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was adopted by a large majority, and went into operation on the 2d of September, 1844.

The legislative power is vested in a senate and general assembly, who are styled the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, under which title laws are enacted.

The senate consists of one senator from each county, elected by the people for three years, one-third going out each year. Their present number is nineteen.

The general assembly consists of not more than sixty, chosen annually by the people of each county, by apportionment according to the number of inhabitants. The present number of members is 58.

The members of the senate and of the general assembly are elected on the second Tuesday of October (the time subject to alteration by the legislature), and meet at Trenton on the second Tuesday in the next January, when the legislative year com

mences.

Charters for banks and money corporations require the assent of three-fifths of the members elected to each house, and are limited to twenty years.

The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the people once in three years, at the general election. He has the power of nominating and appointing to office, with the advice and consent of the senate, the chancellor, justices of the supreme court, judges of the court of errors and appeals, and all other officers not otherwise provided for by law.

The judicial power is vested in a court of errors and appeals, composed of the chancellor, the judges of the supreme court, and six other judges; a court for the trial of impeachments; a court of chancery; a supreme court, of five judges; and courts of common pleas. The chancellor and judges of the supreme court hold their offices for seven years; the six judges of the court of errors and appeals, for six years, one judge vacating his seat each year in rotation.

The right of suffrage is exercised by every white male citizen of the United States, who has resided in the state one year, and in the county where he votes five months (paupers, idiots, insane persons, and criminals excepted).

PENNSYLVANIA.

The first constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted in 1776; a second one in 1790; and the present amended constitution was adopted in 1838.

The legislative power is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives.

The senators are chosen for three years, one-third being elected annually, by the people, by districts. Their number cannot be greater than one-third, nor less than one-fourth of the number of representatives. The present number is thirty-three.

The representatives are chosen annually on the second Tuesday of October, by the citizens of Philadelphia, and each county respectively, apportioned according to the number of taxable inhabitants. The number cannot be less than sixty nor more than one hundred; which latter is the present number chosen.

The general assembly meets annually at Harrisburg, on the first Tuesday of January, unless sooner convened by the governor. The supreme executive power is vested in a governor, who is chosen on the 2d Tuesday in October, and who holds his office during three years from the third Tuesday of January next after his election; and he cannot hold it longer than six years in any term of nine years.

The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in courts of oyer and terminer, and general jail delivery, in a court of common pleas, orphans' court, register's court, and court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county; in justices of the peace, and in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish.

The judges of the supreme court, court of common pleas, and other courts of record, are appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate the judges of the supreme court for fifteen years; the president judges of the court of common pleas, and other courts of record, for ten years; and the associate judges of the courts of common pleas, for five years.

The right of suffrage is exercised by every white freeman of the age of twenty-two years, having resided in the state one year, and in the election district where he offers his vote ten days immediately preceding such election, and within two years paid a state or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least ten days before the election. White freemen, citizens of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two years, having resided in the state one year, may vote without paying

axes.

DELAWARE.

The constitution was formed in 1792, and amended in 1831. The legislature is styled the General Assembly, and consists of a senate and house of representatives.

The senators are nine in number, namely, three from each county, and are elected for a term of four years.

The representatives are elected for a term of two years, and are twenty-one in number, seven from each county.

The general assembly meets at Dover, biennially, on the first Tuesday in January, unless sooner convened by the governor. The general election is held biennially, on the second Tuesday in November.

The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for a term of four years, and is not eligible for a second

term.

The judicial power is vested in a court of errors and appeals, a superior court, a court of chancery, an orphans' court, a court of oyer and terminer, a court of general sessions of the peace and jail delivery, a register's court, justices of the peace, and such other courts as the general assembly may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, establish.

The right of suffrage is granted to every white male citizen of the age of twenty-two years, or upward, having resided in the state one year next before the election, and the last month in the county where he votes; and having within two years paid a county tax. Also, to every white male citizen over twenty-one, and under twenty-two years of age, having resided as aforesaid, without payment of any tax.

MARYLAND.

The constitution of this state was first formed in 1776, since which time many amendments have been made by the legislature, which body has that power, if amendments are passed by one legislature and confirmed by the next, in succession.

By the constitution, as it stands at present, the legislative power is vested in a senate consisting of twenty-one members, and a house of representatives of seventy-nine members, and these two branches united are styled the General Assembly of Maryland.

The senators are elected by the people, one from each county and one from the city of Baltimore, and hold their seats for six years, one-third being chosen annually.

The members of the house of delegates are elected annually by the people; the city of Baltimore to send six delegates; counties having more than 35,000 inhabitants, six delegates; less than 35,000 and more than 25,000, five delegates; less than 25,000 and more than 15,000, four delegates; less than 15,000, three delegates.

The executive power is vested in a governor, who is chosen by the people, and holds his office for three years from the first Monday of January, but is ineligible for the next succeeding term. The state is divided into three districts, and the governor is taken from each of the districts, alternately. The governor nominates, and with the consent of the senate, appoints all officers whose offices are created by law.

The annual election is held on the first Wednesday in October, and the general assembly meets at Annapolis, on the last Monday in December.

The judicial power is vested in a court of chancery, a court of appeals of six judges, county courts, and orphans' courts. The state is divided into six judicial districts, and for each district there are a chief judge and two associates, who constitute the county courts for the respective counties in the district. The six chief judges constitute the court of appeals for the state. The chancellor and judges hold their offices during good behavior.

The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every free white male citizen, above twenty-one years of age, having resided twelve months in the state, and six months in the county, or in the city of Annapolis or Baltimore, next preceding the election at which he offers to vote.

VIRGINIA.

The old constitution of this state was formed in 1776, and continued in operation until 1830, when the present amended constitution was formed by a convention, and accepted by the people.

By this constitution the legislative power is vested in a senate and a house of delegates, which are together styled the General Assembly of Virginia.

The house of delegates consists of 134 members, chosen annually; thirty-one from the twenty-six counties west of the Allegany mountains; twenty-five from the fourteen counties between the Allegany mountains and Blue Ridge; forty-two from the twenty-nine counties east of the Blue Ridge, and above tide-water; and thirty-six from the counties, cities, towns and boroughs, lying upon tide-water.

The senate consists of thirty-two members: thirteen from the counties west of the Blue Ridge, and nineteen from the counties, cities, towns and boroughs, east thereof. The senators are elected for four years; and the seats of one-fourth of them are vacated every year. In all elections to any office or place of trust, honor, or profit, the votes are given openly, or viva voce, and not by ballot.

A re-apportionment for representatives in both houses is to take place every ten years, commencing in 1841, until which time there is to be no change in the number of delegates and senators from the several divisions, and after 1841, the number of delegates is never to exceed 150, nor that of the senators 36.

The time of election of delegates is fixed by the general assembly, and at present takes place in April.

The general assembly meets annually at Richmond, on the first Monday in December.

The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the joint vote of the two houses of the general assembly. He holds his office three years, commencing on the first of January next succeeding his election, or on such other days as may be from time to time prescribed by law; and he is ineligible for the three years next after the expiration of his term of office.

There is a council of state, consisting of three members, elected for three years by the joint vote of the two houses, the

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