State Board of Education v. Levit

This is an original proceeding in mandamus. The petitioner, the State Board of Education, is authorized by the state Constitution to “provide, compile, or cause to be compiled, and adopt, a uniform series of textbooks for use in the day and evening elementary schools throughout the State . . . [and to] cause such textbooks, when adopted, to be printed and published. ...” (Const., art. IX, § 7.) The respondent is the state executive officer in charge of the Department of Finance. This department is charged by law with the duty of executing promptly all orders for printing received from state…