Has qualified negative, as in Massachusetts. Chosen for two years. Has no power of appointment; no council. Has the power of pardoning, except in cases of treason and impeachment. Lieutenant governor, who is presi dent of the senate. Judiciary. Judges are chosen by the legislature, du ring good behavior. Removable by impeachment or address; disqualified at sixty five years of age. Voters. The provisions amount to universal suffrage. Other Provisions. Clergy excluded from civil office. Legislature shall provide, by law, in what manner and in what courts suits may be brought against the state.— Religion and education "shall be forever encouraged in this state." Slaves, there is a provision similar to that in the constitution of Kentucky. ILLINOIS. This constitution was established in 1818, and is, in general, so much like that of Mississippi, that it is unnecessary to notice anything but the points of difference. Slavery is forbidden in Illinois. The governor and the Judges of the supreme court, jointly exercise the qualified negative on legislative acts, which, in some other states, is vested in the governor. First Monday of December, every second year. Voting, viva voce. ALABAMA. Constitution adopted in 1819. The provisions are so similar to those in the state of necessary to describe them. representatives is one hundred. a fourth, nor more than a third, ing, fourth Monday of October. Mississippi, that it is un- MISSOURI. Constitution adopted in 1820. This constitution is so much like that of Mississippi, that it is needless to de scribe it. second year. Meeting of legislature, first Monday every exceed one hundred. [As measures are in progress in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee for amending their constitutions, it is deemed unnecessary to notice any of the provisious in the present constitutions of those states.] It appears, from the preceding view of the state governments, that in most of the states, political power is exercised in much the same manner as under the government of the United States. This may be accounted for by the fact, that the state governments, (the original thirteen,) existed prior to the formation of the United States' constitution; to which the most prominent features of the state constitutions were given. The present constitution of Massachusetts, though adopted in 1780, several years before that of the United States, resembles the latter in most of its essential provisions. Among these are the qualified negative of the executive on acts of the legislature; and the appointment of the supreme judicial officers, their term of office, which is during good behavior, and their removal by impeachment. Similar provisions have since been incorporated in the state constitutions, with few exceptions. The former constitution of New York, adopted as early as 1777, contained the same provisions, except that the negative power on acts of the legislature, instead of being vested in the governor alone, resided in a council of revision, consisting of the governor, chancellor, and judges of the supreme court. The constitution of this state, however, as amended in 1821, vests the negative in the governor alone. In twelve of the states, slavery is permitted: viz. Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Louisiana, Missis P sippi, and Alabama. Also in the District of Columbia, and the Arkansas Territory. CHAPTER II. Constitution of the State of New York. WE, the people of the state of New York, acknowledging with gratitude, the grace and beneficence of God, in permitting us to make choice of our form of government, do establish this constitution. ARTICLE I. SECTION 1. The legislative power of this state shall be vested in a senate and assembly. SECTION 2. The senate shall consist of thirty two members. The senators shall be chosen for four years, and shall be freeholders. The assembly shall consist of one hundred and twenty eight members, who shall be annually elected. SECTION 3. A majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business. Each house shall determine the rules of its own proceedings, and be the judge of the qualifications of its own members. Each house shall choose its own officers; and the senate shall choose a temporary president, when the lieutenant governor shall not attend as president, or shall not act as governor. In what is the legislative power of the state vested? How is the legislature constituted? What are the powers and regulations SECTION 4. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same, except such parts as may require secrecy. The doors of each house shall be kept open, except when the public welfare shall require secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days. SECTION 5. The state shall be divided into eight districts, each of which shall choose four senators. The first district shall consist of the counties of Suf folk, Queens, Kings, Richmond and New York. The second district shall consist of the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan. The third district shall consist of the counties of Greene, Columbia, Albany, Rensselaer, Schoharie and Schenectady. The fourth district shall consist of the counties of Saratoga, Montgomery, Hamilton, Washington, Warren, Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence. The fifth district shall consist of the counties of Herkimer, Oneida, Madison, Oswego, Lewis and Jefferson. The sixth district shall consist of the counties of Delaware, Otsego, Chenango, Broome, Cortland, Tompkins and Tioga. The seventh district shall consist of the counties of Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Ontario. The eighth district shall consist of the counties of Steuben, Livingston, Monroe, Genesee, Niagara, Erie, Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauque. And as soon as the senate shall meet, after the first election to be held in pursuance of this constitution, they shall cause the senators to be divided by lot, into four of each house? How many senate districts are there? What pro classes, of eight in each, so that every district shall have one senator of each class: the classes to be numbered, one, two, three and four. And the seats of the first class shall be vacated at the end of the first year; and of the second class, at the end of the second year; of the third class, at the end of the third year; of the fourth class, at the end of the fourth year; in order that one senator be annually elected in each senate district. SECTION 6. An enumeration of the inhabitants of the state shall be taken, under the direction of the legislature, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty five, and at the end of every ten years thereafter; and the said districts shall be so altered by the legislature, at the first session after the return of every enumeration, that each senate district shall contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants, excluding aliens, paupers, and persons of color not taxed; and shall remain unaltered, until the return of another enumeration, and shall at all times consist of contiguous territory; and no county shall be divided in the formation of a senate district. SECTION 7. The members of the assembly shall be chosen by counties, and shall be apportioned among the several counties of the state, as nearly as may be, according to the numbers of their respective inhabitants, excluding aliens, paupers, and persons of color, not taxed. An apportionment of members of assembly shall be made by the legislature, at its first session after the return of every enumeration; and, when made, shall remain unaltered until another enumeration shall have been taken. But an apportionment of members of the assembly shall be made by the present legislature according to the last vision is made respecting the eensus? How are members of as |