# Constitution of the State of Minnesota (1857; Republican Version)

In preparation of statehood, a Minnesota Constitutional Convention was called in 1857. However, intense rivalry between the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota prevented the convention from assembling in a single place. Instead, the the 53 Republican members of the convention formed one de facto body, and the 51 Democratic members formed another, with a conference committee coordinating between the two, with the object of creating a single draft agreeable to all. But, although the two documents were meant to be identical, the copyists who created the copies of the document were rushed over the night of August 28, 1857 to prepare two documents for signing, and in the process accidentally produced more than 300 punctuation, grammatical and wording differences between the two documents (albeit, without any substantive differences in the documents' provisions). This is the version that was signed by the Republican members of the convention, while the Democratic members signed the Democratic Version.

## Preamble

We the people of the State of Minnesota grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty and desiring to perpetuate its blessings and secure the same to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution

## Article 1st Bill of Rights

Section 1 Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people in whom all Political Power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform such Government whenever the public good may require it.
Sec 2 No member of this State shall be disfranchised, or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless be the law of the land, or the judgement of his peers. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the State otherwise there is the punishment of crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.
Sec 3 The liberty of the press shall forever remain inviolate and all persons may freely speak, write, and publish their sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of such right.
Sec 4 The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate, and shall extend to all cases at law without regard to the amount in controversy, but a jury trial may be waived by the parties in all cases in the manner prescribed by law.
Sec 5 Excessive bail shall not be required; nor shall excessive fines be imposed; nor shall cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted.
Sec 6 In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the county or district wherein the crime shall have been committed. Which county or district shall have been previously 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 favour, and to have the assistance of counsel in his defence.
Sec 7 No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases of impeachment or in cases cognizable by Justice of the Peace, or arising in the Army or Navy, or in the Militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, and no person for the same offense shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. All persons shall before convictions be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require.
Sec 8 Every person is entitled to a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his person, property or character; he ought to obtain justice freely and without purchase completely and without denial, promptly and without delay, conformably to the laws.
Sec 9 Treason against the state shall consist only in levying war against the same or in adhering to its 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.
Sec 10 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 warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be seized.
Sec 11 No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, nor any law impairing the obligation of contracts shall ever be passed, and no conviction shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate.
Sec 12 No person shall be imprisoned for debt in this state, but this shall not prevent the Legislature from providing for imprisonment or holding to bail persons charged with fraud in contracting said debt. A reasonable amount of property shall be exempt from seizure or sale, for the payment of any debt or liability; the amount of such exemption shall be determined by law.
Sec 13 Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation therefor, first paid or secured.
Sec 14 The military shall be subordinate to the civil power and no standing army shall be kept up in this state in time of peace.
Sec 15 All lands within this state are declared to be allodial, and feudal tenures of every description, with all their incidents, are prohibited. Leases and grants of Agricultural land for a longer period than twenty one years hereafter made in which shall be reserved any rent or service of any kind shall be void.
Sec 16 The enumeration of rights in this constitution shall not be construed to deny or impair others retained by and inherent in the people. The right of every man to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience shall never be infringed, nor shall any man be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any religeous or ecclesiastical ministry against his consent, nor shall any control of, or interference with the rights of conscience be permitted, or any preference be given by law to any religious establishment or mode of worship, 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 the State. Nor shall any money be drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any religious societies, or religious or Theological Seminaries.
Sec 17 No religious test or amount of property shall ever be required as a qualification for any office of public trust under the State. No religious test or amount of property shall ever be required as a qualification of any voter at any election in this State; nor shall any person be rendered incompetent to give evidence in any court of law or equity in consequence of his opinions upon the subject of religion.

## Article 2 Our Name and Boundaries

Section 1 This State shall be called an known by the name of the "State of Minnesota," and shall consist of, and have jurisdiction over the Territory embraced in the following boundaries to wit: Beginning at the point in the centre of the main channel of the Red River of the North, where the boundary line between the United States and the British Possessions crossed the same, thence up to main channel of said River to that of the Bois des Sioux River, thence up the main channel of the said river to Lake Traverse; thence up the center of said lake to the southern extremity thereof; thence in a direct line to the head of Big Stone Lake, thence through its center to its outlet, thence by a due south line to the north line of the State of Iowa; thence east along the northern boundary of said state to the main channel of the Mississippi River; thence up the main channel of said river, and following the boundary line of the State of Wisconsin, until the same intersects the Saint Louis River; thence down the said river to and through Lake Superior, on the boundary line of Wisconsin and Michigan, until it intersects the dividing line between the United States and British Possessions; thence up Pigeon River, and following said dividing line to the place of beginning.
Sec 2 The State of Minnesota shall have concurrent jurisdiction on the Mississippi, and all other rivers and waters bordering on the said State of Minnesota, so far as the same shall form a common boundary to said state, and any other state or states, now or hereafter to be formed by the same; and said rivers and waters, and navigable waters leading into the same, shall be common highways, and forever free as well to the inhabitants of said state as to other citizens of the United States, without any tax, duty, impost or toll therefor.
Sec 3 The propositions contained in the act of Congress entitled "An Act to Authorize the people of the Territory of Minnesota to form a Constitution and State Government preparatory to their admissions into the Union on an equal footing with the original states," are hereby accepted, ratified, and confirmed, and shall remain irrevocable without the consent of the United States; and it is hereby ordained that this state shall never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil within the same, by the United States, or with any regulations Congress may find necessary for securing the title to said soil to bona fide purchasers thereof; and no tax shall be imposed on lands belonging to the United States, and in no case shall non resident proprietors be taxed higher than residents.

