ANALYSIS OF THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS.
MAINE. The legislative power is vested in a senate and a house of representatives, both elected annually by the people, on the second Monday in September. These two bodies are together styled The Legislature of Maine. The number of representatives cannot be less than one hundred, nor more than two hundred. A town having fifteen hundred inhabitants is entitled to send one representative; but no town can ever be entitled to more than seven representatives. The number of senators cannot be less than twenty, nor more than thirty-one. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected annually by the people, on the second Monday in September, and his term of office commences on the first Wednesday in January. A council of seven members is elected annually on the first Wednesday in January, by joint ballot of the senators and representatives, to advise the governor in the executive part of government. The right of suffrage is granted to every male citizen aged twenty-one years or upwards (excepting paupers, persons under guardianship, and Indians not taxed), having had his residence established in the state for the term of three months next preceding an election. The judicial power is vested in a supreme judicial court, and such other courts as the legislature may, from time to time, establish. All the judges are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council; and they hold their offices during good behavior, but not beyond the age of seventy years.
NEW HAMPSHIRE. A constitution was established in 1784; and in 1792, this constitution was altered and amended, by a convention of delegates held at Concord, and is now in force. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which, together, are styled, The General Court of New Hampshire. Every town, or incorporated township, having one hundred and fifty ratable polls, may send one representative; and for every three hundred additional polls, it is entitled to an additional representative. The senate consists of twelve members, who are chosen by the people in districts. The executive power is vested in a governor and a council, which consists of five members. The governor, council, senators, and representatives, are all elected annually, by the people, on the second Tuesday in March; and their term of service commences on the first Wednesday in June. The right of suffrage is granted to every male inhabitant of twenty-one years of age, excepting paupers and persons excused from paying taxes at their own request. The judiciary power is vested in a superior court and a court of common pleas. Judges are appointed by the governor and council, and hold their offices during good behaviour, but not beyond the age of seventy years.
VERMONT. The first constitution of this state was formed in 1777; the one now in operation was adopted on the 4th of July, 1793. The legislative power is vested in a single body, a house of representatives, elected, annually, on the first Tuesday in September, and styled The General Assembly of the state of Vermont. The executive power is vested in a governor, lieutenant governor, and a council of twelve persons, who are all chosen annually on the first Tuesday in September. They are empowered to commission all offices; to sit as judges to consider and determine on impeachments; to prepare and lay before the general assembly such business as shall appear to them necessary; and have power to revise and propose amendments to the laws passed by the house of representatives. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every man of the full age of twenty-one years, who has resided in the state for the space of one whole year, next before the election of representatives, and is of quiet and peaceable behavior. The judiciary power is vested in a supreme court, consisting of three judgesand of a county court of three judges for each county. Judges of the supreme, county and probate courts, sheriffs, and justices of the peace, are elected annually by the general assembly. A council of censors, consisting of thirteen persons, are chosen every seven years, whose duty is to inquire whether the constitution has been preserved inviolate; whether the legislative and executive branches of government have performed their duty as guardians of the people; whether the public taxes have been justly laid and collected; in what manner the public moneys have been disposed of; and whether the laws have been duly executed.
MASSACHUSETTS. The constitution of this state was formed in 1780, and amended in 1821. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which together are styled The General Court of Massachusetts. The members of the house of representatives are elected annually on the second Monday in November. Every corporate town having one hundred and fifty ratable polls may elect one representative, and another for every additional two hundred and twenty-five ratable polls.
The senate consists of forty members, who are chosen, by districts, annually, on the second Monday in November. The supreme executive magistrate is styled the Governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, and has the title of “His Excellency.” The governor is elected annually by the people on the second Monday in November, and at the same time a lieutenant governor is chosen, who has the title of “His Honor.” The governor is assisted in the executive part of government by a council of nine members, who are chosen by the joint ballot of the senators and representatives, from the senators, and in case the persons elected, or any of them, decline the appointment, the deficiency is supplied from among the people at large. The right of suffrage is granted to every male citizen, twenty-one years of age and upwards (excepting paupers and persons under guardianship), who has resided within the commonwealth one year, and within the town or district in which he may claim a right to vote, six calendar months next preceding any election, and who has paid a state or county tax, assessed upon him within two years next preceding such election; and also every citizen who may be by law exempted from taxation, and who may be in all other respects qualified as above mentioned. The judiciary is vested in a supreme court, a court of common pleas, and such other courts as the legislature may establish. The judges are appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the council, and hold their offices during good behavior.
