The Government Class Book Part 31

A secretary of state and an auditor of public accounts are elected for four years, and a treasurer for two years.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court of three judges, one to be chosen in each of the three grand divisions, for nine years, one every three years; the one oldest in commission to be chief-justice. The legislature may provide for their election by the whole state. Circuit judges are elected for six years, one in each of the nine judicial districts, the number of which may be increased, if necessary. A circuit court is to be held two or more terms annually in each county. A judge of the county court is elected in each county for four years, and has also probate jurisdiction.

Justices of the peace are elected in each county by districts for four years. Inferior local courts may be established in the cities by the legislature.

A state's attorney is elected in each judicial circuit, for four years; or in each county, if the legislature shall so direct. In each county a clerk of the circuit court is elected for four years and a sheriff for two years, who is eligible only once in four years; a supreme court clerk by the electors of each grand division.

_Electors._ White male citizens having resided in the state one year. A poll or capitation-tax of not less than fifty cents, nor more than a dollar, may, in case of necessity, be laid upon every voter under sixty years of age.

_Amendments_ must be proposed by two-thirds majorities of all the members of one legislature, approved by majorities of all the members of the next legislature, and ratified by the electors at the next general election. Or, the legislature, by two-thirds majorities of all the members, may submit to the people the question of calling a convention; and if a majority of the electors voting for representatives shall vote for a convention, an act for calling one shall be pa.s.sed.

Michigan.

This state was admitted into the union in 1836. The present const.i.tution was adopted in 1850.

_Legislature._ The senate has thirty-two members, elected in single districts, for two years. Representatives, not less than sixty-four, nor more than one hundred, are elected also in single districts, for two years. An apportionment of members is made every ten years. Any qualified elector holding no other office, is eligible to either house.

The final pa.s.sage of bills requires a majority of all the members elected to each house. Majorities of two-thirds of all the members pa.s.s bills against the veto. Bills not returned within ten days, are laws unless their return is prevented by adjournment. Bills pa.s.sed within the last five days of a session, may be signed by the governor and filed by him in the office of the secretary of state within five days after the adjournment; and the same become laws.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years; must be thirty years of age; have been a citizen of the United States five years, and a resident of the state two years. A lieutenant-governor.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, circuit courts, a probate court, and justices of the peace. For six years, and until the legislature shall otherwise provide, the circuit judges are to be judges of the supreme court. After six years, a supreme court may be organized, consisting of a chief-justice and three a.s.sociate justices, chosen by the electors for eight years, and so cla.s.sed that only one of them shall go out of office at a time. A circuit judge is elected in each of the eight judicial circuits for six years. The number of circuits may be increased. The probate judge of each county is elected for four years.

Justices of the peace, not exceeding four, are elected in each towns.h.i.+p, for four years.

_Electors._ White male citizens who have resided in the state three months, and in the towns.h.i.+p or ward ten days; also foreigners after a residence of two and a half years in the state, and a declaration of their intention to become citizens; and civilized males of Indian descent.

A secretary of state, a superintendent of public instruction, a treasurer, a commissioner of the land-office, an auditor-general, and attorney-general, are elected for two years.

In each county are elected a sheriff, a county clerk, a county treasurer, a register of deeds, and a prosecuting attorney, all for two years. The sheriff can hold only four years in six. The board of supervisors may unite the offices of clerk and register in one office.

_Amendments_ are proposed by two-thirds of all the members of each branch, and ratified by a majority of the electors voting thereon at the next general election. Every sixteenth year the question of a general revision of the const.i.tution by a convention shall be submitted to the electors of the state.

Wisconsin.

This state was admitted into the union by an act of congress, May 29, 1848.

_Electors._ White male citizens, or foreigners who have declared their intention to become citizens, having resided in the state one year; also civilized persons of Indian descent, not members of any tribe.

_Legislature._ A senate and an a.s.sembly. Members of the a.s.sembly are elected annually; the number not to be less than fifty-four, nor greater than one hundred. The number of senators may not be less than one-fourth, nor greater than one-third of the number of members of a.s.sembly. Senators are chosen for two years, half every year. Members of both houses are elected in single districts, apportioned every five years; and must have resided in the state a year, and be qualified electors of the districts.

Bills are pa.s.sed over the veto by majorities of two-thirds. Quorum, a majority.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for two years. Any citizen of the United States and qualified elector of the state, is eligible to the office of governor or lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state, a treasurer, and an attorney-general, are elected for two years.

Sheriffs, coroners, registers of deeds, and district-attorneys, are elected in counties, for two years. Sheriffs are ineligible for the next two years.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, circuit courts, courts of probate, and justices of the peace. Inferior courts, with limited civil jurisdiction, may be established by law in the several counties. By the const.i.tution, the judges of the circuit courts were to be judges of the supreme court for five years, and until the legislature should otherwise provide. A separate supreme court may be organized, to consist of a chief-justice and two a.s.sociate justices elected by the electors of the state for six years; one only to be elected at a time. The circuit judges also, one in each judicial circuit, are elected for six years. The supreme court shall hold at least one term annually at the seat of government, and at such other places as the legislature may provide. A circuit court is to be held at least twice a year in each county.

A judge of probate is chosen in each county for two years; but the office may be abolished, and probate powers conferred on inferior county courts. Justices of the peace are elected in the several towns, cities, and villages, for two years.

_Amendments_ are to be approved by a majority of the whole of each house of two successive legislatures, and ratified by the people. Also the legislature may submit to the people the question of calling a convention to revise or change the const.i.tution.

Iowa.

The state of Iowa was admitted into the union by an act of congress approved December 28, 1846.

_Electors._ White male citizens, resident in the state six months, and in the county twenty days.

_Legislature._ The two houses are called the _general a.s.sembly_.

Representatives are elected in their respective districts for two years; their number to be not less than thirty-nine, nor exceed seventy-two.

They must be inhabitants of the state one year, and residents of the county or district thirty days. Senators, in number not less than one-third, nor more than one-half of the number of representatives, are elected for four years, one-half every two years. Age, twenty-four years; otherwise qualified as representatives.

Two-thirds majorities of the members present, pa.s.s bills vetoed by the governor. Bills not returned within three days also become laws, unless their return is prevented by adjournment.

_Executive._ The governor is elected for four years; must have been a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state, two years; and must be thirty years of age. No lieutenant-governor. In case of vacancy in the office of governor, the office devolves upon the secretary of state until the vacancy is filled.

A secretary of state, an auditor of public accounts, and a treasurer, are elected for two years.

_Judiciary._ A supreme court, district courts, and such inferior courts as the legislature may establish. The supreme court consists of a chief-justice and two a.s.sociates, elected by joint vote of the two branches, for six years. It has appellate jurisdiction only in all cases of chancery, and const.i.tutes a court for the correction of errors at law. Each district court consists of a judge elected by the voters of the district, for five years, at the towns.h.i.+p elections. A prosecuting attorney and a clerk of the district court, are elected in each county at the general election, for two years.

_Amendments_ are provided for only by a convention. The legislature may provide for a vote of the people, and if a majority of the votes are in favor of a convention, an election of delegates is to be held within six months.

California.

The const.i.tution of this state was adopted November 13, 1849; and the state was admitted by act of congress, September 9, 1850.

_Electors._ White male citizens of the United States, and white male citizens of Mexico having elected to become citizens of the United States under the treaty of peace, who have resided in the state six months, and in the county or district thirty days.

_Legislature._ Senate and a.s.sembly. Members of a.s.sembly, the number to be not less than thirty, nor greater than eighty, are chosen annually by districts. Senators, not to be less than one-third nor more than one-half of the number of members of a.s.sembly, are elected by districts for two years, one-half every year. Members of both houses must have resided in the state two years, and in their respective districts one year, and be qualified voters. They are apportioned every five years.

Bills, rejected by the governor, must be pa.s.sed by a majority of two-thirds of each house, to become a law. Bills become laws if not returned by the governor within ten days, unless the legislature shall sooner adjourn.

_Executive._ A governor and a lieutenant-governor are elected for two years. Age, twenty-five years, and two years' residence in the state.