. The essential facts of Oklahoma history and civics . is form ofpublic action direct democracy. Democracy is aGreek word meaning the rule of the people. Inthe town the people rule directly. They maketheir own by-laws and regulations without elect-ing representatives for that purpose. A Representative Government. — But it is plainthat in a large city, in a state, or in a nation, itwould be impossible to have all the citizens meettogether for discussion and voting. A mass meet-ing of several thousand or a hundred thousandpeople is wholly impracticable. It is thereforenecessary that smaller grou
. The essential facts of Oklahoma history and civics . is form ofpublic action direct democracy. Democracy is aGreek word meaning the rule of the people. Inthe town the people rule directly. They maketheir own by-laws and regulations without elect-ing representatives for that purpose. A Representative Government. — But it is plainthat in a large city, in a state, or in a nation, itwould be impossible to have all the citizens meettogether for discussion and voting. A mass meet-ing of several thousand or a hundred thousandpeople is wholly impracticable. It is thereforenecessary that smaller groups within the city orstate — say wards or districts in the city or townsand counties in the state — should select rep-resentatives to meet together as a council orlegislature to make laws and regulations for thegovernment of the community. In a nation likeour own the most important duty of the citizens,therefore, is that of voting. When the citizen 10 CIVIL GOVERNMENT casts his ballot, he decides who is to representhim in the exercise of The Senate Chamber, Washington, The people not only select the men who are tohold office, but they also control the policies ofpublic action which are to be followed, becausecandidates for office always declare what policythey stand for. The citizens or electors thereforechoose not only between men but between policies. Intelligent Voting.—Many people do not realizethe importance of the act they perform when they THE CITIZENS PART IN GOVERNMENT 11 cast their ballots. There are people even who donot think for themselves when they are voting,but follow the advice of others. Every citizenshould know what candidates he wants to votefor as the best representatives of his idea of thepublic good. He should inquire about them, andfind out whether in offices which they may haveformerly held they have been honest and should read their arguments and see whatpolicies they support. If he finds that they arenot to be trusted
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