112 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



applied to the specific act. This is usually done by the individual, 

 who is supposed, and whose duty it is, to know the laws of the state ; 

 but the individual may yet have imperfect knowledge. Still, as a 

 member of the body politic, his conduct has its effect upon others 

 who themselves may have imperfect knowledge of the law and 

 its application to specific acts. This imperfection of knowledge 

 necessitates an interpretation of the law. Again, bias of interest, 

 bias of prejudice, and bias of passion, all have their effect in modi- 

 fying individual opinion relating to the law. Under these circum- 

 stances it is found necessary for the state to devise, as a part of its 

 government, some organ for the interpretation of the law in its 

 application to specific acts. This gives rise to the judicial depart- 

 ment of government. 



These three great functions have never been clearly differentiated 

 in the organization of a government ; but the distinctions have 

 usually been perceived and a partial differentiation of organs is 

 ever found. 



In the constitution of the state, it has been seen, three grand 

 classes arise — the civil, the military, and the religious. Wherever 

 in the state such classes appear, the form of government is adapted 

 to the regulation which the constitution of the state demands, and 

 in this manner the functions of government may be classified as 

 civil, military, and religious — the military government inhering in 

 the army, the religious government in the priesthood : and armies 

 and priesthoods are constituent parts of such governments. 



Usually in all stages of society, military government is entirely 

 subordinate to civil government, but there are times in the middle 

 stages of society when the military government assumes inordinate 

 proportions, so that the civil government becomes subsidiary 

 thereto ; but such military governments performing civil functions 

 are ephemeral. 



Again, in the constitution of the state, religious organizations 

 invariably constitute an important factor. In the lowest tribes a 

 priesthood is a part of the government. In certain stages of society 



