Qualifications of 5. No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of the President, this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President, neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. Provision in 6. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the case of his dis- powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law ability. provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly until the disability be removed or a President shall be elected. Salary of the Osth of the Duties of the 7. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a compensation which shall neither be Increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States, or any of them. 8. Before he enter on the execution of his office he shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” SECTION II. I. The President shall be Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States except in cases of impeachment. May make trea- 9. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided twoties, appoint thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the ambassadors, Senate shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other judges, etc. officers of the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be es tablished by law; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper In the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. May fill vacancies. 3. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next session. May make rec- SECTION III. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and ommendations recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordi to and con- nary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them with respect to vene Congress, the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. How officers may be moved. SECTION IV. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from re office on impeachment for and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. ARTICLE III. Judicial power, SECTION I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior how invested, courts as the Congress may froin time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall at stated times receive for their services a compensation which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. To what cases it extends. SECTION II. 1. The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdletion: to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; to controversies between two or more States, between a State and citizens of another State, between citizens of different States, between citizens of the same State claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State, or the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens, or subjects. Jurisdiction of 2. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a State shall be the Supreme party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before-mentioned the Supreme Court. Court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. Rules respecting trials. Treason defined. How punished. Rights of States and records. Privileges of citizens. Executive requisitions. 3. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury, and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. SECTION III. 1. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. 2. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture except during the life of the person attained. ARTICLE IV. SECTION I. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. SECTION II. 1. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of ~itizens in the several States. 2. A person charged in any Blate with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice, and be found In another State, shall, on demand of the Executive authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the crime. Laws regulating 3. No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws thereof, escaping into another shall, in conservice or la sequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on clain of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. bor. New States, how SECTION III. 1. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed and formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other State, nor any State be formed by the junction of two or more admitted. States, or parts of States, without the consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of the Congress. Power of Con- 2. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the terrigresa overtory or other property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to public lands. prejudice any claims of the United States, or of any particular State. Republican gov. SECTION IV. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government, ernment guar- and shall protect each of them against invasion, and, on application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when anteed. the Legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence. ARTICLE V. Constitution, The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this how amended. Constitution, or, on the application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all mtents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the Ninth Bection of the First Article; and that no State, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. Validity of debts recognized. ARTICLE VI. 1. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. Supreme law of 9. This Constitution and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof and all the land de- treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the fined. land, and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. Oath; of whom 3. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several State Legislatures, and required and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by oath or for what, affirmation to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ARTICLE VII. Ratification of The ratification of the Conventions of nine States shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution the Constitu- between the States so ratifying the same. tion. Religion and free speech. Right to bear arms. Boldiers in time of peace. Right of search. Capital crimes AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ARTICLE II. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. ARTICLE III. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be prescribed by law. ARTICLE IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. ARTICLE V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or other infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment and arrest of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, in therefor. time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. Right to speedy trial. Trial by jury. Excessive bail. Enumeration of rights. Reserved rights of States. Judicial power. Electors in ARTICLE VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previous ly ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defence. ARTICLE VII. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. ARTICLE VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. ARTICLE X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are re served to the States respectively, or to the people. ARTICLE XI. