They become laws if not returned within ten days, unless their return is prevented by adjournment; in which case they will become laws if not sent back within three days after the commencement of the next session.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible the next four. Age, twenty-eight years; citizenship, and residence in the state four years. A lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state and a treasurer are elected by the electors, the former for four years, the latter for two years.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish, and justices of the peace. The supreme court is composed of a chief-justice and four a.s.sociate justices; the former elected by the electors of the state at large, the latter in their respective districts. They are elected for ten years, one of the five every two years. Judges of the inferior courts are elected in their respective parishes or districts. Justices of the peace are elected for two years by the electors in each parish, district, or ward.
An attorney-general and a requisite number of district-attorneys, are elected for four years; the former by the electors of the whole state, the latter in their respective districts.
A sheriff and a coroner are elected in each parish for two years.
_Electors._ White males, having been citizens two years, residents of the state one year, and of the parish six months. An elector removing from one parish to another, may vote in the former until he shall have become a voter in the latter.
_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds of all the members of each house, and ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at the next general election.
Texas.
Texas, formerly a part of Mexico, declared itself independent in 1835.
By a joint resolution of congress, approved December 29, 1845, this independent republic was admitted as a state into the union.
_Electors._ White male citizens who have resided in the state one year, and the last six months in the district, city, or town in which they offer to vote. If an elector happens to be in any other county within his district, he may there vote for any district officer; and he may vote any where in the state for state officers.
_Legislature._ Representatives, not less than forty-five, nor more than ninety, are apportioned among the counties according to the free population, and are elected for two years. They must have been residents of the state two years, of the county, city, or town they represent, one year. Senators, no less than nineteen, nor more than thirty-three, are elected in districts for four years, one-half every two years; must be thirty years of age; inhabitants of the state three years, of the district one year.
Bills negatived by the governor become laws when pa.s.sed by two-thirds of both houses; bills not returned within five days become laws. Two-thirds of each house const.i.tutes a quorum.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, district courts, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The supreme court consists of a chief-justice and two a.s.sociates, and has appellate jurisdiction chiefly. It holds sessions once a year in not more than three places in the state. District courts are held by the judge of each judicial district at one place in each county at least twice a year. The judges of both the supreme and district courts are elected by the people for six years.
A convenient number of justices of the peace, one sheriff, one coroner, and a sufficient number of constables, are elected in each county for two years. The sheriff is eligible only four years in six.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; is eligible four years in every six. Age, thirty years; state residence, three years; a citizen of the United States, or a citizen of the state of Texas at the time of the adoption of the const.i.tution. A lieutenant-governor.
A treasurer, a controller of public accounts, and an attorney-general are elected by the people for two years. A secretary of state is appointed by the governor and senate, to hold during the official term of the governor.
_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds majorities of the legislature, approved by the electors, and ratified by majorities of two-thirds of the next legislature.
Arkansas.
In 1836, this state was admitted into the union with its present const.i.tution, which was slightly amended in 1845.
_Electors._ White male citizens, residents of the state six months, and actual residents of the county.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives, not more than one hundred, nor less than fifty-four, are apportioned among the counties according to the number of free white male inhabitants, and are elected for two years. Age, twenty-five years; residents of the counties they represent. Senators are chosen in single districts for four years, one-half every two years; the number to be not less than seventeen, nor more than thirty-three. Age, thirty years, inhabitants of the state one year, and actual residents of the district they represent.
General elections are _viva voce_, until otherwise directed by law.
Bills are pa.s.sed against the veto by majorities of all the members.
Bills not returned within three days become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligble more than eight in twelve years. Age, thirty years; residence in the state four years. No lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state for four years, and an auditor and a treasurer for two years, are elected by a joint vote of both houses.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, circuit courts, county courts, and justices of the peace. The supreme court is composed of three judges, elected by the legislature for eight years; one every four years, one every six, and one every eight years. In each circuit a judge is elected by the legislature for four years. There is in each county a county court held by justices of the peace. Justices are elected in the townships for two years.
An attorney of state is elected in each judicial district for two years.
A sheriff, a coroner, a treasurer and a county-surveyor, are elected in each county for two years.
_Amendments_ may be made by two successive legislatures, by two-thirds majorities.
Missouri.
This state was admitted into the union in 1821. The present const.i.tution was adopted in 1820, and has been several times amended.
_Legislature_--styled the _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are apportioned among the counties on the basis of the white population, and are elected for two years. Age, twenty-four years; state residence, two years; county or district one year; payment of state or county tax.
Senators, not to be less than twenty-five, nor more than thirty-three, are chosen in single districts for four years, one-half every two years. Age, thirty years; residence in the state, four years; in the district, one year; payment of a state or county tax.
Sessions of the legislature are limited to sixty days. Bills vetoed by the governor must be pa.s.sed by majorities of all the members to become laws. Bills not returned by the governor within four days become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Electors._ White male citizens, having resided in the state one year, in the county or district three months.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible the next four; must be thirty years of age; have been a citizen of the United States ten years, and of the state five years. A lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state, an auditor of public accounts, a treasurer, an attorney-general, and a register of lands, are elected by the people for four years.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, circuit courts, justices of the peace, and such other tribunals as the general a.s.sembly shall establish. The three judges of the supreme court are elected by the electors of the state for six years. A judge in each of the circuits is elected by the electors thereof for six years. Justices of the peace are elected in the townships.
_Amendments_ may be proposed every fourth year by a majority of the whole of each house; and they take effect when ratified by the electors of the state.
Tennessee.
This state was admitted into the union with its first const.i.tution in 1796. The present one was formed in 1835.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are apportioned among the counties or districts according to the number of qualified voters in each, and are not to exceed seventy-five until the population of the state shall be 1,500,000, and may never exceed ninety-nine. They must be citizens of the state three years, and residents of the county they represent one year. Senators are apportioned as representatives; the number not to exceed one-third of the number of representatives; must be thirty years of age; in other respects qualified as representatives. Both are elected biennially.
Bills pa.s.sed by both houses are laws without having been presented to the governor. _Quorum_, two-thirds of each house.