nine are to hold office two years. At the municipal election in 1913 and at each municipal election thereafter nine Supervisors are to be electeuch candidate. Where' no office are to be elected. I iio I n u u 1 1 uiio I u vui LMO ^B t g%* 'how^er^r*'!)"^' ;" oTnd";u d ."wh% fo r r. h " ^^^r^t"^^ title of the office in the, blank space left for that purpose. To vote on any auestion. proposition or constitution swans after the word "Yes" or after the ~crd No Ai , X> are forbidden. All distl . ^_ . ._.^ ...-.. TIP, tear or deface this ballot, return It to trie Inspector of Election si J me of such person und p cross (X) in th s (X) in th voting are forbidden and LEGISLATIVE CONGRESSIONAL ; i V OF CALIFORNIA LI UK \RV THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW 10 30m-l,'15 YB !273c