## Article 3 Distribution of the Powers of Government

Sec 1 The powers of the Government shall be divided into three distinct Departments, the Legislative, Executive and Judicial; and no person or persons belonging to or constituting one of these Departments shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances expressly provided in this Constitution.

## Article 4 The Legislative Department

Section 1. The Legislature of the State shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives, who shall meet at the seat of government of the State, at such times as shall be prescribed by law.
Sec. 2. The number of members who compose the Senate and House of Representatives shall be prescribed by law, but the representation in the Senate shall never exceed one member for every five thousand inhabitants, and in the House of Representatives one member for every two thousand inhabitants. The representation in both Houses shall be apportioned equally throughout the different sections of the State in proportion to the population thereof, exclusive of Indians not taxable under the provisions of law.
Sec. 3. Each House shall be the judge of the election returns and eligibility of its own members; a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as it may provide.
Sec. 4. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, sit upon its own adjournment, punish its members for disorderly behavior and with the concurrence of two thirds expel a member, but no member shall be expelled a second time for the same offense.
Sec. 5. The House of Representatives shall elect its presiding officer; and the Senate and House of Representatives shall elect such other officers as may be provided by law; they shall keep journals of their proceedings, and from time to time publish the same; and the yeas and nays when taken on any questions shall be entered on such journals.
Sec. 6. Neither House shall during a session of the Legislature, adjourne for more than three days (Sundays excepted) nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be assembled, without the consent of the other House.
Sec. 7. The compensation of Senators and Representatives shall be three dollars per diem during the first session, but may afterwards be prescribed by law. But no increase of compensation shall be prescribed which shall take effect during the period for which the members of the existing House of Representatives may have been elected.
Sec. 8. The members of each House shall in all cases except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during the session of their respective Houses, and in going to or returning from the same. For any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.
Sec. 9. No Senator or Representative shall during the time for which he is elected, hold any office under the authority of the United States, or the State of Minnesota, except that of Postmaster; and no Senator or Representative shall hold an office under the State which had been created, or the emoluments of which had been increased during the session of the Legislature of which he was a member, until one year after the expiration of his term of office in the Legislature.
Sec. 10. All bills for raising a revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose and concur with amendments as on other bills.
Sec. 11. Every bill which shall have passed the Senate and House of Representatives in conformity to the rules of each House and the joint rules of the two Houses, shall before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor of the State. If he approve, he shall sign and deposit it in the office of Secretary of State for preservation and notify the House where it originated of the fact. But if not, he shall return it with his objections to the House in which it shall have originated when such objections shall be entered at large on the journal of the same, and the House shall proceed to reconsider the bill. If, after such reconsideration, two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent together with the objections to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if it be approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for or against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within three 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 Legislature by adjournment within that time prevent its return in which case it shall not be a law. The Governor may approve, sign and file in the office of the Secretary of State within three days after the adjournment of the Legislature, any act passed during the three last days of the session, and the same shall become a law.
Sec. 12. No money shall be appropriated except by bill. Every order, resolution or vote requiring the concurrence of the two Houses (except such as relate to the business or adjournment of the same,) shall be presented to the Governor for his signature, and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved by him, or being returned by him with his objections, shall be re-passed by two thirds of the members of the two Houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.
Sec. 13. The style of all laws of this State shall be "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota". No law shall be passed unless voted for by a majority of all the members elected to each branch of the Legislature, and the vote entered upon the journal of each House.
Sec. 14. The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment, through a concurrence of a majority of all the members elected to seats therein.
All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate, and when sitting for that purpose the Senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the numbers present.
Sec. 15. The Legislature shall have full power to exclude from the privilege of electing or being elected, any person convicted of bribery, perjury, or any other infamous crime.
Sec. 16. Two or more members of either House shall have liberty to dissent and protest against any act or resolution which they may think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have the reason of their dissent entered on the Journal.
Sec. 17. The Governor shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies as may occur in either House of the Legislature. The Legislature shall prescribe by law, the manner in which evidence in cases of contested seats in either House shall be taken.
Sec. 18. Each House may punish by imprisonment during its Session, any person not a member who shall be guilty of any disorderly or contemptuous behavior in their presence, but no such imprisonment shall at any time exceed twenty-four hours.
Sec. 19. Each House shall be open to the public during the sessions thereof, except in such cases as in their opinion may require secrecy.
Sec. 20. Every Bill shall be read on three different days in each separate House unless in case of urgency, two-thirds of the House where such Bill is depending shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule, and no Bill shall be passed by either House until it shall have been previously read twice at length.
Sec. 21. Every Bill having passed both Houses shall be carefully enrolled and shall be signed by the presiding officer of each House. Any presiding officer refusing to sign a bill which shall have previously passed both Houses, shall thereafter be incapable of holding a seat in either branch of the Legislature or hold any other office of honor or profit, in the State, and in case of such refusal, each House shall by rule provide the manner in which such bill shall be properly certified for presentation to the Governor.
Sec. 22. No Bill shall be passed by either House of the Legislature upon the day prescribed for the adjournment of the two Houses, but this section shall not be so construed as to preclude the enrollment of a Bill, or the signature and passage from one House to the other, or the reports thereon from committees, or its transmission to the Executive for his signature.
Sec. 23. The Legislature shall provide by law for an enumeration of the inhabitants of this State in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-five and every tenth year thereafter. At their first Session after each enumeration so made and also at their first session after each enumeration made by the Authority of the United States the Legislature shall have the power to prescribe the bounds of Congressional, Senatorial and Representative Districts and to apportion anew the Senators and Representatives among the several districts according to the provisions of Section second of this article.
Sec. 24. The Senators shall also be chosen by single districts of convenient contiguous territory at the same time that the members of the House of Representatives are required to be chosen and in the same manner and no Representative District shall be divided in the formation of a Senate district. The Senate Districts shall be numbered in regular series and the Senators chosen by the Districts designated by odd numbers shall go out of office at the expiration of the first year and the Senators chosen by the districts designated by even numbers shall go out of office at the expiration of the second year and thereafter the Senators shall be chosen for the term of two years except there shall be an entire new election next succeeding each new appointment provided for in that article.
Sec. 25. Senators and Representatives shall be qualified voters of the State and shall have resided one year in the State and six months immediately preceding the election in the district from which they are elected.
Sec. 26. Members of the Senate of the United States from this State shall be elected by the two Houses of the Legislature in joint convention at such times in such manner as may be provided by law.
Sec. 27. No law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title.
Sec. 28. Divorces shall not be granted by the Legislature.
Sec. 29. All members and officers of both Branches of the Legislature shall before entering upon the duties of their respective trusts take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Minnesota and faithfully and impartially to discharge the duties devolving upon him as such member or officer.
Sec. 30. In all elections to be made by the Legislature the members thereof shall vote viva voce and their votes shall be entered on the journal.
Sec. 31. The Legislature shall never authorize any lottery or the sale of lottery tickets.