RHODE ISLAND. The government of this state is founded on the provisions of the charter granted to the colony by Charles II., in 1663; and this is the only state in the union which is without a written constitution. The legislative power is vested in a General Assembly, consisting of a senate and a house of representatives. The house of representatives consists of seventy-two members, elected semi-annually. The senate consists of ten members, who are elected annually in April. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected annually in April. A lieutenant governor is also elected, on whom the executive duties devolve in case of the office of governor being vacated. The judges are appointed annually by the general assembly.
CONNECTICUT. The charter granted in 1662 by Charles II., formed the basis of the government of Connecticut till 1818, when the present constitution was framed. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which together are styled the General Assembly. Members of the house of representatives are chosen by the different towns in the state: the more ancient towns, the majority of the whole number, send each two representatives; the rest only one each. The present number is two hundred and eight. The senate must consist of not less than eighteen, nor more than twenty-four members, who are chosen by districts. The present number is twenty-one. The executive power is vested in a governor. A lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is president of the senate, and on whom the duties of the governor devolve in case of his death, resignation, or absence. The representatives, senators, governor, and lieutenant governor, are all elected annually by the people on the first Monday in April. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court of errors, a superior court, and such inferior courts as the general assembly may, from time to time, establish. The judges are appointed by the general assembly; and those of the supreme and superior courts hold their offices during good behavior, but not beyond the age of seventy years. No person is compelled to join, or support, or to be classed with, or associatedto, any congregation, church, or religious association. But every person may be compelled to pay his proportion of the expenses of the society to which he may belong: he may, however, separate himself from the society, by leaving a written notice of his wish with the clerk of such society.
NEW YORK.The present constitution of the state of New York was formed in 1822. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people every two years; and at the same time, a lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is president of the senate, and on whom, in case of the impeachment, resignation, death, or absence of the governor, from office, the powers and duties of governor devolve. The legislative power is vested in a senate of thirty-two members, who are chosen for four years, and an assembly, of one hundred and twenty-eight members, who are elected annually; and these bodies united are styled the Legislature. For the election of senators, the state is divided into eight districts, each being entitled to choose four senators, one of whom is elected every year. The members of the assembly are chosen by counties, and are apportioned according to population. The constitution grants the right of suffrage, in the election of public officers, to every white male citizen, of the age of twenty-one years, who has been an inhabitant of the state one year next preceding any election, and, for the preceding six months, a resident in the county where he may offer his vote; but no man of color is entitled to vote unless he is possessed of a freehold estate of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars, without any incumbrance. The chancellor and judges are appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate. The chancellor and justices of the supreme and circuit courts hold their offices during good behavior, or until they attain the age of sixty years. The judges of the county courts, or courts of common pleas, are appointed for a term of five years.
NEW JERSEY. The constitution of New Jersey was formed in 1776; and no revision of it has since taken place, except that the legislature has undertaken to explain its provisions in particular parts. The government is vested in a governor, legislative council, and general assembly; and these bodies united are styled the Legislature. The members of the legislative council and of the general assembly are elected annually, on the second Tuesday in October. The number of members of the legislative council is fourteen, one being elected by each county in the state. The general assembly has consisted, for a number of years past, of forty-three members; but by a law enacted in 1829, seven additional members were added; and it now consists of fifty members. The governor is chosen annually by a joint vote of the council and assembly, at their first joint meeting after each annual election. The governor is president of the council; and the council also elect from their own body, at their first annual meeting, a vice-president, who acts in the place of the governor in his absence. The governor and council form a court of appeals, in the last resort in all cases of law; and they possess the power of granting pardon to criminals after condemnation. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to ‘all persons of full age who are worth fifty pounds proclamation money, clear estate in the same, and have resided within the county in which they claim to vote for twelve months immediately preceding the election.’ [The legislature has declared by law, that every white male inhabitant, who shall be over the age of twenty-one years, and shall have paid a tax, shall be considered worth fifty pounds, and shall be entitled to vote;—and by another legislative act, females and negroes are prohibited from voting.] Judges are appointed by the legislature; those of the supreme court for a term of seven years, and those of the inferior courts, for five years; both are capable of being re-appointed.