the districts formed, as hereinafter directed, according to the number of taxable inhabitants in each; and shall never be less than one-fourth, nor greater than onethird, of the number of Representatives.

OF DISTRICTS FOR ELECTING SENATORS-SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN PHILADELPHIA. SECT. VII. The Senators shall be chosen in districts to be formed by the Legislature; but no district shall be so formed as to entitle it to elect more than two Senators, unless the number of taxable inhabitants in any city or county shall, at any time, be such as to entitle it to elect more than two, but no city or county shall be entitled to elect more than four Senators; when a district shall be composed of two or more counties, they shall be adjoining * and no county

*

shall be divided in forming a district: The city of Philadelphia shall be divided into single Senatorial districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in taxable population as possible; but no ward shall be divided in the formation thereof.*

OF THE QUALIFICATION OF SENATORS.

SECT. VIII. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State four years next before his election, and the last year thereof an inhabitant of the district for which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this State; and no person elected as aforesaid shall hold said office after he shall have removed from such district.

OF CLASSING THE SENATORS.

SECT. IX. The Senators who may be elected at the first general election after the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution, shall be divided by lot into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year; of the second class at the expiration of the second year; and of the third class at the expiration of the third year; so that thereafter, one-third of the whole number of Senators may be chosen every year. The Senators elected before the amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted, shall bold their offices during the terms for which they shall respectively have been elected.

MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

SECT. X. The General Assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of January, in every year, unless sooner convened by the Governor.

OF THE OFFICERS OF EACH HOUSE.

SECT. XI. Each House shall choose its Speaker and other officers; and the Senate shall also choose a Speaker pro tempore, when the Speaker shall excercise the office of Governor.

OF THE POWERS OF EACH HOUSE.

SECT. XII. Each IIouse shall judge of the qualifications of its members. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee to be selected, formed, and regulated in such a manner as shall be directed by law. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized by law to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as may be provided.

OF CENSURE AND EXPULSION.

SECT. XIII. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause; and shall have all other powers necessary for a branch of the Legislature of a free State.

DIVORCES.

SECT. XIV. The Legislature shall not have power to enact laws annulling the contract of marriage, in any case where, by law, the courts of this Commonwealth are or may hereafter be empowered to decree a divorce.

From third amendinent of 1857; which further provides with reference to sections IV and VII above, as follows:

The Legislature, at its first session after the adoption of this am ndment, shall divide the city of PhilaCelphia into Senatorial and Representative districts, in the manner above provided; such districts to remain unchanged until the apportionment in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four."

OF JOURNALS-YEAS AND NAYS.

SECT. XV. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish them weekly, except such parts as may require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members on any question, shall, at the desire of any two of them, be entered on the journals.

THE DOORS TO BE OPEN.

SECT. XVI. The doors of each House, and of committees of the whole, shall be open, unless when the business shall be such as ought to be kept secret.

OF ADJOURNMENT.

SECT. XVII. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

OF THE COMPENSATION AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS.

SECT. XVIII. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the Treasury of the Commonwealth. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.

OF THE DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS.

SECT. XIX. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under this Commonwealth, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time; and no member of Congress, or other person holding any office (except of attorney-at-law and in the militia) under the United States or this Commonwealth, shall be a member of either House during his continuance in Congress or in office.

OF VACANCIES.

SECT. XX. When vacancies happen in either House, the Speaker shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

OF REVENUE BILLS,

SECT. XXI. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Rep-... resentatives; but the Senate may propose amendments as in other bills.

OF THE TREASURY.

SECT. XXII. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence › of appropriations made by law.

OF BILLS RETURNED BY THE GOVERNOR WITH OBJECTIONS-OF BILLS NOT RETURNED

SECT. XXIII. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor; if he approve, he shall sign it; but if he shall not approve, he shall return it with his objections, to the House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large, upon their Journals, and proceed to re-consider it. If, after such re-consideration, two-thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other House, by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall be a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the Journals of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly, by their adjournment, prevent its return; in which case it shall be a law, unless sent back within three days after their next reading.

OF ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS AND VOTES.

SECT. XXIV. Every order, resolution or vote, to which the concurrence of both Houses may be necessary, (except on a question of adjournment,) shall be

presented to the Governor, and before it shall take effect, be approved by him, or being disapproved, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of both Houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

BANK INCORPORATIONS, HOW OBTAINED-CHARTERS LIMITED.

SECT. XXV. No corporate body shall be hereafter created, renewed or extended, with banking or discounting privileges, without six months' previous publie notice of the intended application of the same, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law; nor shall any charter for the purpose aforesaid, be granted for a longer period than twenty years; and every such charter shall contain a clause reserving to the Legislature the power to alter, revoke or annul the same, whenever, in their opinion, it may be injurious to the citizens of the Commonwealth; in such manner, however, that no injustice shall be done to the corporators. No law hereafter enacted shall create, renew or extend the charter of more than one corporation.

ALTERATIONS OR REVOCATION OF CHARTERS.

SECT. XXVI. *The Legislature shall have the power to alter, revoke or annul any charter of incorporation hereafter conferred by or under any special or general law, whenever, in their opinion, it may be injurious to the citizens of the Commonwealth; in such manner, however, that no injustice shall be done to the corporators.

ARTICLE II.

OF THE GOVERNOR.

SECT. I. The Supreme Executive power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor.

ELECTION OF GOVERNOR.

