_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; and may not hold the office more than six in any term of eight years. He must be thirty years of age, and have been a citizen of the state seven years. No lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state for four years, and a treasurer for two years, are chosen by joint vote of the general a.s.sembly.
_Electors._ White males having been citizens of the county six months; also male persons of color, twenty-one years of age, who are competent witnesses in a court of justice against a white man.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, such inferior courts as the legislature may establish, and justices" courts. The supreme court consists of three judges, one in each of the grand divisions of the state, elected for twelve years. Judges of inferior courts are elected for eight years. For the election of justices of the peace, each county is divided into districts of convenient size, in each of which are elected two justices and one constable. A district containing a county town, may elect three justices and two constables.
Attorneys for the state are elected by joint a.s.sembly for six years.
In each county are elected one sheriff, and one trustee for two years; and one register for four years. The justices of the peace of each county elect one coroner and one ranger for two years.
_Amendments_ are proposed by majorities of all the members elected, approved by two-thirds of all the members of the next legislature, and ratified by the people.
Kentucky.
The first const.i.tution of this state was adopted in 1790; and the state was admitted with the same in 1792. Another was adopted in 1799; and the present in 1850.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. The house of representatives consists of one hundred members, elected for two years; apportioned among the counties in proportion to the qualified voters. Age, twenty-four years; state residence, two years; county, one year. When a city or town has a sufficient number of voters, it may elect one or more representatives. Senate, thirty-eight members, one elected in each district for four years; one-half every two years. Age, thirty years; residence in the state six years, in the district, one year.
Bills vetoed by the governor, if again pa.s.sed by majorities of all the members elected, are laws; also if not returned by him within ten days, unless the return is prevented by adjournment; in which case they become laws, unless 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, thirty-five years; residence in the state six years.
A lieutenant-governor.
A treasurer for two years; and an auditor of public accounts, a register of the land-office, and an attorney-general for four years, are chosen by the electors.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, styled court of appeals, consisting of four judges, one to be elected in each district for eight years, in such rotation that one may be elected every two years. Should the number be changed, the principle of electing one every two years is to be preserved. A circuit court to be held in each county by a district judge, one to be elected in each of the twelve judicial districts, for six years. The number of districts may be increased, but may not exceed sixteen until the population shall exceed 1,500,000. A county court in each county, consisting of a presiding judge and two a.s.sociates, elected for four years. Other inferior courts may be established by law.
Justices of the peace in each county are elected in districts, two in each district for four years, and a constable for four years. A state"s attorney for each judicial district; a sheriff in each county, for two years, and several other county officers.
_Electors._ White male citizens who have resided in the state two years; in the county, town, or city, one year; and in the precinct in which they offer to vote, sixty days.
_Amendments_ by conventions only are provided for. No convention may be called by the legislature, until a majority of all the voters of the state shall have voted at two successive elections in favor of calling a convention.
Ohio.
The first const.i.tution of this state was adopted in 1802, preparatory to her admission into the union; the present one, in 1851.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Senators and representatives are elected biennially in their respective counties or districts, in which they must have resided a year. The ratio of representation in the house is ascertained by dividing the whole population of the state by the number one hundred; the quotient being the ratio for the next ten years. The ratio for a senator is ascertained by dividing the whole population by thirty-five. Senators are elected in districts. The representation of fractions of population is provided for.
Bills are not submitted to the governor. Quorum, not less than a majority.
_Executive._ A governor, a lieutenant-governor, a secretary of state, a treasurer, and an attorney-general, are elected for two years; and an auditor for four years.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court consisting of five judges chosen by the electors of the state at large for five years, one, every year. The number may be altered by law. A district court in each of the nine common pleas districts, composed of a supreme court judge and the judges of the court of common pleas of the respective districts, and held in each county within a district, or in at least three places in each district. One or more of these judges hold a court of common pleas in every county in the district. A county probate judge is elected for three years.
Justices of the peace, a competent number, are elected in each township for three years.
A sheriff is elected in each county for two years, but may hold only four years in any period of six years.
_Electors._ White male citizens who have resided in the state one year, and in the county, township, or ward, such time as the law shall prescribe.
_Amendments_ are proposed by three-fifths of all the members elected to each house, and ratified by a majority of the voters who vote thereon at an election. Or a majority of two-thirds of all the members of each house may submit to the electors the question of calling a convention; and if a majority of the electors vote for a convention, the legislature shall provide for calling the same. Every twentieth year, the question of calling a convention is to be submitted to the electors.
Indiana.
This state formed a const.i.tution and was admitted into the union, in 1816. The present const.i.tution was adopted in 1851.
_Electors._ White male citizens, having resided in the state six months.
Also foreigners who have resided in the United States one year, in the state six months, and have declared their intention to become citizens.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. The number of senators may not exceed fifty; the number of representatives may not exceed one hundred; both to be chosen in their respective counties or districts, senators for four years, one-half every two years; representatives for two years.
Both are apportioned according to the number of white male inhabitants twenty-one years of age, every six years. They must have been citizens of the state two years; of the county or district, one year. Senators must be twenty-five years of age.
Quorum, two-thirds. Bills must be finally pa.s.sed by majorities of all the members elected. The same majorities enact a bill disapproved by the governor. If he does not return a bill within three days, it is a law, unless its return is prevented by adjournment; in which case it will be a law, unless he shall, within five days after the adjournment, file the bill, with his objections, in the office of the secretary of state, who shall lay the same before the general a.s.sembly at the next session, as if it had been returned by the governor. Bids may not be presented to the governor within two days previous to the adjournment.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years; and is eligible only four years in eight. Age, thirty years; citizenship, five years; state residence, five years. A lieutenant-governor.
A secretary of state, an auditor, and a treasurer, are elected for two years, and are eligible four years in six.
_Judiciary._ A supreme court, circuit courts, and such inferior courts as the general a.s.sembly may establish. Judges of the supreme court, not less than three nor more than five, one in each district, are elected by the electors of the state at large, for six years. Circuit courts consist of a judge for each judicial circuit, chosen by the electors thereof, for six years; and a prosecuting attorney for the circuit, for two years. Justices of the peace are elected for four years in the townships.
There are elected in each county, a clerk of the circuit court, an auditor, a recorder, a treasurer, a sheriff, a coroner, and a surveyor; the first three for four years; the others for two years. The sheriff and treasurer are eligible only four years in eight; the first three eight years in twelve.
_Amendments_ must be agreed to by two successive legislatures, a majority of all the members of each house concurring, and ratified by the electors of the state.
Illinois.
Illinois was admitted into the union in 1818. The present const.i.tution is dated August 31, 1847.
_Legislature_--styled _general a.s.sembly_. Representatives are elected for two years; must be twenty-five years of age; inhabitants of the state three years, and of the county or district, one year; and have paid a state or county tax. The number is never to exceed one hundred.
The districts are not limited to a single representative. The senate consists of twenty-five members, elected in single districts, for four years, one-half every two years; must be thirty years of age; citizens of the United States; inhabitants of the state five years, of the county or district, one year; and have paid a county or state tax.
Apportionments of senators and representatives are made after each census, taken in 1855, and every ten years thereafter.
Quorum, two-thirds. Bills pa.s.sed against the veto by a majority of all the members elected to each house. If not returned within ten days, they are laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment; in which case they must be returned on the first day of the next legislative session, or they will be laws.
_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years, and is eligible four years in eight. Age, thirty-five years; citizenship, fourteen years; state residence, ten years. A lieutenant-governor.