The const.i.tution of this state adopted in 1776, continued until 1851, when the present one was adopted.

_Electors._ White male citizens, having resided a year in the state, and six months in the county.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years; must be thirty years of age; have been a citizen five years, a resident of the state five years, and for three years a resident of the district from which he is elected. In case of vacancy, the general a.s.sembly elects a resident of the same district for the residue of the term. If the vacancy happens during the recess of the legislature, the president of the senate serves until the next session. No lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state is appointed by the governor and senate during the official term of the governor. A controller of the treasury is elected by the electors of the state for two years; and a treasurer and a state librarian are chosen by the legislature on joint ballot at each session.

_Legislature._ A senate and a house of delegates, styled _general a.s.sembly_. Senators, one from each county and the city of Baltimore, are elected for four years, one-half every two years. Age, twenty-five years; residence, three years in the state, one in the county. Delegates are eligible at twenty-one; otherwise qualified as senators; elected for two years, apportioned among the counties according to population; the city of Baltimore to have four more delegates than the most populous county, and no county to have less than two delegates; the whole number not to be more than eighty, nor less than sixty-five.

A majority const.i.tutes a quorum. Bills must pa.s.s by majorities of all the members elected; and when so pa.s.sed and sealed with the great seal, the governor is required to sign them in the presence of the presiding officers and chief clerks of both houses.

_Judiciary._ A court of appeals, consisting of four judges, one of whom is elected in each judicial district for ten years. One is designated by the governor and senate as chief-justice. They must be thirty years of age, and have been citizens of the state five years. They are disqualified at seventy. There are eight judicial circuits, in each of which, except the fifth, is elected a judge, for ten years, who holds circuit courts in the counties within his circuit.

There are, in the city of Baltimore, courts peculiar to that city.

Justices of the peace and constables, are elected for two years in each ward of the city of Baltimore, and in each election district in the several counties.

A sheriff and a state's attorney are elected in each county and the city of Baltimore, the former for two, and the latter for four years.

Sheriffs are ineligible for the next two years.

_Amendments_ may be made only by a convention, called by the legislature in pursuance of a vote of the people to be taken after each United States census.

Virginia.

A const.i.tution was adopted in 1716; another in 1830; the present in 1851.

_Electors._ White male citizens, having resided in the state two years, and in the county, city or town where they offer to vote, one year.

Votes are given openly, or _viva voce_. Dumb persons only vote by ballot.

_Legislature._ Senate and house of delegates. Delegates, one hundred and fifty-two in number, are elected biennially, and apportioned among the several counties and election districts according to population. The senate consists of fifty members, elected in single districts for four years, one-half every two years. Apportionments are made every ten years. Delegates are eligible at the age of twenty-one years; senators at the age of twenty-five.

_Quorum_, a majority. Bills to become laws, do not require the governor's approval.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible for the next term. He must be thirty years of age, a native citizen of the United States, and have been a citizen of the state five years. A lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state, a treasurer, and an auditor of public accounts, are elected for two years in joint a.s.sembly; an attorney general is elected for four years by the people at every election for governor.

_Judiciary._ The state is divided into twenty-one judicial circuits, ten districts, and five sections, in each of which division, one judge is elected by the people; the circuit judges for eight years, the judges of the supreme court of appeals for twelve years. A circuit judge holds circuit courts in the several counties composing his district. The judges of the circuits const.i.tuting a section, and the judge of the supreme court of appeals for that section, hold district courts in such section. The supreme court of appeals consists of the five judges elected in the sections, and three of whom may hold a court. Judges may be removed by the legislature.

A county court is held monthly in each county, by not less than three, nor more than five justices of the peace, except when the law requires a greater number. Each county is divided into districts, in each of which four justices are elected for four years. The justices so elected choose one of their own body as presiding justice of the county court.

In each county are elected, a clerk of the county court and a surveyor, for six years; an attorney for four years; a sheriff for two years: and constables and overseers of the poor as may be prescribed by law.

