Weymouth High School - Campus / Reflector Yearbook (Weymouth, MA)

Page 25 text:

It must be apparent to every thinkiiij; voter that our Congress, composed ol elected men, ields tremendous power. Therefore, is it not the voter ' s duty to elect to Congress only those men who will use this power judiciously, who will make laws which are for the best interests of the people? There is not a single Senator or Representative who, if he wishes to hold office for any length of time, must not ask the people whom he represents for their vote. Let us turn now to the Executive Department, the duty of which is to execute the work of legislation. At the head of this branch, the powerful President of the United States, the most privileged execiuive in the world, holds office — but onh at the pleasure of the voters. The procedure of a Presidential election is different from that of a Congressional one. Members of Congress are elected directly by the people, while the President is elected by the Electoral College, which previously has been selected by the voters. In addition to controlling Congress and the President, the individual voter indirectly controls the Judicial Department, for both the appointing and con- firming of the judiciary are done by elected men. These three departments, the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial, are co-ordinate; that is, they work together, and yet they are clearly separate, each performing its functions inider the Constitiuion. Moreover, there is provided a system of checks and balances between them. In a like manner, the individual, through elected representatives may also influence amendments to the Constitution. To insure tlie freedom and independent action of the voter, the Constitution, by the Bill of Rights, guarantees to him certain inalienable rights; such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to petition the government. Who is this highly-privileged, individualized voter? The individual is anyone at all. He may be a leader in finance or a day laborer. The same power is given him. 1 he individual speaks from the whole country; from the woods of Maine, fiom the great plains of the Middle West, from the high slopes of the Rockies, from the simny shores of California, and most definitely from our town of Weymouth. Many of us here to-day have the voting power. How vital it is that we use this great privilege wisely, for the whole system of American governmetit rests on the ballot box. In the present crisis of world affairs, it is of the greatest impor- tance that we have sound governmen in this country. For soimd government, we need the right sort of men, and it is our duty as voters to elect them. Let us remember then, when election time comes, that the government of the United States is the people ' s government, made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people. Mothers and fathers, it is impossible for us to repay you for the fine start in life you have given us. We are grateful beyond all measure, and we hope that we will live up to your fondest expectations. Mr. Pearsf)n and members of the School Committee, we wish to express our appreciation for the fine schools with which you have provided us. We know we liave had the best possible preparation for the future. ' 9 i

Page 24 text:

Mori: than a ccnuir ago, the t rca( slatcsiiian, Hciir (;ia . )l)sci c(l, (.ov- crinneiu is a irust, and the officers of ihc g() cniiiKiU arc trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created lor the l)enehi of the people. This statement was true when Henry Clay uttered it; it is true today. Will ii be true twenty years from now? That will dejsend on the oter. hi these troubled times, more iliaii e cr bclorc, it is not oidy a dut and a pii ilcgc, but a necessity for oin citi cns to ciioose the most ca|)al)le and honest tiustees possible; and imder the ])i() isions o l our Consiiiiii ion our people are able to do just this. The right of voting in the United Stales is gi cn to most of our ciii ens twenty- one years of age and o er. ' hat potential force lies within this privilege! Ily a mere cross on his l)allot, ilic oici can choose the man he wishes to (onirol Iiis go ernnKni; and what is also significant, he can reino e those same men Irom oliice il he is displeased with their work. The voter, therefore, is the soiuce of the officials ' power. The man whom the oler fa ors has pri ilegcs and duiies; ilu- man he rejects has none. Since we are discussing the voter, it would be well lo know exactly who the c)ter is. .As social conditions ary in the dillerent parts of the country, the Con- siiiuiion wisely leaves the sulirage problem to the stales. Each state deals with il according lo its own ])eculiar conditions. The ( lonsi inn ion im])oses only certain limitations; namely, that a state may not deny suiliage l)ecause ol race, color, previous condition ol servitude, or sex. ' ith these exceptions, the voting privilege is lelt entirely to the states. Those suffrage conditions vary, but the ai)ility to read and write English is usually rec|uired. Whoever votes for his slate legislators may also vote in lederal elections. At this point let us examine the National Legislature and its members, the choice of whom rests with the individual voter. This body, connnonly known as Congress, is composed of two houses, the house of Representatives, and the .Senate. 1 he House of RejMesentatives has a membership of 435, made up oi men from all the states of the union. Each state has a definite number of Represen- tatives or Congressmen, chosen according to. its population. Each state has at least one Congressmen, and the ratio in 1930 was one Congresmen for 280,074 persons. They serve lor terms of two years, and, at the end of that period, must be re-elected in order to remain in office. The members of the House must pass every law which Congress submits to the President, and must themselves orig- inate all bills calling lor the raising of revenue. The plan ol the Senate is somewhat different. Every state sends two Senators, so that there are ninety-six in all. They serve lor terms of six years and represent their entire state, while the Congressman merely represents the people of his own particular district. Vithout doubt, the United States Senate is the most powerful assembly of its kind in the world. It, together with the House, passes bills, which arc then sent to the President. In addition, this body has the special duly ol ratifying treaties and confirming presidential appointments. In short, the Senate must give its consent to practically every major act of the President. 18

Page 26 text:

I ' l incipal and teachers, vc sliall iic ' fr lorf ' ci youi s iiipai lu i i( muUi slaiuliii; ol our probeiiis, your unfailing assistance and your triencUy spirii loward us all. I ' lease accept our most sincere thanks. Classmates, to-day we step Irom the protection oi Veymouth High School into a world ol op]X)rtiuiities. W ' e are, indeed, •tortiniate to ije li ing in the United States, where we have a strong and stable govennneiU. Let us pro e that a well- ordered go ernment, based on the rights ol the people and supported by a sense oi duty ol the people, can exist in the midst of discordant nations. As we steer our ship of lortune through sioini and sunshine toward the port of our dreams, lei us ever keep before us those inspiring words of oiu motto — On! Sail on! 20