Part 32 (1/2)

A secretary of state, a controller, a treasurer, an attorney-general, and a surveyor-general, are elected for two years, by joint vote of the two houses.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, district courts, county courts, justices of the peace, and such munic.i.p.al and other inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The supreme court consists of three judges elected by the electors of the state for six years, one every two years; the senior justice in commission to be chief-justice. District judges are elected in their respective districts for six years. A judge of the county court is elected in each county for four years, and performs also the duties of judge of probate. The number of justices of the peace elected in each county, city, town, or village, is fixed by law.

The election of sheriffs, coroners, county clerks and certain other officers, is provided for by law.

_Amendments_ must be agreed to by majorities of all the members of the two houses of two successive legislatures, and ratified by the people.

The legislature may, by two-thirds majorities, submit to the people the question of calling a convention for a general revision of the const.i.tution.

Minnesota.

This state was admitted into the union in 1858.

_Electors._ White male citizens having resided in the United States one year, and in the state four months. Also foreigners who have so resided, and declared their intention to become citizens; and persons of mixed white and Indian blood, and of Indian blood, under certain regulations.

_Legislature._ A senate and a house of representatives. The first legislature consisted of thirty-seven senators and eighty representatives.

_Executive._ A governor and a lieutenant-governor are elected for two years.

A secretary of state, a treasurer, and an attorney-general, are elected for two years, and a state auditor for three years.

_Judiciary._ The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, district courts, courts of probate, justices of the peace, and such other courts inferior to the supreme court, as the legislature may establish by a two-thirds vote.

Const.i.tution of the United States.

We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Const.i.tution for the United States of America.

Article I.

Section. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

Sec. 2. The house of representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year, by the people of the several states; and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requiste for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislature.

No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one representative; and until such enumeration shall be made, the state of New Hamps.h.i.+re shall be ent.i.tled to choose _three_; Ma.s.sachusetts, _eight_; Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, _one_; Connecticut, _five_; New York, _six_; New Jersey, _four_; Pennsylvania, _eight_; Delaware, _one_; Maryland, _six_; Virginia, _ten_; North Carolina, _five_; South Carolina, _five_; and Georgia, _three_.

When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

The house of representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment.

Sec. 3. The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote.

Immediately after they shall be a.s.sembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be, into three cla.s.ses. The seats of the senators of the first cla.s.s shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year; of the second cla.s.s at the expiration of the fourth year; and of the third cla.s.s at the expiration of the sixth year; so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen, by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature of any state, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments, until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies.

No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen.