A Book of the United States / Exhibiting its geography, divisions, constitution, and government ... and presenting a view of the republic generally, and of the individual states; together with a condensed history of the land, from its first discovery to the present time. The biography of about two hundred of the leading men: a description of the principal cities and towns; with statistical tables

by Unknown

LOUISIANA. The constitution of this state was formed in 1812. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, both together styled The General Assembly of the State of Louisiana. The representatives are elected for two years. Their number cannot be less than twenty-five, nor more than fifty; and they are apportioned according to the number of electors, as ascertained by enumeration every four years. Members of the senate are elected for four years; one half being chosen every two years, at the time of the election of the representatives. The state is divided into sixteen senatorial districts, in each of which one senator is chosen. Executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for the term of four years. The people give their votes for a governor at the time and place of voting for representatives and senators; and on the second day of the succeeding session of the general assembly, the two houses, by a joint ballot, elect for governor one of the two candidates who have the greatest number of votes. Right of suffrage is possessed by every white male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who has resided in the county in which he offers to vote one year next preceding the election, and who, in the last six months prior to said election, has paid a state tax. Judiciary power is vested in a supreme court, which possesses appellate jurisdiction only, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The judges are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, and hold their offices during good behavior.

TENNESSEE. The constitution of this state was formed at Knoxville, in 1796. Legislative authority is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives; and the members of both houses are elected biennially, on the first Thursday and Friday in August. The number of representatives is sixty, who are apportioned among the different counties, according to the number of taxable inhabitants. The number of senators cannot be less than one third, nor more than one half, of the number of representatives. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected at the same time with the senators and representatives, and who holds his office for the term of two years, but is not eligible more than six years in any term of eight. The right of suffrage is granted to every freeman of the age of twenty-one years, possessing a freehold in the county where he offers his vote, and to every freeman who has been an inhabitant of any one county in the state, six months immediately preceding the day of election. Judiciary power is vested in such superior and inferior courts, as the legislature may from time to time direct and establish. The judges are appointed by a joint ballot of both houses, and hold their offices during good behavior.

KENTUCKY. On the separation of Kentucky from Virginia, in 1790, a constitution was adopted, which continued in force till 1799, when a new one was formed instead of it; and this is now in force. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which, together, are styled The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The representatives are elected annually, and are apportioned, every four years, among the different counties, according to the number of electors. The senators are elected for four years, one quarter of them being chosen annually. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for four years, and is ineligible for the succeeding seven years after the expiration of his term of office. At the election ofgovernor, a lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is speaker of the senate, and on whom the duties of the governor devolve, in case of his absence or removal. The constitution grants the right of suffrage to every free male citizen (people of color excepted) who has attained the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in the state two years, or in the county where he offers his vote one year next preceding the election. Judiciary power is vested in a supreme court, styled the court of appeals, and in such inferior courts as the general assembly may, from time to time, erect and establish. Judges of the different courts, and justices of the peace, hold their offices during good behavior.

OHIO. The constitution of this state was formed at Chillicothe, in 1802. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives, which, together, are styled The General Assembly of the State of Ohio. The representatives are elected annually, on the second Tuesday in October; and they are apportioned among the counties according to the number of white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age. Their number cannot be less than thirty-six, nor more than seventy-two. The senators are chosen biennially, and are apportioned according to the number of white male inhabitants of twenty-one years of age. Their number cannot be less than one third, nor more than one half of the number of representatives. The executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for two years. Right of suffrage is granted to all white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years, who have resided in the state one year next preceding the election, and who have paid, or are charged with a state or county tax. Judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in courts of common pleas for each county, and such other courts as the legislature may from time to time establish. The judges are elected by a joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly, for the term of seven years.

