Part 29 (1/2)

They become laws if not returned within ten days, unless their return is prevented by adjournment; in which case they will become laws if not sent back within three days after the commencement of the next session.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible the next four. Age, twenty-eight years; citizens.h.i.+p, and residence in the state four years. A lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state and a treasurer are elected by the electors, the former for four years, the latter for two years.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish, and justices of the peace. The supreme court is composed of a chief-justice and four a.s.sociate justices; the former elected by the electors of the state at large, the latter in their respective districts. They are elected for ten years, one of the five every two years. Judges of the inferior courts are elected in their respective parishes or districts. Justices of the peace are elected for two years by the electors in each parish, district, or ward.

An attorney-general and a requisite number of district-attorneys, are elected for four years; the former by the electors of the whole state, the latter in their respective districts.

A sheriff and a coroner are elected in each parish for two years.

_Electors._ White males, having been citizens two years, residents of the state one year, and of the parish six months. An elector removing from one parish to another, may vote in the former until he shall have become a voter in the latter.

_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds of all the members of each house, and ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at the next general election.

Texas.

Texas, formerly a part of Mexico, declared itself independent in 1835.

By a joint resolution of congress, approved December 29, 1845, this independent republic was admitted as a state into the union.

_Electors._ White male citizens who have resided in the state one year, and the last six months in the district, city, or town in which they offer to vote. If an elector happens to be in any other county within his district, he may there vote for any district officer; and he may vote any where in the state for state officers.

_Legislature._ Representatives, not less than forty-five, nor more than ninety, are apportioned among the counties according to the free population, and are elected for two years. They must have been residents of the state two years, of the county, city, or town they represent, one year. Senators, no less than nineteen, nor more than thirty-three, are elected in districts for four years, one-half every two years; must be thirty years of age; inhabitants of the state three years, of the district one year.

Bills negatived by the governor become laws when pa.s.sed by two-thirds of both houses; bills not returned within five days become laws. Two-thirds of each house const.i.tutes a quorum.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, district courts, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The supreme court consists of a chief-justice and two a.s.sociates, and has appellate jurisdiction chiefly. It holds sessions once a year in not more than three places in the state. District courts are held by the judge of each judicial district at one place in each county at least twice a year. The judges of both the supreme and district courts are elected by the people for six years.

A convenient number of justices of the peace, one sheriff, one coroner, and a sufficient number of constables, are elected in each county for two years. The sheriff is eligible only four years in six.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; is eligible four years in every six. Age, thirty years; state residence, three years; a citizen of the United States, or a citizen of the state of Texas at the time of the adoption of the const.i.tution. A lieutenant-governor.

A treasurer, a controller of public accounts, and an attorney-general are elected by the people for two years. A secretary of state is appointed by the governor and senate, to hold during the official term of the governor.

_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds majorities of the legislature, approved by the electors, and ratified by majorities of two-thirds of the next legislature.

Arkansas.

In 1836, this state was admitted into the union with its present const.i.tution, which was slightly amended in 1845.

_Electors._ White male citizens, residents of the state six months, and actual residents of the county.

_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives, not more than one hundred, nor less than fifty-four, are apportioned among the counties according to the number of free white male inhabitants, and are elected for two years. Age, twenty-five years; residents of the counties they represent. Senators are chosen in single districts for four years, one-half every two years; the number to be not less than seventeen, nor more than thirty-three. Age, thirty years, inhabitants of the state one year, and actual residents of the district they represent.

General elections are _viva voce_, until otherwise directed by law.