Part 10 (1/2)

Kings has twelve districts.

New York has twenty-four districts, or nearly one-fifth of the entire a.s.sembly.

In all, there are one hundred and twenty-eight a.s.sembly districts, each electing one member of the a.s.sembly.

Q. What must be done in those counties that are ent.i.tled to two or more members?

A. The ”boards of supervisors” of such counties, except the city and county of New York, must divide their respective counties into a.s.sembly districts; the number of districts being equal to the number of members heretofore apportioned by the Legislature to these several counties; the territory must be contiguous, and no town can be divided in the formation of districts.

Q. By whom is the city and county of New York divided into districts?

A. By the ”board of aldermen”; they meet for that purpose at such time as the Legislature shall designate.

ELIGIBILITY.

Q. Who are eligible to the Legislature?

A. The requirements are these.

I. The candidate must be twenty-one years of age.

II. He must not at the time of election, nor within one-hundred days previous thereto, have been a member of congress, a civil or military officer under the United States, or any officer under any city government.

III. Should any person after his election to the Legislature be elected or appointed to any of the offices just named, his acceptance thereof will vacate his seat in the Legislature.

DUTIES.

Q. What are some of the duties of the members of the a.s.sembly?

I. To take the oath of office. Art. XII., Sec. I Const.

II. To organize by electing their presiding officer, who is called the speaker; and who must be one of their number.

III. To elect also the other officers, viz: a Clerk, Sergeant-at- Arms, Door-Keeper, and two a.s.sistant Door-Keepers; persons not members of their body.

IV. To have co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Senate in the enactment of laws.

V. To prefer charges against officers for misconduct in office; which is called impeachment.

ORGANIZATION.

Q. Who calls the a.s.sembly to order for the purpose of organization?

A. The Clerk of the last a.s.sembly.

Q. Who furnishes the Clerk with an official list of the members elect?

A. The Secretary of State

Q. By whom is the oath of office administered?