## Article 5th The Executive Department

Section 1. The Executive Department shall consist of a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General, who shall be chosen by the electors of the State.
Sec. 2. The returns of every election for the officers named in the foregoing section shall be made to the Secretary of State, and by him transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall cause the same to be opened and canvassed before both Houses of the Legislature, and the result declared within three days after each House shall be organised.
Sec. 3. The term of office for the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be two years, and until their successors are chosen and qualified. Each shall have attained the age of twenty five (25) years, and shall have been a bona fide resident of the State for one year next preceding his election. Both shall be citizens of the United States.
Sec. 4. The Governor shall communicate by message to each session of the Legislature such information touching the State and condition of the country as he may deem expedient. He shall be commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces, and may call out such forces to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection and to repel invasion. 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 after conviction for offences against the State, except in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a State Librarian and Notaries Public, and such other officers as may be provided by law; he shall have power to appoint Commissioners to take the acknowledgement of deeds or other instruments in writing, to be used in the State. He shall have a negative upon all laws passed by the Legislature under such rules and limitations as are in this Constitution prescribed. He may on extraordinary occasions convene both Houses of the Legislature. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, fill any vacancy that may occur in the office of Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, and such other State and District offices as may be hereafter created by law, until the next annual elections, and until their successors are chosen and qualified.
Sec. 5. The official term of the Secretary of State, Treasurer and Attorney General shall be two years. The official term of the Auditor shall be three years; and each shall continue in office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. The Governor's salary for the first-term under this Constitution shall be two thousand five hundred dollars per annum. The salary of the Secretary of State for the first term shall be fifteen hundred dollars per annum. The Auditor, Treasurer and Attorney General shall each for the first term, receive a salary of one thousand dollars per annum and the further duties and salaries of said Executive officers shall each thereafter be prescribed by law.
Sec. 6. The Lieutenant Governor shall be ex-officio President of the Senate, and in case a vacancy should occur, from any cause whatever, in the office of Governor, he shall be Governor during such vacancy. The compensation of Lieutenant Governor shall be double the compensation of State Senator. Before the close of each session of the Senate, they shall elect a President pro tempore, who shall be Lieutenant Governor in case a vacancy should occur in that office.
Sec. 7. The terms of each of the Executive offices named in this article shall commence upon taking the oath of office, after the State shall be admitted by Congress into the Union, and continue until the first Monday in January, 1860, except the Auditor, who shall continue in office until the first Monday in January, 1861, and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified.
Sec. 8. Each officer created by this article shall before entering upon his duties take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, and faithfully discharge the duties of his office to the best of his judgment and ability.
Sec. 9. Laws shall be passed at the first session of the Legislature after the State is admitted into the Union to carry out the provisions of this article.