SECT. II. The Governor shall be chosen on the second Tuesday of October, by the citizens of the Commonwealth, at the places where they shall respectively vote for Representatives; the returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the Seat of Government, directed to the Speaker of the Senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the members of both Houses of the Legislature; the person having the highest number of votes shall be Governor; but if two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote of the members of both Houses. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee to be selected from both Houses of the Legislature, and formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law.

CONTINUANCE IN OFFICE.

SECT. III. The Governor shall hold his office during three years, from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than this, in any term of nine years.

QUALIFICATIONS.

SECT. IV. He shall be at least thirty years of age, and have been a citizen and an inhabitant of this State seven years next before his election, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State.

DISQUALIFICATIONS.

SECT. V. No member of Congress, or person holding any office under the United States or of this State, shall exercise the office of Governor.

COMPENSATION.

SECT. VI. The Governor shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation which shall be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been clected.

Fourth amendment of 1857.

MILITARY POWER.

SECT. VII. He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of this Commonwealth, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into actual service of the United States.

GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES.

SECT. VIII. He shall appoint a Secretary of the Commonwealth during pleasure; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint all judicial officers of the courts of record, unless otherwise provided for in this Constitution. He shall have power to fill all vacancies that may hap pen in such judicial oflices during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next session: Provided, That in acting on executive nominations the Senate shall sit with open doors; and in confirming or rejecting the nominations of the Governor, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays. [The clause relating to the appointment of judges altered. See Irt. V., Sect. 2.]

PARDONS.

SECT. IX. He shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, and grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of impeachment.

INFORMATION FROM OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

SECT. X. He may require information, in writing, from the officers of the Executive Department upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices.

INFORMATION TO THE LEGISLATURE.

SECT. XI. He shall, from time to time, give to the General Assembly information of the state of the Commonwealth, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge expedient.

CONVENE AND ADJOURN THE LEGISLATURE.

SECT. XII. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the General Assembly; and in case of disagreement between the two Houses with respect to the time of adjournment, adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper, not exceeding four months.

EXECUTION OF LAWS.

SECT. XIII. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

VACANCY BY DEATH, &C., HOW SUPPLIED-CONTESTED ELECTION.

SECT. XIV. In case of the death or resignation of the Governor, or his renoval from office, the Speaker of the Senate shall exercise the office of Governor, until another Governor shall be duly qualified; but in such case another Governor shall be chosen at the next annual election of Representatives, unless such death, resignation or removal, shall occur within three calendar months immediately preceding such next annual election, in which case a Governor shall be chosen to the second succeeding annual election of Representatives. And if the trial of contested election shall continue longer than until the third Monday of January next ensuing the election of Governor, the Governor of the last year, or the Speaker of the Senate, who may be in the exercise of the Executive authority, shall continue therein until the determination of such contested election, and until a Governor shall be duly qualified as aforesaid.

OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

SECT. XV. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall keep a fair register of all the official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same, and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before either branch of the Legislature, and shall perform such other duties as shall be enjoined him by law.

ARTICLE III.

ON ELECTIONS.

SECT. I. In elections by the citizens, every white freeman of the age of twentyone years, having resided in this State one year, and in the election district whers he offers to vote, ten days immediately preceding such election, and within two years paid a State or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least ten days before the election, shall enjoy the rights of an elector; but a citizen of the United States who had previously been a qualified voter of this State, and removed therefrom, and returned, and who shall have resided in the election district, and paid taxes as aforesaid, shall be entitled to vote, after residing in the State six months: Provided, That white freemen, citizens of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two years, and having resided in the State one year, and in the election district ten days, as aforesaid, shall be entitled to vote, although they shall not have paid taxes.

HOW EXERCISED.

SECT. II. All elections shall be by ballot, except by persons in their representative capacities, who shall vote viva voce.

ELECTORS' PRIVILEGE.

SECT. III. Electors shall, in all cases, except treason, felon, breach of surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance on elections, and in going to and returning from them.

RIGHT OF SOLDIERS TO VOTE.

SECT. IV.* Whenever any of the qualified electors of this Commonwealth shall be in any actual military service, under a requisition from the President of the United States, or by the authority of this Commonwealth, such electors may exercise the right of suffrage in all elections by the citizens, under such regulations as are, or shall be, prescribed by law, as fully as if they were present at their usual place of election.

ARTICLE IV.

ON IMPEACHMENTS.

SECT. I. The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching. SECT. II. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose the Senators shall be upon oath or affirmation. No person shall bo convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

SECT. III. The Governor, and all other civil officers under this Commonwealth, shall be liable for impeachment for any misdemeanor in office; but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under this Commonwealth; the party whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment. trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

ARTICLE V.

OF THE JUDICIARY.

SECT. I. The judicial power of this Commonwealth, shall be vested in the Supreme Court, in courts of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, in a court of common pleas, orphans' court, registers' court, and a court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county; in justice of the peace, and in such other courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish.

ELECTION OF JUDGES-THEIR TENURE--HOW COMMISSIONED AND REMOVED - FIRST

ELECTION-VACANCIES-COMPENSATION-RESIDENCE.

SECT. II. † The judges of the Supreme Court, of the several courts of common pleas, and of such other courts of record as are or shall be established by law, shall be elected by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth, in the manner following, to wit: The judges of the Supreme Court, by the qualified electors of