The senate is composed of thirteen, elected annually by taxable citizens. A candidate must 1st, be thirty years old; 2d, must own a freehold in the state worth £200—3d, he must have resided in the state seven years previous to the election, and be a resident of the county by which he is elected.
The house of representatives is composed of members from the different towns, the number of which is proportioned to the population in the ratio of one representative for every 150 taxable inhabitants, of 20 years old at least, and of two for every 450, so that it requires 300 additional taxable inhabitants for every new member.
The election is made by ballot, and no one is eligible unless he own in the county a freehold, whereof he is seized in his own right, of the value of £500. It is necessary also that he reside in the district at the time of his election, and have resided two years within the state.
Every male citizen of 20 years old, except paupers and persons exempt from taxes at their own request, have the right of voting for senators and representatives. The executive power is confided to the governor and five councillors.
The governor is chosen annually by vote of all the taxable citizens; and if two candidates have an equal number of votes, the choice is decided by the joint ballot of both houses of assembly. A candidate for the governorship must be thirty years old, be an inhabitant of the state for seven years preceding the election, have an estate of the value of five hundred pounds, one half of which to consist of a freehold in his own right, in the state. The governor is commander in chief of the forces by land and sea, with the advice and consent of the council of state, which he assembles at will. He appoints the attorney and solicitor general, and the other officers of justice. He has the right of pardoning criminals, except such as are convicted before the senate, by impeachment of the house. He signs all the commissions which are moreover countersigned by his secretary.
The councillors are also elected by all the taxable citizens of 20 years old, and the same requisites are demanded of them as of the governor, with this difference however, that at least three hundred pounds of their property must be in freehold.
The secretary, treasurer, and commissary general are chosen by ballot by the senators and representatives.
The treasurer of the county and the town clerk are appointed by the inhabitants of each county.
The members of congress are chosen by the inhabitants assembled in town meetings, and their votes are sent to the secretary, who opens them before the general court. It is in the same way that candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency are chosen. The two senators in congress are elected by the general courts.
The judiciary court is composed of a superior court of four judges who annually make two circuits through the counties; an inferior court, with the same number of judges in each county, who sit four times a year; a general court of sessions of justices of the peace, who sit at the same time; a court of probates, formed of a single judge who sits every month in each county; and justices of the peace.