Part 14 (1/2)

18. How are juries in civil and misdemeanor cases chosen?

19. Describe the system of choosing or selecting by lot.

20. How many persons const.i.tute a jury?

21. How are juries in cases of felony chosen?

22. What do you understand by CHALLENGING a juror?

23. What does SUMMON mean?

24. What does a grand jury consist of?

25. What is a special grand jury?

26. What are the duties of grand jurors?

27. What does PRESENT mean?

28. What is the duty of the foreman of the grand jury?

29. What is an oath?

30. How many kinds of grand juries are there?

31. What is the compensation of grand jurors?

32. What does a PEt.i.t JURY consist of?

33. What are the duties of a pet.i.t jury?

34. What do you understand by rendering a verdict according to the law and evidence?

VIII.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION.

Counties.

Organized by the General a.s.sembly under the provisions of the Const.i.tution.

Objects. Convenience in administering justice and transacting local business.

Each county shall maintain at the county seat a court-house, clerk's office, and jail.

Counties are organized--that is, formed and invested with powers of government--by the General a.s.sembly. The a.s.sembly may form new counties out of other counties or parts of other counties, but the Const.i.tution of Virginia directs that ”no new county shall be formed with an area of less than six hundred square miles,” and that the county or counties from which a new one is formed shall not be reduced below an area of six hundred square miles.

The convenience of having the State divided into counties may easily be seen. If there were no counties most of the people would have to go long distances to the State capital in order to have important business attended to. County organization brings the advantages of government and the administration of justice nearer the homes of all the people.