_Legislature._ Senate and house, together styled _general a.s.sembly_. The members of both houses are elected biennially. Representatives are apportioned among the counties according to population, including three-fifths of the slaves. Age, twenty-one years; citizenship, seven years; state residence, three years; county, one year. Senators are elected in districts. Age, twenty-five years; citizenship, nine years; state residence, three years; district, one year.
Bills are pa.s.sed against the veto by two-thirds majorities. Bills not returned by the governor within five days are laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; must be thirty years of age; have been a citizen of the United States twelve years, of the state, six years. No lieutenant-governor.
Secretary of state, treasurer, and surveyor-general, are elected for two years.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court for the correction of errors, to consist of three judges chosen by the legislature for six years, one every two years; a superior court, whose judges are elected in their several circuits for four years; inferior courts, one in each county, consisting of five judges, elected by the people; courts held by justices of the peace elected for four years.
Sheriffs are elected for two years, but may not be twice elected in four years.
_Electors_, white male citizens and inhabitants of the state, having resided in the county six months, and paid all the taxes required of them, and which they had an opportunity of paying the preceding year.
_Amendments_ may be made by two successive legislatures, two-thirds of both houses concurring.
Florida.
This state was admitted into the union with its present const.i.tution, by act of congress, March 3, 1845.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible for the next term. Age, thirty years; citizenship; state residence five years. No lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state, elected by the people for four years; a treasurer and a controller of public accounts for two years.
_Legislature._ A senate and a house of representatives, styled, the _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are apportioned among the counties according to the number of free whites and three-fifths of the slaves; the number not to exceed sixty. They are elected biennially. Age, twenty-one; citizenship; state residence, two years; county, one year.
Senators are elected in districts, at least one in each district, for four years, one-half every two years; the number to be not less than one-fourth, nor more than one-half of the number of representatives.
Age, twenty-five years; other qualifications the same as those of representatives.
Bills become laws against the veto by majorities of all the members elected.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, courts of chancery, circuit courts, and justices of the peace. The supreme court consists of three judges elected by the people for six years. The state is divided into four circuits, and a judge elected in each judicial circuit for six years, who presides in the courts held in his circuit. Justices of the peace for each county are appointed or elected, as the general a.s.sembly may direct.
An attorney-general is chosen by joint vote of the two houses, for four years.
_Electors._ White male citizens, residents of the state two years, of the county, six months; enrolled in the militia, unless by law exempted from serving. The general a.s.sembly is required to provide for registering the qualified electors of each county.
_Amendments._ A convention may be called by the general a.s.sembly, two-thirds of each house concurring. Alterations may be made by like majorities of two successive legislatures.
Alabama.
This state was admitted into the union in 1819, with its present const.i.tution.
_Legislature_--called the _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are apportioned among the counties according to the free white population; chosen biennially; must be twenty-one years of age, residents of the state two years, and of the county, city or town they represent, one year. Senators are chosen in single districts for four years, one-half of them every two years; must be twenty-seven years of age; residence the same as representatives. The number of representatives may not exceed one hundred; the number of senators may not exceed thirty-three.
Bills negotiated by the governor, may be pa.s.sed by majorities of all the members elected. If not returned within five days, vetoed bills become laws unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Electors._ White male citizens, having resided in the state one year, in the county, city, or town, three months.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years, and eligible four years in any term of six years. He must be thirty years of age, a native citizen of the United States, and have been a resident of the state four years. No lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state is chosen biennially, and a treasurer and a controller of public accounts are chosen annually, by joint vote of both houses.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court; circuit courts to be held in each county; and inferior courts of law and equity, to be established by the general a.s.sembly. Judges of the supreme court, and chancellors are chosen by the legislature for six years; judges of the circuit and inferior courts by the people for the same term. A competent number of justices of the peace, and a sheriff, are elected in each county.
An attorney-general for the state, and the requisite number of solicitors are elected by joint vote of the general a.s.sembly, for four years.
_Amendments_ are proposed by one legislature, approved by the electors at the next election for representatives, and ratified by the next legislature; two-thirds majorities being required in both cases.
Mississippi.
In 1817, this state was admitted into the union with a const.i.tution adopted the same year. The present const.i.tution was formed in 1832.
_Electors._ White male citizens, residents of the state one year, of the county, four months. An elector who happens to be in any county, city, or town, other than that of his residence, or who may have removed to any such place within four months preceding an election, may vote for such officers as he could have voted for in the county of his residence, or from which he removed.
_Legislature._ Representatives, not less than thirty-six, nor more than one hundred, are elected for two years in the several counties, among which they are apportioned according to the number of white inhabitants.
They must have been residents of the state two years, one of the county.
Senators, not less than one-fourth, nor more than one-third of the number of representatives, are elected by districts for four years. Age, thirty years; state residence, four years; district one year.
Bills are pa.s.sed against the veto by two-thirds majorities. Bills must be returned within six days, or they become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.
_Judiciary._ A high court of errors and appeals, consisting of three judges, one in each district, elected for six years; a circuit court to be held in each county at least twice a year, the judges to be elected in their respective judicial districts for four years; a superior court of chancery, the chancellor to be elected by the electors of the whole state for six years; a court of probate in each county, the judge to be elected for two years; a competent number of justices of the peace and constables, chosen in each county for two years. Other inferior courts may be established by the legislature.
An attorney-general is chosen by the electors of the state, and a competent number of district-attorneys in their respective districts. A sheriff and one or more coroners are elected in each county for two years.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; must be thirty years of age; have been a citizen twenty years, a resident of the state five years; and may not hold the office more than four years in six. No lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state, a treasurer, and an auditor of public accounts, are elected for two years.
_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds of both branches of the legislature, and ratified by the people at the next election.
Louisiana.
This state was admitted into the union in 1812, with a const.i.tution formed the same year. In 1845, a second, and in 1852 the present const.i.tution was adopted.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are apportioned among the several parishes, (corresponding to counties in other states,) and are elected for two years; the number not to exceed one hundred, nor to be less than seventy. Senators, in number thirty-two, are apportioned among the districts according to population, and are elected for four years, one-half every two years. Every qualified elector is eligible to a seat in either house.
Vetoed bills are pa.s.sed by majorities of two-thirds of all the members.