## Article 6th Judiciary

Section 1. The judicial power of the State shall be vested in a Supreme Court, District Courts, Courts of Probate, Justices of the Peace, and such other Courts, inferior to the Supreme Court, as the Legislature may from time to time establish by a two-thirds vote.
Sec. 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of one Chief Justice and two associate Justices, but the number of associate Justices may be increased to a number not exceeding four, by the Legislature, by a two-thirds vote, when it shall be deemed necessary. It shall have original jurisdiction in such remedial cases as may be prescribed by law, and appellate jurisdiction in all cases, both in law and equity, but there shall be no trial by jury in said court. It shall holde one or more terms in each year, as the Legislature may direct, at the seat of Government, and the Legislature may provide by a two-thirds vote, that one term in each year shall be held in each, or any Judicial District. It shall be the duty of such Court to appoint a Reporter of its decisions. There shall be chosen by the qualified Electors of the States, one clerk of the Supreme Court, who shall hold his office for the term of three years, and untill his successor is duly elected and qualified, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, or a majority of them, shall have the power to fill any vacancy in the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court, until an election can be regularly had.
Sec. 3. The Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by the electors of the state at large, and their term of office shall be seven years, and untill their successors are elected and qualified.
Sec. 4. The State shall be divided by the Legislature into Six Judicial Districts, which shall be composed of contiguous territory, be bounded by county lines, and contain a population as nearly equal as may be practicable.
In each Judicial District, one Judge shall be elected by the electors thereof, who shall constitute said Court, and whose term of office shall be seven years. Every District Judge shall, at the time of his election, be a resident of the District for which he shall be elected, and shall reside therein during his continuance in office.
Sec. 5. The District Court shall have original jurisdiction in all civil cases, both in law and equity, where the amount in controversy exceeds one hundred dollars, and in all criminal cases where the punishment shall exceed three months imprisonment, or a fine of more than one hundred dollars, and shall have such appellate jurisdiction as may be prescribed by law. The Legislature may provide by law that the Judge of one District may discharge the duties of the Judge of any other District not his own, when convenience or the public interest may require it.
Sec. 6. The Judges of the Supreme and District Courts shall be men learned in the law, and shall receive such compensation, at stated times, as may be prescribed by the Legislature, which compensation shall not be diminished during their continuance in office, but they shall receive no other fee or reward for their services.
Sec. 7. There shall be established in each organized County in the State a Probate Court, which shall be a Court of Record, and be held at such times and places as may be prescribed by law. It shall be held by one Judge, who shall be elected by the voters of the County, for the term of two years. He shall be a resident of such County at the time of his election, and reside therein during his continuance in office, and his compensation shall be provided by law. He may appoint his own clerk, where none has been elected, but the Legislature may authorize the election by the electors of any County, of one Clerk or Register of Probate for such County, whose powers, duties, term of office and compensation shall be prescribed by law. A Probate Court shall have jurisdiction over the estates of deceased persons and persons under guardianship, but no other jurisdiction, except as prescribed by this Constitution.
Sec. 8. The Legislature shall provide for the election of a sufficient number of Justices of the Peace in each County, whose term of office shall be two years, and whose duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law; provided, that no Justice of the Peace shall have jurisdiction of any civil cases where the amount in controversy shall exceed one hundred dollars, nor in a criminal cause where the punishment shall exceed three months imprisonment, or a fine of over one hundred dollars, nor in any cause involving the title to real estate.
Sec. 9. All Judges other than those provided for in this Constitution, shall be elected by the electors of the judicial district, county or city, for which they shall be created, not for a longer term than seven years.
Sec. 10. In case the office of any judge shall become, before the expiration of the regular term for which he was elected, the vacancy shall be filled by the appointment by the Governor untill a successor is elected and qualified, and such successor shall be elected at the first annual election that occurs more than thirty days after the vacancy shall have happened.
Sec. 11. The Justices of the Supreme Court, and the District Courts, shall hold no office under the United States, nor any other office under this State. And all votes for either of them for any elective office under the Constitution, except a Judicial Office, given by the Legislature or the people, during their continuance in office, shall be void.
Sec. 12. The Legislature may at any time change the number of Judicial Districts or their boundaries, when it shall be deemed expedient, but no such change shall vacate the office of any Judge.
Sec. 13. There shall be elected in each County where a District Court shall be held, one Clerk of said Court, whose qualifications, duties and compensation shall be prescribed by law, and whose term of office shall be four years.
Sec. 14. Legal proceedings and proceedings and proceedings in the Courts of this State shall be under the direction of the Legislature.
The style of all process shall be "The State of Minnesota," and all indictments shall conclude "against the peace and dignity of the State of Minnesota."
Sec. 15. The Legislature may provide for the election of one person in each organized county in this State, to be called a Court Commissioner, with Judicial powers and jurisdiction not exceeding the power and jurisdiction of a Judge of the District Court at Chambers, or the Legislature may instead of such election, confer such power and jurisdiction upon Judges of Probate in the State.

## Article 7 Elective Franchise

Section 1. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years or upwards belonging to either of the following classes, who shall have resided in the United States one year, and in this State for four months next preceding any election, shall be entitled to vote at such election, in the election district of which he shall at the time have been for ten days a resident, for all officers that now are, or hereafter may be, elective by the people.
1. White citizens of the United States. 2. White persons of foreign birth, who shall have declared their intentions to become citizens, conformably to the laws of the United States upon the subject of naturalization. 3. Persons of mixed white and Indian blood, who have adopted the customs and habits of civilization. 4. Persons of Indian blood residing in this State who have adopted the language, customs and habits of civilization, after an examination before any District Court of the State, in such manner as may be provided by law, and shall have been pronounced by said Court capable of enjoying the rights of citizenship within the State.
Section 2. No person not belonging to one of the classes specified in the preceding Section, no person who has been convicted of treason or any felony, unless restored to civil rights, and no person insane, shall be entitled or permitted to vote at any election in this State.
Section 3. For the purpose of voting, no person shall be deemed to have lost a residence by reason of his absence while employed in the service of the United States; nor while engaged upon the waters of this State or of the United States; nor while a student at any seminary of learning; nor while kept at any alms-house or other asylum; nor while confined in any public prison.
Section 4. No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the United States, shall be deemed a resident of this State in consequence of being stationed within the same.
Section 5. During the day on which any election shall be held, no person shall be arrested by virtue of any civil process.
Section 6. All elections shall be by ballot except for such town officers as may be directed by law to be otherwise chosen.
Section 7. Every person who, by the provisions of this article shall be entitled to vote at any election, shall be eligible to any office which now is, or hereafter shall be, elective by the people in the district wherein he shall have resided thirty days previous to such election; except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, or the Constitution and Laws of the United States.

## Article 8th School Funds, Education and Science

Section 1. The stability of a republican government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people it shall be the duty of the Legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools.
Section 2. The proceeds of such lands as are or hereafter may be granted by the United States for the use of schools within each township in this State, shall remain a perpetual School Fund so the State and not more than one third (1/3) of said lands may be sold in two (2) years, one third (1/3) in five (5) years, and one third (1/3) in ten (10) years: but the lands of the greatest valuation shall be sold first; provided that no portion of said lands shall be sold otherwise than at public sale. The principal of all funds arising from sales, or other disposition of lands, or other property, granted or entrusted to this State in each township for educational purposes, shall forever be preserved inviolate and undiminished; and the income arising from the lease or sale of said school lands shall be distributed to the different townships throughout the State, in proportion to the number of scholars in each township between the ages of five and twenty-one years, and shall be faithfully applied to the specific objects of the original grants or appropriations.
Section 3. The Legislature shall make such provisions, by taxation or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the School fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of Public Schools in each township in the State.
Section 4. The location of the University of Minnesota, as established by existing laws, is hereby confirmed and said institution is hereby declared to be the University of the State of Minnesota. All the rights, immunities, franchises and endowments heretofore granted or conferred, are hereby perpetuated unto the said University, and all lands which may be granted hereafter by Congress, or other donations for said University purposes, shall vest in the institution referred to in this Section.

## Article 9th Finances of the State and Banks and Banking.

Section 1. All taxes to be raised in this State shall be as nearly equal as may be, and all property on which taxes are to be levied shall have a cash valuation, and be equalized and uniform throughout the State.
Sec. 2. The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax sufficient to defray the estimated expenses of the State for each year, and whenever it shall happen that such ordinary expenses of the State for any year shall exceed the income of the State for any year, the Legislature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensuing year sufficient, with other sources of income, to pay the deficiency of the preceding year, together with the estimated expenses of such ensuing year.
Sec. 3. Laws shall be passed taxing all moneys, credits, investments in bonds, stocks, joint stock companies, or otherwise, and also all real and personal property, according to its true value in money; but public burying grounds, public school-houses, public hospitals, academies, colleges, universities, and all seminaries of learning, all churches, church property used for religious purposes and houses of worship, institutions of purely public charity, public property used exclusively for any public purpose, and personal property to an amount not exceeding in value two hundred dollars for each individual, shall, by general laws be exempt from taxation.
Sec. 4. Laws shall be passed for taxing the notes and bills discounted, or purchased, moneys loaned, and all other property, effects, or dues of every description, of all banks, and of all bankers; so that all property employed in banking shall always be subject to a taxation equal to that imposed on the property of individuals.
Sec. 5. For the purpose of defraying extraordinary expenditures, the State may contract public debts, but such debts shall never in the aggregate exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars; every such debt shall be authorized by law, for some single object to be distinctly specified therein; and no such law shall take effect until it shall have been passed by the vote of two-thirds of the members of each branch of the Legislature, to be recorded by yeas and nays on the Journals of each House respectively; and every such law shall levy a tax annually sufficient to pay the annual interest of such debt, and also a tax sufficient to pay the principal of such debts within ten years from the final passage of such law, and shall specially appropriate the proceeds of such taxes to the payment of such principal and interest; and such appropriation and taxes shall not be repealed, postponed, or diminished until the principal and interest of such debt shall have been wholly paid. The State shall never contract any debts for works of internal improvement, or be a party in carrying on such works; except in cases where grants of lands or other property shall have been made to the State, especially dedicated by the grant to specific purposes, and in such cases the State shall devote thereto the avails of such grants, and may pledge or appropriate the revenues derived from such works in aid of their completion.
Sec. 6. All debts authorized by the preceding section shall be contracted by loan on State bonds of amounts not less than five hundred dollars each, on interest payable within ten years, after the final passage of the law authorizing such debt, and such bonds shall not be sold by the State under par. A correct registry of all such bonds shall be kept by the Treasurer, in numerical order, so as always to exhibit the number and amount unpaid, and to whom severally made payable.
Sec. 7. The State shall never contract any public debt, unless in time of war, to repel invasion or suppress insurrection, except in the cases and in the manner provided in the fifth and sixth sections of this Article.
Sec. 8. The money arising from any loan made, or debt, or liability contracted, shall be applied to the object specified in the act authorizing such debt or liability, or to the repayment of such debt or liability, and to no other purpose whatsoever.
Sec. 9. No money shall ever be paid out of the Treasury of this State, except in pursuance of an appropriation by law.
Sec. 10. The credit of the State shall never be given or loaned in aid of any individual, association or corporation.
Section 11. There shall be published by the Treasurer in at least one newspaper printed at the Seat of Government, during the first week in January of each year, and in the next volume of the Acts of the Legislature, detailed statements of all moneys drawn from the Treasury during the preceding year, for what purposes, and to whom paid, and by what law authorized, and also of all moneys received, and by what authority, and from whom.
Sec. 12. Suitable laws shall be passed by the Legislature for the safe keeping, transfer and disbursement of the State and School funds, and all officers and other persons charged with the same shall be required to give ample security for all moneys and funds of any kind, to keep an accurate entry of each sum received, and of each payment and transfer, and if any of said officers or other persons shall convert to his own use in any form, or shall loan with or without interest, contrary to law, or shall deposit in banks, or exchange for other fund, any portion of the funds of the State, every such act shall be adjudged to be an embezzlement of so much of the State funds as shall be thus taken, and shall be declared a felony; and any failure to pay over or produce the State or School funds entrusted to such person, on demand, shall be held and taken to be prima facie evidence of such embezzlement.
Sec. 13. The Legislature may, by a two-thirds vote, pass a General Banking Law, with the following restrictions and requirements, viz:
First, The Legislature shall have no power to pass any law sanctioning in any manner, directly or indirectly, the suspension of specie payments by any person, association or corporation issuing bank notes of any description.
Second, The Legislature shall provide by law for the registry of all bills or notes issued or put in circulation as money, and shall require ample security in United States Stock or State Stocks for the redemption of the same in specie, and in case of a depreciation of said Stocks, or any part there of to the amount of ten per cent, or more on the dollar, the bank or banks owning said stocks, shall be required to make up said deficiency by additional stocks.
Third, The Stockholders in any corporation and joint association for banking purposes issuing bank notes shall be individually liable, in an amount equal to double the amount of stock owned by them, for all the debts of such corporation, or association, and such individual liability shall continue for one year after any transfer or sale of stock by any stockholder or stockholders. Fourth, In case of the insolvency of any Bank or banking association, the billholders thereof shall be entitled to preference in payments over all other creditors of such bank or association.

