Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

POLICE

907

POLICY

the state, but also to establish for the intercourse of citizen with citizen those rules of good manners and good neighborhood which are calculated to prevent a conflict of rights, and to insure to each the uninterrupted enjoyment of his own, so far as is reasonably consistent with a like enjoyment of rights by others. Cooley, Const. Lim. *572. It is defined by Jeremy Bentham in his works : * Police is in general a system of precaution, either for the prevention of crime or of calamities. Its business may be distributed into eight distinct branches: (1) Police for the prevention of offenses; (2) police for the prevention of calamities; (3) police for the prevention of epidemic diseases; v*) police of charity; (5) police of interior communi cations ; (6) police of public amusements; (7) po lice for recent intelligence; (8) police for regis tration. " 6 Or. 222. POLICE COURT. The name of a kind of inferior court in several of the states, which has a summary jurisdiction over minor offenses and misdemeanors of small conse quence, and the powers of a committing magistrate in respect to more serious crimes, and, in some states, a limited jurisdiction for the trial of civil causes. In English law. Courts in which stipend iary magistrates, chosen from barristers of a certain standing, sit for the dispatch of busi ness. Their general duties and powers are the same as those of the unpaid magistracy, except that one of them may usually act in cases which would require to be heard before two other justices. Wharton. POLICE DE CHARGEMENT. Fr. In French law. A bill of lading. Ord. Mar. liv. 3, tit. 2. POLICE JURY, in Louisiana, is the des ignation of the board of officers in a parish corresponding to the commissioners or su pervisors of a county in other states. POLICE JUSTICE. A magistrate charged exclusively with the duties incident to the common-law office of a conservator or justice of the peace; the prefix "police" serv ing merely to distinguish them from justices having also civil jurisdiction. 58 N. Y. 530. POLICE OFFICER. One of the staff of men employed in cities and towns to en force the municipal police, i. e., the laws and ordinances for preserving the peace and good order of the community. Otherwise called "policeman." POLICE POWER. The power vested in a state to establish laws and ordinances for the regulation and enforcement of ita po lice. See that title. The power vested in the legislature to make, or dain, and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable laws, statutes, and ordinances, either

with penalties or without, not repugnant to the constitution, as they shall judge to be for the good and welfare of the commonwealth, and of the sub jects of the same. 7 Cush. 85. The police power of the state is an authority conferred by the American constitutional system upon the individual states, through which they are enabled to establish a special department of po lice ; adopt such regulations as tend to prevent the commission of fraud, violence, or other offenses against the state; aid in the arrest of criminals; and secure generally the comfort, health, and pros perity of the state, by preserving the public order, preventing a conflict of rights in the common inter course of the citizens, and insuring to each an un interrupted enjoyment of all the privileges con ferred upon him by the laws of his country. La lor, Pol. Enc. *. v. It is true that the legislation which secures to all protection in their rights, and the equal use and enjoyment of their property, embraces an almost infinite variety of subjects. Whatever af fects the peace, good order, morals, and health of the community comes within its scope; and every one must use and enjoy his property subject to the restrictions which such legislation imposes. What is termed the "police power" of the state, which, from the language often used respecting it, one would suppose to be an undefined and irresponsi ble element in government, can only interfere with the conduct of individuals in their inter course with each other, and in the use of their property, so far as may be required to secure these objects. 94 U. S. 145. POLICE REGULATIONS. Laws of a state, or ordinances of a municipality, which have for their object the preservation and protection of public peace and good order, and of the health, morals, and security of the people. POLICE SUPERVISION. In England, subjection to police supervision is where a criminal offender is subjected to the obli gation of notifying the place of his resi dence and every change of his residence to the chief officer of police of the district, and of reporting himself once a month to the chief officer or his substitute. Offenders subject to police supervision are popularly called "habitual criminals." Sweet. POLICIES OF INSURANCE, COURT OF. A court established in pur suance of the statutes 43 Eliz. c. 12, and 13 & 14 Car. II. c. 23. Composed of the judge of the admiralty, the recorder of London, two doctors of the civil law, two common lawyers, and eight merchants; any three of whom, one being a civilian or a barrister, could determine in a summary way causes concerning policies of assurance in London, with an appeal to chancery. No longer in existence. 3 Bl. Comm. 74. POLICY. The general principles by which a government is guided in its man

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