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States, by citizens of another State, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign State. ARTICLE XII. The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballet for President and Vice-President, one of Presidential whom at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in their ballots the elections. person voted for as President, and in distinct hallots the person voted for as Vice-President; and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, and of the num ber of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate; the President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted; the person have ing the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Rep resentatives shall not choose a President, whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other Vice-President, constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall Slavery prohibited. be the Vice-President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers on the list the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. ARTICLE XIII. 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation. Protection for all citizens. tatives. CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES-Continued. ARTICLE XIV. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Apportionment 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting of Represen- the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice-President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male members of such State, being of twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the propor tion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Rebellion 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or against the holding any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an United States. oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in Insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid and comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. The debt. public Right of suffrage. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection and rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce by appropriate legislation the provisions of this article. 1. The right of the citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce the provisious of this article by appropriate legislation. RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION. The Constitution was ratified by the thirteen original States in the following order: Delaware, December 7, 1787, unanimously. New Jersey, December 18, 1787, unanimously. South Carolina, May 23, 1788, vote 149 to 75. New York, July 26, 1788, vote 30 to 28. RATIFICATION OF THE AMENDMENTS. I. to X. Inclusive were declared in force December 15, 1791. XI. was declared in force January 8, 1798. XII., regulating elections, was ratified by all the States except Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, which rejected it. It was declared in force September 28, 1804. XIII. The emancipation amendment was ratified by 31 of the 36 States; rejected by Delaware and Kentucky, not acted on by Texas; conditionally ratified by Alabama and Mississippi. Proclaimed December 18, 1865. XIV. Reconstruction amendment was ratified by 23 Northern States; rejected by Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and 10 Southern States, and not acted on by California. The 10 Southern States subsequently ratified under pressure. Proclaimed July 28, 1868. XV. Negro citizenship amendment was not acted on by Tennessee, rejected by California, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, and Oregon; ratified by the remaining 30 States. New York rescinded its ratification January 5, 1870. Proclaimed March 30, 1870. The National Flag. THE official flag of the United States bears forty-five white stars in a blue field, arranged in six rows-the first, third, and fifth rows having eight stars each, and the others seven stars each. (Whe Oklahoma is admitted to the Union the number of stars will be increased to 46.) The garrison flag of the Army is made of bunting, thirty-six feet fly and twenty feet hoist; thirteen stripes, and in the upper quarter, next the staff, is the field or "union" of stars, equal to the number of States, on blue field, over one-third length of the flag, extending to the lower edge of the fourth red stripe from the top. The storm flag is twenty feet by ten feet, and the recruiting flag nine feet nine inches by four feet four inches. The "American Jack" is the "union" or blue field of the flag. The Revenue Marine Service flag, authorized by act of Congress, March 2, 1799, was originally prescribed to consist of sixteen perpendicular stripes, alternate red and white, the union of the ensign bearing the arms of the United States in dark blue on a white field." The sixteen stripes represented the number of States which had been admitted to the Union at that time, and no change has been made since. Prior to 1871 it bore an eagle in the union of the pennant, which was then substituted by thirteen blue stars in a white field, but the eagle and stars are still retained in the flag. June 14, the anniversary of the adoption of the flag, is celebrated as Flag Day in a large part of the Union. IN ORDER TO SHOW PROPER RESPECT FOR THE FLAG THE FOLLOWING CEREMONY SHOULD BE OBSERVED: It should not be hoisted before sunrise nor allowed to remain up after sunset. At retreat," sunset, civilian spectators should stand at attention" and uncover during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner." Military spectators are required by regulation to stand at attention" and give the military salute. When the National colors are passing on parade, or in review, the spectator should, if walking, halt, and if sitting, arise and stand at attention and uncover. When the flag is flown at half staff as a sign of mourning it should be hoisted to full staff at the conclusion of the funeral, In placing the flag at half staff. It should first be hoisted to the top of the staff and then lowered to position, and preliminary to lowering from half staff, it should be first raised to the top. On Memorial Day, May 30, the flag should fly at half staff from sunrise to noon and full staff from noon to sunset.-Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York. Preamble. The right, to vote. Jury trial. Religious free dom. Writ of habeas corpus. Excessive bail. A citizen's rights. Protection. Freedom speech. of Right of Peti tion. Escheats. Abolition of feudal teuures. Constitution of the State of New York. WE, the people of the State of New York, grateful to Almighty God for our freedom, in order to secure its blessing, do establish this Constitution. SECTION I. No member of this State shall be disfranchised, or deprived of any of the rights and privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by the law of the land, or the judgment of his peers. SECTION II. The trial by jury in all cases in which it has been heretofore used shall remain inviolate forever; but a jury trial may be waived by the parties in all civil cases in the manner to be prescribed by law. SECTION III. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed in this State to all mankind; and no person shall be rendered incompetent to be a witness on account of his opinions on matters of religious belief; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices Inconsistent with the peace or safety of this State. SECTION IV. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require its suspension. SECTION V. Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed, nor shall cruel and unusual punishments be inflicted, nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained. SECTION VI. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime (except in cases of impeachment, and in cases of militia when in actual service, and the land and naval forces in time of war or which this State may keep with the consent of Congress in time of peace, and in cases of petit larceny, under the regulation of the Legislature), unless on presentment or indictment of a grand jury, and in any trial in any court whatever the party accused shall be allowed to appear and defend in person and with counsel as in civil actions. No person shall be subject to be twice put in jeopardy for the same offence; nor shall he be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself; nor be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. SECTION VII. When private property shall be taken for any public use, the compensation to be made therefor, when such compensation is not made by the State, shall be ascertained by a jury, or by not less than three commissioners appointed by a court of record, as shall be prescribed by law. Private roads may be opened in the manner to be prescribed by law; but in every case the necessity of the road and the amount of all damage to be sustained by the opening thereof shall be first determined by a jury of freeholders, and such amount, together with the expenses of the proceeding, shall be paid by the person to be benefited. General laws may be passed permitting the owners or occupants of agricultural lands to construct and maintain for the drainage thereof, necessary drains, ditches and dykes upon the lands of others, under proper restric tions and with just compensation, but no special law shall be enacted for such purposes. SECTION VIII. Every citizen may freely speak, write, and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact. SECTION IX. No law shall be passed abridging the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government, or any department thereof; nor shall any divorce be granted otherwise than by due Judicial proceedings; nor shall any lottery or the sale of lottery tickets, pool-selling, book-making, or any other kind of gambling hereafter be authorized or allowed within this State; and the Legislature shall pass appropriate laws to prevent offences against any of the provisions of this section. SECTION X. The people of this State, in their right of sovereignty, are deemed to possess the original and ultimate property in and to all lands within the justification of this State; and all lands the title to which shall fail froin a defect of heirs, shall revert, or escheat to the people. SECTION XI. All feudal tenures of every description, with all their incidents, are declared to be abolished, saving, however, all rents and services certain, which at any time heretofore have been lawfully created or reserved. SECTION XII. All lands within this State are declared to be allodial, so that, subject only to the liability to escheat, the entire and absolute property is vested in the owners, according to the nature of their respective Agricultural SECTION XIII. No lease or grant of agricultural land, for a longer period than 12 years, hereafter made, in which shall be reserved any rent or service of any kind, shall be valid. Lands vested in owners. land leases. Abolition of Lands owned by The common law. estates. SECTION XIV. All fines, quarter-sales or other like, restraints upon alienation, reserved in any grant of land hereafter to be made, shall be void. SECTION XV. No purchase or contract for the sale of lands in this State, made since October 14, 1775; or which may hereafter be made, of, or with the Indians, shall be valid, unless inade under the authority, and with the consent of the Legislature. . SECTION XVI. Such parts of the common law, and of the acts of the Legislature of the colony of New York, as together did form the law of the said colony, on April 19, 1775, and the resolutions of the Congress of the said colony, and of the convention of the State of New York, in force April 20, 1777, which have not since expired, or been repealed or altered; and such acts of the Legislature of this State as are now in force, shall be and continue the law of this State, subject to such alterations as the Legislature shall make concerning the same. But all such parts of the common law, and such of the said acts, or parts thereof, as are repugnant to this Constitution, are hereby abrogated. Grant of land of SECTION XVII. All grants of land within this State, made by the King of Great Britain, or persons acting the King of under his authority, after October 14, 1775, shall be null and void; but nothing contained in this Constitution Great Britain. shall affect any grants of land within this State, made by the authority of the said king or his predecessors, or shall annul any charters to bolies politic or corporate, by him or them made, before that day; or shall affect any such grants or charters since made by this State, or by persons acting under Its authority; or shall impair the obl gation of any debts, contracted by the State or individuals, or bodies corporate, or any other rights of property, or any snits, actions, rights of action, or other proceedings in courts of Justice. for Damages Qualifications for Voting. SECTION I. Every male citizen of the age of 21 years, who shall have been a citizen for 90 days, and an Inhabitant of this State one year next preceding an election, and for the last four months a resident of the county, and for the last 30 days a resident of the election district in which he may offer his vote, shall be entitled to vote at such election in the election district of which he shall at the time be a resident, and not else: where, for all officers that now are or hereafter may be elective by the people, and upon all questions which may be submitted to a vote of the people, provided that in time of war no elector in the actual military service of the State, or of the United Stites, in the army or navy theof shall be deprived of his vote by reason of his absence from such election district; and the Legislature shall have power to provide the manner in which and the time and place at which such abs at electors may vote, and for the return and canvass of their votes in the elect on districts in which they respectively reside. Persons not per- SECTION II. No person who shall receive, accept or offer to receive, or pay, offer or promise to pay, conmitted to vote. tribute, offer or promise to contribute to another, to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding a vote at an election, or who shall make any promise to influence the giving or withholding any such vote, or who shall make or become directly or indirectly interested The question residence. of in any bet or wager depending upon the result of any election, shall vote at such election; and upon challenge for such cause, the person so challenged, before the officers authorized for that purpose shall receive his vote, shall swear or affirm before such officers that he has not received or offered, does not expect to receive, has not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another, to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding a vote at such election, and has not made any promise to nor made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of such election. The Legislature shall enact laws excluding from the right of suffrage all persons convicted of bribery or any infamous crime. SECTION III. For the purpose of voting, no person shall be deemed to have gained or lost a residence, by reason of his presence or absence, while employed in the service of the United States; nor while engaged in the navigation of the waters of this State, or of the United States, or of the high seas; nor while a student of any seminary of learning; nor while kept at any almshouse, or other asylum, or institution wholly or partly supported at public expense or by charity; nor while confined in any public prison. Election and SECTION IV. Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the citizens who shall be entitled to registration the right of suffrage hereby established, and for the registration of voters; which registration shall be comlaws. pleted at least ten days before each election. Such registration shall not be required for town and village elections except by express provision of law. In cities and villages having 5,000 inhabitants or more, according to the last preceding State enumeration of inhabitants, voters shall be registered upon personal application only; but voters not residing in such cities or villages shall not be required to apply in person for registration at the first meeting of the officers having charge of the registry of voters. Method of vot- SECTION V. All elections by the citizens, except for such town officers as may by law be directed to be ing. otherwise chosen, shall be by ballot, or by such other method as may be prescribed by law, provided that secrecy in voting be preserved. Bi-Partisan SECTION VI. All laws creating, regulating or affecting boards of officers charged with the duty of regisElection tering voters, or of distributing ballots at the poles to voters, or of receiving, recording or counting votes at elections, shall secure equal representation of the two political parties which, at the general election next preceding that for which such boards or officers are to serve, cast the highest and the next highest number of votes. All such boards and officers shall be appointed or elected in such manner, and upon the nomination of such representatives of said parties respectively, as the Legislature may direct. Existing laws on this subject shall continue until the Legislature shall otherwise provide. This section shall not apply to town meetings, or to village elections. Boards. Power of Legislation. Number of Sen. ators and As semblymen. ARTICLE III. SECTION I. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in the Senate and Assembly. SECTION II. The Senate shall consist of 50 members, except as hereinafter provided. The Senators elected in the year 1895 shall hold their offices for three years, and their successors shall be chosen for two years. The Assembly shall consist of 150 members, who shall be chosen for one year. [NOTE, Sections III, IV and V of this article, which provided in 1895 for a division of the State into 50 Senate districts and 150 Assembly districts have been virtually superseded by the Legislative Apportionment Act of 1907, a summary of which is given elsewhere in this volume.] Salaries of mein- SECTION VI. Each member of the Legislature shall receive for his services an annual salary of $1,500. bers of the The members of either House shall also receive the sum of one dollar for every ten miles they shall travel in Legislature. going to and returning from their place of meeting, once in each session, on the most usual route, Senators, when the Senate alone is convened in extraordinary session, or when serving as members of the Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and such members of the Assembly, not exceeding nine members, as shall be ap pointed managers of an impeachment, shall receive an additional allowance of ten dollars a day. Civil appoint ments hibited. SECTION VII. No member of the Legislature shall receive any civil appointment within this State, or the pro- Senate of the United States, from the Governor, the Governor and Senate, or from the Legislature, or from any city government, during the time for which he shall have been elected; and all such appointments and all votes given for any such member for any such office or appointment shall be void. Journals of the SECTION VIII. No person shall be eligible to the Legislature, who at the time of his election, is, or within 100 days previous thereto has been, a member of Congress, a civil or military officer under the United States, or an officer under any city government. And if any person shall, after his election as a member of the Legislature, be elected to Congress, or appointed to any office, civil or military, under the Government of the United States, or under any city government, his acceptance thereof shall vacate his seat. SECTION IX. The elections of Senators and members of Assembly, pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution, shall be held on the Tuesday succeeding the first Monday of November, unless otherwise directed by the Legislature. SECTION X. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business. Each House shall deter mine the rules of its own proceedings, and be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; shall choose its own officers; and the Senate shall choose a temporary president to preside in case of the absence or impeachment of the Lieutenant-Governor, or when he shall refuse to act as president, or shall act as Governor. SECTION XI. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same, except such parts as may require secrecy. The doors of each House shall be kept open, except when the public welfare shall Members not to require secrecy. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days. be questioned SECTION XII. For any speech or debate in either House of the Legislature, the members shall not be quesfor debate. tioned in any other place. Bills to originate SECTION XIII. Any bill may originate in either House of the Legislature, and all bills passed by one in eitherHouse House may be amended by the other. The enacting SECTION XIV. The enacting clause of all bills shall be "The People of the State of New York, repreclause of bills. sented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows," and no law shall be enacted except by bill. Method of passing bills. SECTION XV. No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall have been printed and upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the Governor, or the acting Governor, shall have certified to the necessity of its immediate passage, under his hand and the seal of the State; nor shall any bill be passed or become a law, except by the assent of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature; and upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereof shall be allowed, and the question upon its final passage shall be taken immediately One subject in thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered on the journal. local bills. private and Existing law and new law. Legislature not to pass certain bills SECTION XVI. No private or local bill, which may be passed by the Legislature, shall embrace more than one subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. SECTION XVII. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any existing law, or any part thereof, shall be made or deemed a part of said act, or which shall enact that any existing law, or part thereof, shall be applicable, except by inserting it in such act. SECTION XVIII. The Legislature shall not pass a private or local bill in any of the following cases: Locating or changing county seats. Providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal cases. Incorporating villages. Providing for election of members of boards of supervisors. Selecting, drawing, summoning or impanelling grand or petit jurors. Regulating the rate of interest on money. The opening and conducting of elections or designating places of voting. Creating, increasing or decreasing fees, percentages or allowances of public officers, during the term for which said officers are elected or appointed. |