## Article 10. Of Corporations having no Banking Privileges.

Section 1. The term "Corporations" as used in this article shall be construed to include all associations and joint stock companies having any of the powers and privileges not possessed by individuals or partnerships except such as embrace Banking Privileges, and all Corporations shall have the right to sue and shall be liable to be sued in all courts in like manner as natural persons.
Section 2. No Corporations shall be formed under special acts, except for municipal purposes.
Section 3. Each Stockholder in any Corporation shall be liable to the amount of the stock held or owned by him.
Section 4. Lands may be taken for public way for the purpose of granting to any Corporation the franchise of way for public use. In all cases however, a fair and equitable compensation shall be paid for such land, and the damages arising from the taking of the same; but all corporations being common carriers enjoying the right of way in pursuance of the provisions of this section, shall be bound to carry the mineral, agricultural and other productions or manufactures on equal and reasonable terms.

## Article 11 Counties and Townships

Section 1. The Legislature may from time to time, establish and organize new counties, but no new county shall contain less than four hundred square miles; nor shall any county be reduced below that amount; and all laws changing county lines in counties already organized, or for removing county seats shall, before taking effect be submitted to the electors of the County or Counties to be affected thereby, at the next general election after the passage thereof, and be adopted by a majority of such electors. Counties now established may be enlarged, but not reduced below four hundred (400) square miles.
Section 2. The Legislature may organize any city into a separate county when it has attained a population of twenty thousand inhabitants, without reference to geographical extent when a majority of the electors of the county in which such city may be situated, voting thereon, shall be in favor of a separate organization.
Section 3. Laws may be passed providing for the organization, for municipal and other town purposes, of any Congressional or fractional townships in the several counties in the State, provided that when a township is divided by county lines, or does not contain one hundred inhabitants, it may be attached to one or more adjoining townships or parts of townships for the purposes aforesaid.
Section 4. Provision shall be made by law for the election of such County or Township officers as may be necessary.
Section 5. Any County and Township organization shall have such powers of local taxation as may be prescribed by law.
Section 6. No money shall be drawn from any County or Township treasury except by authority of law.

## Article 12. Of the Militia

Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws for the organization, discipline and service of the Militia of the State as may be deemed necessary.

## Article 13. Impeachment and Removal from Office

Section 1. The Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney General, and the Judges of the Supreme and District Courts, may be impeached for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit, in the State. The party convicted thereof shall nevertheless be liable, and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.
Section 2. The Legislature of the State may provide for the removal of inferior officers from office, for malfeasance or nonfeasance in the performance of their duties.
Section 3. No officers shall exercise the duties of his office after he shall have been impeached and before his acquittal.
Section 4. On the trial of an impeachment against the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor shall not act as a member of the Court.
Section 5. No person shall be tried on impeachment before he shall have been served with a copy thereof at least twenty days previous to the day set for trial.

## Article 14. Amendments to the Constitution.

Section 1. Whenever a majority of both Houses of the Legislature shall deem it necessary to alter or amend the Constitution, they may propose such alterations or amendments, which proposed amendments shall be published with the law which have been passed at the same session, and said amendments shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection; and if it shall appear, in a manner to be provided by law, that a majority of voters present and voting shall have ratified such alterations, or amendments, the same shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as a part of this Constitution. If two or more alterations or amendments shall be submitted at the same time, it shall be so regulated that the voters shall vote for or against each separately.
Section 2. Whenever two thirds of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature, shall think it necessary to call a Convention to revise this Constitution, they shall recommend to the electors to vote, at the next election for members of the Legislature, for or against a Convention; and if a majority of all the electors, voting at said election, shall have voted for a Convention, the Legislature shall at their next session, provide by law for calling the same. The Convention shall consist of as many members as the House of Representatives who shall be chosen in the same manner, and shall meet within three months after their election for the purpose aforesaid.

## Article 15. Miscellaneous Subjects.

Section 1. The seat of Government of the State shall be at the City of St. Paul, but the Legislature at their first, or any future session, may provide by law for a change of the seat of Government by a vote of the people, or may locate the same upon the land granted by Congress for a seat of Government for the State; and in the event of the seat of Government being removed from the City of St. Paul to any other place in the State, the Capitol building and grounds shall be dedicated to an institution for the promotion of science, literature and the arts, to be organized by the Legislature of the State, and of which institution the Minnesota Historical Society shall always be a department.
Section 2. Persons residing on Indian Lands, within the State, shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of citizens as though they lived in any other portion of the state, and shall be subject to taxation.
Section 3. The legislature shall provide for a uniform oath or affirmation to be administered at elections, and no person shall be compelled to take any other or different form of oath to entitle him to vote.
Section 4. There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be kept by the Secretary of State, and be used by him officially, and shall be called The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and shall be attached to all official acts of the Governor (his signature to act and resolves of the Legislature excepted) requiring authentication. The Legislature shall provide for an appropriate device and motto for said Seal.
Section 5. The Territorial Prison as located under existing laws shall, after the adoption of the Constitution, be and remain one of the State prisons of the State of Minnesota.

