Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

POLITICAL OFFICE

909

POLYGAMY

from extradition treaties, this term denotes crimes which are incidental to and form a part of political disturbances; but it might also be understood to include offenses con sisting in an attack upon the political order of things established in the country where committed, and even to include offenses com mitted to obtain any political object. 2 Steph. Crim. Law, 70. POLITICAL OFFICE. Civil offices are usually divided into three classes,—political, judicial, and ministerial. Political offices are such as are no* immediately connected with the administration of justice, or with the ex ecution of the mandates of a superior, such as the president or the head of a department. IB Wall. 575. POLITICAL QUESTIONS. Questions of which the courts of justice will refuse to take cognizance, or to decide, on account of their purely political character, or because their determination would involve an en croachment upon the executive or legislative powers; e. g., what sort of government ex ists in a state, whether peace or war exists, whether a foreign country has become an in dependent state, etc. 7 How. 1; 14 How. 38; 11 Am^r. Law Keg. 419. POLITICAL RIGHTS. Those which may be exorcised in the formation or admin istration of the government. 90 111. 563. POLITICS. The science of government; tho art or practice of administering public affairs. P O L I T Y . The form of government ; civil constitution. POLL, v. In practice. To single out, one by one, of a number of persons. To ex amine each juror separately, after a verdict has been given, as to his concurrence in the verdict. 1 Burrill, Pi-. 238. POLL, n. A head; an individual person; a register of persons. POLL, adj. Cut or shaved smooth or even; cut in a straight line without indenta tion. A term anciently applied to a deed, and still used, though with little of its for mer significance. 2 Bl. Conim. 296. POLL-MONEY. A tax ordained by act of parliament, (18 Car. II., c. 1,) by which every subject in the kingdom was assessed by the head or poll, according to his degree. Cowell. A similar personal tribute was more anciently termed "poll-silver."

POLL-TAX. A capitation tax; a tax as sessed on every head, i.

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