Part 25 (1/2)

_Electors._ Citizens having resided in the state one year, of quiet and peaceable behavior, are ent.i.tled to all the privileges of freemen, by taking an oath that, in giving their votes, they will so do it as they believe will conduce to the best good of the state.

_Legislature._ Senate, thirty members, elected annually; apportioned among the counties according to population, each county to have at least one senator; age, thirty years; freemen of the county. Representatives are elected in towns, each town being ent.i.tled to at least one representative; resident of the state two years, of the town one year.

_Quorum_, a majority. For raising a tax, two-thirds of the members elected must be present.

Bills vetoed by the governor may be again pa.s.sed by simple majorities.

Bills not returned by the governor within five days become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.

_Executive._ The governor is elected annually by majority. If no person has a majority, the legislature chooses one of the three highest.

Resident of the state four years. A lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state, chosen by the two houses; a treasurer, elected as governor and lieutenant-governor.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court and county courts; the judges chosen annually by the senate and house; justices of the peace are elected in the towns; judges of probate in districts; a.s.sistant judges of county courts, sheriffs, high bailiffs, and state's attorneys, in their respective counties.

_Amendments._ A council of thirteen censors, chosen every seven years, examines into the different departments, and have power to call a convention to amend the const.i.tution.

Ma.s.sachusetts.

The const.i.tution of this state was formed in 1780. It has been several times amended.

_Electors._ Every male citizen, except paupers and persons under guardians.h.i.+p, having resided in the state one year, in the town or district six months; and having paid a tax within two years, or is legally exempt from taxation.

_Legislature_--styled _general court_. Senate, forty members, chosen in districts, and apportioned according to population; residents of the state five years, and inhabitants of the districts they represent.

Representatives are apportioned among the towns and cities. Every town or city containing 1,200 inhabitants, is ent.i.tled to one, and an additional one for every 2,400 additional inhabitants. Residence one year in the towns they represent.

Bills pa.s.sed against the veto by two-thirds majorities--or become laws if not returned within five days, unless the legislature by adjournment, prevent their return.

_Executive._ The governor is chosen annually, by majority. If no candidate has a majority, the house elects two of those voted for, (not exceeding four,) having the highest numbers of votes, of which two the senate elects a governor. He must have resided in the state seven years, and declare himself to be of the Christian religion. A council of nine, elected annually by joint ballot of the two houses, act with the governor in pardons and appointments, and in directing the affairs of state generally. Counselors must have resided in the state five years.

The secretary, treasurer, receiver-general, commissary-general, notaries public, and naval officers, are chosen annually by the legislature.

_Judiciary._ A supreme judicial court and a court of common pleas, held in every county of the state, and courts held by justices of the peace.

All judicial officers are appointed by the governor and council; justices of the higher courts during good behavior, justices of the peace for seven years. The former are removable by the governor and council, or address of the legislature.

The attorney-general, the solicitor-general, sheriffs, coroners, and registers of probate, are appointed as justices.

_Amendments_ agreed to by a majority of the senators and two-thirds of the representatives at two successive sessions, are submitted to the qualified voters of the state for ratification.

Rhode Island.

A charter granted in 1663, by Charles II, to the Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, continued, with some modifications, the basis of government of this state, until 1842, when the present const.i.tution was adopted.