## Schedule

Sec. 1 That no inconvenience may arise by reason of a change from a Territorial to a permanent State Government, it is declared that all rights, actions, prosecutions, judgements, claims and contracts as well as individuals as of bodies corporate shall continue as if no change had taken place, and all process which may be issued under the authority of the Territory of Minnesota previous to its admition into the Union of the United States, shall be as valid as if issued in the name of the State.
Sec. 2 All Laws now in force in the Territory of Minnesota not repugnant to this Constitution shall remain in force until they expire by their own limitation or be altered or repealed by the Legislature.
Sec. 3 All fines, penalties or forfeitures accruing to the Territory of Minnesota shall inure to to the State.
Sec. 4. All recognizances heretofore taken or which may be taken before the change from a Territorial to permanent State Government shall remain valid and shall pass to, and may be prosecuted in the name of the State, and all bonds executed to the Governor of the Territory or to any other officer or the Court in his or their official capacity, shall pass to the Governor or State Authority and their successors in office for the uses therein respectively expressed and may be sued for and recovered accordingly and all the estate of property real and personal or mixed, and all judgments bonds specialities choses in action, and claims and debts of whatever description of the Territory of Minnesota shall inure to and to and vest in the State of Minnesota, and may be sued for and recovered in the same manner and to the same extent by the State of Minnesota as the same could have been by the Territory of Minnesota. All criminal prosecutions and penal actions which may have arisen or which may arise before the change from a Territorial to a State Government, and which shall there be pending shall be prosecuted to judgement and execution in the name of the State. All offenses committed against the Laws of the Territory of Minnesota before the change from a Territorial to a State Government and which shall not be prosecuted before such change, may be prosecuted in the name and by the Authority of the State of Minnesota with like effect as though such change had not taken place and all penalties incurred shall remain the same as if this Constitution had not been adopted. All actions of Law and Suits in Equity which may be pending in any of the Courts of the Territory of Minnesota at the time of the change from a Territory to a State Government may be continued and transferred to any Court of the State which shall have jurisdiction of the subject matter thereof.
Sec. 5. All Territorial officers civil and military now holding their offices under the authority of the United States or of the Territory of Minnesota shall continue to hold and exercise their respective offices until they shall be superceded by the Authority of the State.
Sec. 6. The first session of the Legislature of the State of Minnesota shall commence on the first Wednesday of December next and shall be held at the Capitol in the City of St. Paul.
Sec. 7. The laws regulating the election and qualification of all district, County and precinct officers shall continue and be in force until the Legislature shall otherwise provide by law.
Sec 8. The President of this Convention shall, immediately after the adjournment thereof, cause this Constitution to be deposited in the Office of the Governor of the Territory, and if after the submission of the same to a vote of the people herein after provided it shall appear that it had been adopted by a vote of the people of the State, then the Governor shall forward a certified copy of the same together with an abstract of the votes polled for and against said Constitution to the President of the United States, to be by him laid before the Congress of the United States.
Sec 9. For the purposes of the first Election the State shall constitute One District and shall elect three members to the House of Representatives of the United States.
Sec 10. For the purposes of the first election for members of the State Senate and House of Representatives the State shall be divided into Senatorial and Representative Districts as follows Viz. 1st District Washington County, 2nd District Ramsey County, 3rd District Dakota County, 4th District So much of Hennepin County as lies west of the Mississippi, 5th District Rice County, 6th District Goodhue County, 7th District Scott County, 8th District Olmstead County, 9th District Fillmore County, 10th District Houston County, 11th District Winona County, 12th District Wabashaw County, 13th District Mower and Dodge Counties, 14th District Freeborn and Farribault Counties, 15th District Steele and Waseca Counties, 16th District Blue Earth and LeSeur Counties, 17th District Nicolet and Brown Counties, 18th District Sibley, Renville and McLeod Counties, 19th District Carver and Wright Counties, 20th District Benton, Stearnes and Meeker Counties, 21st District Morrison, Crow Wing and Mille Lac Counties, 22nd District Cass, Pembina and Todd Counties, 23rd District So much of Hennepin County as lies East of the Mississippi, 24th District Sherburne, Anoka and Mahnomen Counties, 25th District Chisago, Pine and Isanti Counties, 26th District Buchanan, Carlton, St Louis, Lake and Itaska Counties.
Sec 11. The Counties of Brown, Stearnes, Todd, Cass, Pembina and Renville as applied in the preceding section shall not be deemed to include any territory west of the State line but shall be deemed to include all Counties and parts of Counties East of said line as were created out of the territory of either at the last session of the Legislature.
Sec 12. The Senators and Representatives at the first Election shall be apportioned among the several Senatorial and Representative Districts as follows Viz. First District Two Senators and Three Representatives, Second District Three Senators and Six Representatives, Third District Two Senators and Five Representatives, Fourth District Two Senators and Four Representatives, Fifth District Two Senators and Three Representatives, Sixth District One Senator and Four Representatives, Seventh District One Senator and Three Representatives, Eight District Two Senators and Four Representatives, Ninth District Two Senators and Six Representatives, Tenth District Two Senators and Three Representatives, Eleventh District Two Senators and Four Representatives, Twelfth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Thirteenth District Two Senators and Three Representatives, Fourteenth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Fifteenth District One Senator and Four Representatives, Sixteenth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Seventeenth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Eighteenth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Nineteenth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Twentieth District One Senator and Three Representatives, Twenty First District One Senator and One Representative, Twenty Second District One Senator and One Representative, Twenty Third District One Senator and Two Representatives, Twenty Fourth District One Senator and One Representative, Twenty Fifth District One Senator and One Representative, Twenty Sixth District One Senator and One Representative.
