CHAPTER III.

JUDICIARY.

What are the members of the several courts of the state of New York?

They are the court for the trial of impeachments, court of appeals, supreme court, circuit courts, court of oyer and terminer, county courts, court of sessions, courts of special sessions, surrogate courts, courts of justices of the peace, police courts, mayors' courts of cities, recorders' courts of cities, superior court of the city of New York, court of common pleas for the city and county of New York, marine court of the city of New York, justices' courts in the city of New York, and the justices' courts of cities.

What is the jurisdiction of the 'courts?

The court for the trial of impeachments, court of appeals, supreme court, circuit court, and oyer and terminer, have a general jurisdiction throughout the state; the jurisdiction of the other courts is merely local.

Of what is the court for the trial of impeachments composed?

Of the judges of the court of appeals, president of the senate, and senators.

Of what is the court of appeals composed?

Of eight judges: four elected by the people for the term of eight years, at a salary of three thousand five hundred dollars; the other four are taken from the judges of the supreme court having the shortest time to serve. What power has this court?

It has power to reverse, modify, or affirm, in whole or in part, the judgment or order appealed from.

How many terms of this court are held, and where? There shall be four terms of this court held in each year at the capitol in the city of Albany..

How may judgment be rendered?

A concurrence of five of the judges is necessary to pronounce judgment.

How if five do not concur?

The case must be reheard, but no more than two rehearings shall be had, and then,

if five of the judges do not concur, the case shall be affirmed.

Into how many districts is the state divided for supreme court purposes?

Eight.

How are the supreme court judges elected, and for how long?

By the people, and for eight years.

What is their salary?

Three thousand five hundred dollars.

Which is the presiding judge, and what is the manner of doing business?

The judge in each district, not in the court of appeals, and having the shortest time to serve. This court holds general terms, special terms, and circuit; also court of oyer and terminer, which is held at the same time with circuit. In counties where the population exceeds forty thousand, there is a general term held as often as once in each year; in other counties, as often as once in two years there are at least two special terms. in each county in every year, and two circuit On the second day of January of

courts.

every second year there is a general term held at the capitol, for the purpose of appointing general and special terms of all circuit courts and courts of oyer and terminer, of assigning business of justices, and revising the rules of practice.

CHAPTER IV.

EXECUTIVE.

How often are the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of state, comptroller, treasurer, attorney, general, state engineer, and surveyor chosen?

Once in two years.

By whom?

The people.

What are the general duties of the governor? He communicates to the legislature the financial condition of the state; he recommends such measures as he may deem expedient; he has charge of the general execution of the laws; he may convene the legislature, or the senate only; he has power to grant pardon for all offences except trea

son; he has custody of the great and privy seals of the state, and has command of the military and naval force of the state.

What is his salary?

Four thousand dollars per annum.

What officers does he appoint with the consent of the senate?

The regents of the university, and public notaries.

What are the general duties of the regents?

They have the care of all the incorporated academies, seminaries, and colleges, regulate the government of them, and report their condition annually to the legislature.

What compensation have they?

None, except the secretary, who receives two thousand dollars per annum.

What are the general duties of a notary public? He demands acceptance and payment of foreign bills of exchange, of inland bills, and promissory notes, and protests the same for non-acceptance and non-payment.

What are the general duties of the lieutenantgovernor ?