the year 1847, when it shall be permanently located by the legislature. The supreme executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the people, who holds his office for two years, and a lieutenantgovernor, who is chosen at the same time, in the same manner, and for the same term as the governor. The lieutenant-governor is president of the senate. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, consisting of a chief-justice and three associate justices; in a court of chancery, held by a chancellor, at five different parts of the state within the year, the state being divided into five chancery circuits; in circuit courts, there being four judicial circuits, in each of which one of the judges of the supreme court sits as presiding judge (in each county one or two terms of the circuit court are held annually); also in county courts, and in such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The judges of the supreme court are appointed by the governor and senate for the term of seven years. Judges of all county courts, associate judges of circuit courts, and judges of probate, are elected by the people for the term of four years. Each township is authorized to elect four justices of the peace, who hold their offices for four years. In all elections, every white male above the age of twentyone years, having resided in the state six months next preceding any election, is entitled to vote at such election. All votes are given by ballot, except for such township officers as may by law be directed to be otherwise chosen. Slavery, lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, are prohibited. MISSOURI. The constitution of this state was formed by a convention, at St. Louis, in June, 1820; and in January, 1846, a new constitution was formed by a convention at Jefferson, which is to be submitted to the people on the first Monday of August next, and, if accepted, will go into effect in the month of November following. By this new constitution, the legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, to be styled together the General Assembly; and the members of both bodies are to be elected from single districts (that is, each member to have his distinct constituency). The senate is to consist of not less than twenty-five, nor more than thirty-three members, and the senators are to be elected by the people for four years, the seats of one half being vacated every second year. The representatives are chosen every second year, and the whole number is limited to one hundred. The elections are held biennially, on the first Monday in August. The legislature meets every second year, at the city of Jefferson, on the first Monday in November. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for four years, and he is ineligible for the next four years after the expiration of his term of office. At the time of the election of governor, a lieutenant-governor is also chosen, who is, by virtue of his office, president of the senate. The judicial power, as to matters of law and equity, is vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, county courts, justices of the peace, and such other tribunals inferior to the circuit courts, as the general assembly may establish. The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction only, except in cases otherwise directed by the constitution; it consists of three judges, appointed by the governor and senate for the term of twelve years. The state is to be divided into ten circuits, for each of which a circuit judge is to be chosen by the qualified electors thereof, for the term of six years. The supreme court and circuit courts are to exercise chancery jurisdiction: No corporate body shall hereafter be created for the purpose of issuing paper to circulate as money. No state debt shall be created by the general assembly, exceeding in amount twenty-five thousand dollars, except in cases of war, insurrection, or invasion, without an appeal to the direct vote of the people on the subject. All bank-notes, except those of the bank of the state of Missouri, are to be prohibited from circulation by law. Lotteries, and the selling of lottery-tickets, are prohibited. The right of suffrage is granted to every white male citizen, who has attained the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in the state one year before an election, three months thereof being in the county or district in which he offers his vote. TEXAS. The constitution of the state of Texas was adopted by a convention of delegates at the city of Austin, on the fourth of July, 1845, and was approved by the people on the 13th of October following. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, styled together the Legislature of the State of Texas. The style of laws is, "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas." The senators are elected by the people, by districts, for the term of four years, one-half being chosen biennially; their number is not to be less than nineteen, nor more than thirty-three. The representatives are elected for two years, by the people, by counties, apportioned according to their free population; the number is not to be less than forty-five nor more than ninety. Elections by the people are to be held in the several counties, cities, or towns, at such times as may be designated by law. The sessions of the legislature are to be held at the city of Austin, at such times as may be prescribed by law, until the year 1850, when the seat of government shall be permanently located by the votes of the people. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the people, at the time and places of elections for members of the legislature; he holds his office for the term of two years, but is not eligible for more than four years in any term of six years. At the same time, a lieutenant-governor is chosen for the same term, who is president of the senate, and succeeds the governor in case of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, refusal to serve, impeachment, or absence from the state, of the latter. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court of three judges; in district courts, and in such inferior courts as the legislature may, from time to time, establish. The judges of the supreme and district courts are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the senate; and the judges hold their offices for six years. The right of suffrage is granted to every free male person over the age of twenty-one years (Indians not taxed, Africans and descendants of Africans, excepted), who shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, and who shall be a citizen of the United States, or who was, at the adoption of this constitution by the Congress of the United States, a citizen of the republic of Texas, and shall have resided in this state one year next preceding an election, and the last six months within the district, city, or town, in which he offers to vote; provided that soldiers and seamen, or marines of the army or navy of the United States, shall not be entitled to vote at any election created by this constitution. The legislature shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves, without the consent of their owners. No banking or discounting company shall hereafter be created, renewed, or extended. No person shall be imprisoned for debt. IOWA. The constitution of the state of Iowa was formed by a convention of delegates, at Iowa City, on the 18th of May, 1846. The legislative authority is vested in a senate and house of representatives; styled together the General Assembly of the State of Iowa. The senators are elected by the people, by districts, for the term of four years, one half of the whole number, as near as may be, being chosen biennially. The number of senators is not to be less than one-third, nor more than one half that of the representative body; and until an enumeration of the inhabitants of the state is made, within one year, as directed by the constitution, the number of senators is fixed at nineteen. The members of the house of representatives are chosen every second year, by the people of the respective counties, arranged in districts, and their term of office is two years. Their number at the first election under the constitution is fixed at thirty-nine, and it is not to be less than twenty-six, nor more than thirty-nine, until the number of white inhabitants in the state shall be one hundred and seventy-five thousand; after that event the whole number of representatives shall not be less than thirty-nine, nor exceeding seventy-two. The general elections are held biennially, on the first Monday in August, and the sessions of the general assembly are biennial, commencing on the first Monday of December next ensuing the election of its members. The seat of government is Iowa City. The executive power is vested in a governor, elected by the people at the same time with members of the general assembly; his term of office is four years, and his annual salary is not to exceed one thousand dollars for the first ten years after the organization of the state government. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, district courts, and such inferior courts as the general assembly may from time to time establish. The supreme court consists of a chief-justice and two associates, elected by joint vote of both branches of the general assembly, and hold their offices for six years. The supreme court has appellate jurisdiction only, in all cases in chancery, and constitutes a court for the correction of errors at law, under such restrictions as the general assembly may by law prescribe. The district court consists of a judge elected in each district by the qualified voters thereof, for the term of five years. The district court is a court of law and equity, and these courts have jurisdiction in all civil and criminal matters in their respective districts. The state is to be divided by the general assembly into four districts, which may be increased as the exigencies require. A prosecuting attorney, and clerk of the district court, are elected by the people of each county, for the term of two years. The right of suffrage is vested in every white male citizen of the age of twenty-one years, who shall have been a resident of the state six months next preceding the election, and in the county in which he claims to vote, twenty days. No person in the military, naval or marine service of the United States, shall be considered a resident of the state by being stationed in any garrison, or military or naval place or station, within the state. All elections by the people are by ballot. Banking corporations are prohibited, and other corporations shall not be created in the state by special laws, but may be provided for by general laws. |