_Amendments._ The const.i.tution does not provide for its amendment. The last two const.i.tutions were framed by conventions authorized by acts of the legislature, and ratified by the electors.

North Carolina.

This state adopted a const.i.tution in 1776, which was amended in 1835.

_Legislature._ A senate and a house of commons, called the _general a.s.sembly_. The senate consists of fifty members, chosen biennially, in single districts, which are laid off in proportion to the average amount of taxes paid by the citizens during the five years preceding. Senators must have resided within their respective districts a year, and possess not less than three hundred acres of land. The house of commons is composed of one hundred and twenty members, chosen biennially, and apportioned among the counties, according to population, three-fifths of the slaves being added to the number of free persons. They must have resided a year in the counties they represent, and possess one hundred and twenty acres of land.

Bills pa.s.sed by both houses become laws without being presented to the governor.

_Executive._ A governor is elected every two years, and is eligible only four years in any term of six years. He must be thirty years of age; must have been a resident of the state five years, and must have in the state a freehold of the value of 1,000. No lieutenant-governor.

There is a council of seven persons to advise the governor; a secretary of state, and a treasurer, all chosen by joint vote of the two houses at each session, for two years; and an attorney-general for four years, unless for certain reasons the term shall be altered.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, superior courts, courts of admiralty, and justices' courts. The judges are appointed by the general a.s.sembly, and hold during good behavior. Justices of the peace, within their respective counties, are recommended to the governor by the representatives of the general a.s.sembly. They are commissioned by the governor, and hold during good behavior.

_Electors._ White freemen, inhabitants of the state one year, who have paid taxes. Voters for senators are required also to own a freehold of fifty acres.

_Amendments._ A convention may be called by a majority of two-thirds of all the members of each house of the general a.s.sembly. Or, amendments may be proposed by majorities of three-fifths of all the members of both houses; and they take effect when agreed to by two-thirds majorities of the whole representation in the next a.s.sembly, and ratified by the qualified voters of the state.

South Carolina.

The first const.i.tution of this state was formed in 1775; the present in 1790. Its princ.i.p.al amendments were made in 1808.

_Legislature._ A senate and a house of representatives, styled _general a.s.sembly_. The house consists of one hundred and twenty-four members, elected for two years in districts, and apportioned according to the number of white inhabitants and the amount of taxes paid therein.

Residence in the state three years: and if a resident of the election district, a freehold of five hundred acres of land and ten negroes, or a real estate worth 150 sterling, clear of debt; if a non-resident of the district, a clear freehold of 500 sterling. Senators, forty-five, elected by districts, for four years, one-half every two years; each district, except one, having one senator. Age, thirty years, state residence, five years. If a resident in the district, a clear freehold of 300 sterling; if a non-resident, a freehold in the district of 1,000.

Bills pa.s.sed by both houses are laws without being presented to the governor.

_Executive._ The governor and lieutenant-governor are chosen by the legislature for two years. Age, thirty years: state residence, ten years; a clear freehold in the state of 1,500 sterling. A governor is ineligible for the next four years.

Commissioners of the treasury, secretary of state, and surveyor-general, are elected by joint ballot of both houses for four years, and ineligible for the next four years.

_Judiciary._ Such superior and inferior courts of law and equity as the legislature may establish. The judges are appointed by the legislature during good behavior.

_Electors._ White male citizens, resident in the state two years, and owning a freehold of 50 acres of land, or a town lot, which he has owned six months; or, not having such freehold, or town lot, resident in the election district six months, and having paid a tax the preceding year of three shillings sterling.

_Amendments_ may be made by a convention called by two-thirds of all the members of both branches. Alterations may also be made by like majorities of two successive legislatures.

Georgia.

The first const.i.tution was formed in 1777; the second in 1785; the present in 1798, and amended in 1839, and 1844.