INDIANA. Executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for a term of three years, and may be once re-elected. At every election of governor, a lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is president of the senate, and on whom, in case of the death, resignation, or removal of the governor, the powers and duties of governor devolve. The legislative authority is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate, the members of which are elected for three years, and a house of representatives, elected annually. The number of representatives can never be less than thirty-six, nor more than one hundred; and they are apportioned among the several counties, according to the number of white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age. The number of senators, who are apportioned in like manner, cannot be less than one third, nor more than one half of the number of representatives. The representatives, and one third of the members of the senate, are elected annually, on the first Monday in August; and the governor is chosen on the same day, every third year. Right of suffrage is granted to all male citizens of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, who may have resided in the state one year immediately preceding an election. Judiciary power is vested in one supreme court, in circuit courts, and in such other inferior courts as the general assembly may establish. The supreme court consists of three judges; and each of the circuit courts consists of a president and two associate judges. Judges are all appointed for the term of seven years. Judges of the supreme court are appointed by the governor, with the consent of the senate; presidents of the circuit courts, by the legislature; and associate judges are elected by the people.

ILLINOIS. The legislative authority is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate, the members of which are elected for four years; and of a house of representatives, elected biennially. ‘The number of representatives shall not be less than twenty-seven, nor more than thirty-six, until the number of inhabitants within the state shall amount to one hundred thousand; and the number of senators shall never be less than one third, nor more than one half of the number of representatives.’ Executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected by the people for four years; and he is not eligible for more than four years in any term of eight years. At the election of governor, a lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is speaker of the senate; and on whom, in case the governor vacates his office, the duties of governor devolve. Representatives, and one half of the senators, are elected biennially, on the first Monday in August; and the governor is chosen every fourth year, at the same time. All white male inhabitants, above the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state six months next preceding an election, have the rights of electors. The judicial power is vested in a supremecourt, and in such inferior courts as the general assembly may establish. The judges are appointed by a joint ballot of both branches of the general assembly, and hold their offices during good behavior.

MISSOURI. The constitution of this state was formed at St. Louis, in 1820. Legislative power is vested in a general assembly, consisting of a senate and house of representatives. Representatives are chosen every second year. Every county is entitled to at least one representative; but the whole number can never exceed one hundred. The senators are elected for four years; the seats of one half being vacated every second year. The constitutional number is not less than fourteen, nor more than thirty-three. They are chosen by districts, and are apportioned according to the number of free white inhabitants. Executive power is vested in a governor, who is elected for four years, on the first Monday in August; and he is ineligible for the next four years after the expiration of his term of service. At the time of the election of governor, a lieutenant governor is also chosen, who is, by virtue of his office, president of the senate. Right of suffrage is granted to every white male citizen who has attained the age of twenty-one years, and has resided in the state one year before an election, the last three months thereof being in the county or district in which he offers his vote. Judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in a chancellor, circuit courts, and such other inferior tribunals as the general assembly may, from time to time, establish. Judges are appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate; and they hold their offices during good behavior, but not beyond the age of sixty-five years.

MICHIGAN. The Constitution of this State was formed in 1835. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives; the number of representatives is never less than forty-eight, nor can it exceed one hundred; and the senate is to equal one third of the house, as nearly as may be. The representatives are to be chosen annually on the first Monday of November, and the day following; on the same days, once in two years, the senators are elected. The State is divided, at each new apportionment, into not less than four, nor more than eight senatorial districts. The legislature commences its session on the first Monday of January. The executive power is vested in a governor and lieutenant governor, who are chosen directly by the people once in every two years. The lieutenant governor is president of the senate, and in the absence of the governor performs the duties of his office. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, and such other courts as the legislature may establish. The judges of the supreme court hold their office for seven years. They are appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate.

The right of suffrage is possessed by all white male citizens over twenty-one years of age, who have resided in the state six months preceding any election in the townships where they reside. Slavery and involuntary servitude are forbidden in the state, except for crime.

ARKANSAS. Every free white male citizen of the United States, who shall have been a citizen of the State for six months, shall be deemed a qualified elector. Members of the house of representatives are to be elected for two years, and of the senate for four years. The general assembly meets every two years. All general elections are to be viva voce. The senate can never consist of less than seventeen, nor more than thirty-three members. The house of representatives shall consist of not less than fifty-four, nor more than one hundred. The governor is to hold his office for four years, but shall not be eligible for more than eight years in any period of twelve years. Tho judicial power is vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, and in justices of the peace. The supreme court consists of three judges. Its jurisdiction is appellate. The official terms of the judges of the supreme court is eight years; of the judges of the circuit court, four years. They are chosen by the general assembly. Justices of the peace are elected for two years, by the people.