State Legislators.— In most States the county is the unit of representation, though in a few of the older States the township is the unit. Some States require that county lines be considered in arranging the legislative districts and while this holds true in New York, a county may be divided into two or more districts. The endeavor is usually made to equalize the popu lation of districts, but some of the States still retain the original privileges of their local areas, thus causing great inequalities in popula tion. In some States each county is limited to one senator regardless of population, while in Rhode Island each town has a senator and one only, so that Providence has no more voice in the upper branch of the State legislature than a small village. In Massachusetts the numeri cal system has been fully adopted. In some of the States with cities of enormous population, the constitutions have placed restrictions on the power these cities may exert in the legislature; for instance, New York city may never elect more than one-third of the members of the legislature. Such a restriction obtains in Pennsylvania. The legislature usually divides the State, but in some States (as New York and Michigan) the legislature only indicates the senatorial districts, leaving the establish ment of assembly districts to the local authori ties. There are great differences in the States regarding the methods and details of legislative apportionment. In Illinois minority represen tation is in use. There senatorial and assem bly districts are identical, one senator and three assemblymen representing each district. Each voter has three votes for members of the assembly.
Municipal The State con trols city government in varying degrees and in diverse particulars. Most cities, under char ters granted by the States, have a mayor and council, elected by popular vote, the first repre senting the administrative branch of the gov ernment and the latter the legislative. The
majority of the councils consist of a single body elected by wards or districts usually for one or two years. In some cities there is a bicameral council, the members of one branch being elected by districts one member to each, while the members of the smaller branch are elected by the whole city or by larger districts. The districts or wards are usually determined by city officials and there too gerrymandering plays its part as well as in State or national politics. Under the commission form of gov ernment there is no question of appointment since the commissioners are elected at large and are presided over by the mayor, who is one of their number. These men constitute the executive and legislative branches of gov ernment combined, pass all ordinances, handle the city funds, and hence centralize in them selves all legislative and administrative powers, Goodnow, F. T., 'Municipal Government' (New York 1910) ; Hart, A. B., 'Actual Government' (New York 1903) ; Hinsdale, B. A., 'The American Government, National and State' (4th ed., New York 1905) ; Munro, W. B., 'City Government by Commission' (New York 1913) and 'Principles and Methods the members apportioning among themselves the headship of the main administrative de partments. See MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT; COM MISSION GOVERNMENT; BICAMERAL SYSTEM. Consult Ashley, R. L., 'The American Federal State' (New York 1908) ; Beard, C. A., 'Amer ican City Government' (New York 1912) ; Bruere and Shepardson, 'The New City Gov ernment' (New York 1912); Bryce, James, 'The American Commonwealth' (4th ed., London 1910); Fairlic, J. A., 'Essays in Municipal Administration' (New York 1910) ; of Municipal Administration' (New York 1916); Reinsch, P. S., 'American Legislatures and Legislative Methods' (New York 1907).