Sec. 13. The Returns from the Twenty Second District shall be made to and canvassed by the judges of the election at the precinct of the Otter Tail City
Sec 14. Until the Legislature shall otherwise provide the State shall be divided into Judicial Districts via The Counties of Washington, Chisago, Menomen, Anoka, Isanti, Pine, Buchanan, Carlton, St Louis and Lake shall constitute the First Judicial District. The County of Ramsey shall constitute the Second Judicial District. The Counties of Houston, Winona, Fillmore, Olmstead and Wabashaw shall constitute the Third Judicial District. The Counties of Hennepin, Carver, Wright, Meeker, Sherburne, Benton, Stearnes, Morrison, Crow Wing, Mille Lac, Itaska, Pembina, Todd and Cass shall constitute the Fourth Judicial District. The Counties of Dakota, Goodhue, Scott, Rice, Steele, Waseca, Dodge, Mower and Freeborn shall constitute the Fifth Judicial District. The Counties of LeSeur, Sibley, Nicolet, Blue Earth, Farribault, McLeod, Renville, Brown and all other counties in the State not included within the other districts shall constitute the Sixth Judicial District.
Sec 15. Each of the foregoing enumerated Judicial Districts may at the first Election Elect one Prosecuting Attorney for the District.
Sec 16. Upon the Second Tuesday the 13th day of October 1857 an Election shall be held for members of the House of Representatives of the United States, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Supreme and District Judges and members of the Legislature and all other officers designated in this Constitution and also for the submission of this Constitution to the people for their adoption or rejection.
Sec 17 Upon the day so designated as aforesaid every free white male inhabitant over the age of 21 years who shall have resided within the limits of the State for ten days previous to the day of said election may vote for all officers to be elected under this Constitution at such election and also for or against the adoption of this Constitution.
Sec 18. In voting for or against the adoption of this Constitution the words "For Constitution" or "Against Constitution" may be written or printed on the Ticket of Each voter but no voter shall vote for or against this Constitution on a separate ballot from that cast by him for officers to be elected at said election under this Constitution and if upon the canvass of the votes so polled it shall appear that there was a greater number of votes polled for than against said Constitution then this Constitution shall be deemed to be adopted as the Constitution of the State of Minnesota and all the provisions and obligations of this Constitution and of the Schedule thereunto attached shall thereafter be valid to all intents and purposes as the Constitution of said State.
Sec 19. At said Election the Polls shall be opened the Election held, returns made and certificates issued in all respects as provided by law for opening, closing and conducting elections and making returns except as herein before specified and excepting also that Polls may be open and elections held at any point or points in any of the counties where Precincts may be established as provided by law ten days previous to the day of election not less than ten miles from the place of voting in any established precinct.
Sec 20 It shall be the duty of the Judges and Clerks of election in addition to the returns required by law from each precinct to forward to the Secretary of the Territory by mail immediately after the close of the election a certified copy of the Poll Book containing the name of person who has voted in the precinct and the number of votes polled for each person for any office and the votes polled for and against the adoption of this Constitution.
Sec 21 The Returns of said election for and against this Constitution and members of the House of Representatives of the United States shall be made and certificates issued in the manner now prescribed by law for returning votes given for Delegate to Congress and the returns for all district officers Judicial, Legislative or otherwise shall be made to the Register or Deeds of the Senior County in each District in the manner prescribed by law except as otherwise provided. The Returns for all Officers elected at large shall be canvassed by the Governor of the Territory assisted by Joseph R. Brown and Thomas J. Galbraith at the time designated by law for canvassing the vote for Delegate to Congress.
Sec 22 If upon canvassing the votes for and against the adoption of this Constition it shall appear that there has been polled a greater number of votes against than for it then no certificates of Election shall be issued for any State or District officer provided for in this Constitution and no State organization shall have validity within the limits of the Territory until otherwise provided for and until a Constitution for a State government shall have been adopted by the people.
Done in Convention at St Paul, the Twenty ninth day of August, In the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty seven, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty Second. In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.
| | St. A. D. Balcombe President |
| Attest S A Babcock Secretary | |
| H. A. Billings | Cyrus Aldrich |
| Thos. Bolles | John A. Anderson |
| A. H. Butler | |
| John Cleghorn | Benj. C. Baldwin |
| N. P. Colburn | Erastus N. Bates |
| Amos Cogswell | Charles A. Coe |
| A. W. Coombs | Peter A. Cederstam |
| Edwin Page Davis | William J. Duley |
| W. H. C. Folson | David D. Dickerson |
| Thos. J. Galbraith | Henry Eschle |
| R. L. Bartholomew | Thomas Foster |
| Charles Gerrish | D. M. Hall |
| Wentworth Heyden | Charles Hanson |
| Simeon Harding | |
| David L. King | |
| Robert Lyle | S. A. Kemp |
| Charles F. Low | James A. McCan |
| Frank Mantor | Lewis McKune |
| B. E. Messer | Charles McClure |
| David Morgan | W. H. Mills |
| John H. Murphy | John W. North |
| Oscar F. Perkins | Boyd Phelps |
| N. E. Robbins, Jr. | |
| L. K. Stannard | William F. Russell |
| | David A. Secombe |
| T. Dwight Smith | C. W. Thompson |
| Lucius C. Walker | Alanson B. Vaughan |
| Geo. Watson | Ph. Winel |
| Thomas Wilson | |