WARD, that which guards or watches, and that which is guarded or watched. In architecture the inner courts of a f orti fied place are called wards, e.g., the upper and lower wards of Windsor Castle (see BAILEY, CASTLE). The "ward" in a lock is the ridge of metal which fits exactly into the corresponding "ward" or slot of the key (see LocK). Boroughs, cities and parishes may be divided into wards, for the conducting of local elections, etc. In the same way, large establishments, such as hospitals, asylums, etc., are divided into wards. In law, "ward" is a term for minors, or persons under guardianship (see INFANT, MARRIAGE and ROMAN LAW).
An electoral division in American municipalities is called a ward. Prior to the introduction of the commission and city man
ager form of government the municipal legislative branch was a city council made up of representatives from the various wards of the city. The wards were supposed to be of about equal popula tion, each ward having either one or two aldermen, chosen by the qualified voters of the ward, in the city council, for terms of one or two years. Many cities are still governed by councils so elected. Each ward is divided into one or more voting precincts or divisions. See C. C. Maxey, An Outline of Municipal Govern ment (1923).