The government class book / Designed for the instruction of youth in the principles of constitutional government and the rights and duties of citizens.

by Andrew W. Young

Maryland.

The constitution 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 assembly 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 assembly. 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 constitutes a quorum. Bills must pass by majorities of all the members elected; and when so passed 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.