New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-08-05

FDEAMBl.i.
We the people Of the State Of louisiana do ordain and
establish this Constitution.
TITLE I.
DESTRUCTION or POWER.
Article l. The powers of the Government Of the State
Of Louisiana shall be divided into three distinct depart
nens and each Of them be confded to separate body
of magistracy towt those which are Legislative TO one
those which Executive TO another and those which are
Judicial to another.
holding Office in of them shall exercise power prop
cy belonging either Of the others except in the in
stances Hereinafter expressly directed or permitted
TITLE II.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT..
| Art g. Tho Legislative power OF the State shall be
vested III two distinct branches the to be styled the
House REPRESENTATIVES the other the Senate and both
- the General Assembly OF the State of Louisiana
Art L. The members of the House Of Representatives
the day of the closing Of the general elections.
Art Representatives shal be chosen on the first Mon
in November every two ysar and the election snail snail
meet annually the third Monday in January unless
different day shall be appointed BY law and their sessions
shall be held at The scat of Government.
Art g. Every duly qualified elector under this Consti-
tuition shall be eligible seat in the General Assembly
provided that no person shall be Representative Sem
unless he be- at the time of his election, duly quail
lied voter Of .hc Representative or Senatorial District
from which lie is elected.
shall be held the several election precincts established
by law The Legislature delegate the power of estab,
fishing election precincts to the parochal OF municipal
authorities.
Art 8 Representation in the House Of Represents,
aud ascertaned by the total population Of each of the
several parishes of the State Each Parish shall have at
least one No Parish shall be created
with territory less than six hundred and twenty-five
square miles with population less than the full num-
Der emitting it to Representative nor when the creation
of Parish would leave any other Parish without
the said extent of territory and amount Of population
The first enumeration by the State authorities under
this Constitution shall be made in the year 1853 the
coDd year 1855 the third in the year 1865 after
which time the General Assembly shall direct in what
manner ccnus shall be taken so that it be made at
every period of years for the purpose Of
ascertang the total population in each Parish and cleo
ton District
At the first regular session Of the Legislature after the
making of each enumeration the Legislature shall appor
ton the representation among the several Parishes and
election Districts the basis of the total population
aforesaid A representative number shall be fixed. and
each Parish election District shall have many Re-
presentativvs its aggregate population shall ente it
TO- and an additional Representative for any fraction
ceedng one-haf the Representative number. The
number Of Representatives shall not be more than 1Q0
nor less than 10.
Until an apportionment shall be made, and elections
held under the same in accordance with the first emu
eraon to be made directed in this article the Repre-
sentation in the Senate and House Of Representatives
shall be and remain at established by law
The limits of the Parish of Orleans are hereby extended
to embrace the whole of the present City of New
Orleans including that part Of the Parish of Jefferson
formerly known as the City of Lafayette.
All that part of the Parish of Orleans which is situated
the left bank of the Mississippi river shall be divided
by the Legislature into than Representative
Districts and until apportionment shall be made
according to the first to be taken under this Con
stuton that part of the City Of SewOreans which was
comprised within the former limits of the City of Laay
ete shall for Senators from the Parish of Orleans
and shall form the Tenth Representative District ant
shall elect out of the three Representatives ap
portoned by law the Parish of Jefferson the othe
Representative Districts shall remain as they are nov
established.
Art g. The House of Representatives shall choose it
Speaker and other officers
Art TO- Every free white male who has attained the
age of twentyone years. and who has been resident
the State twelve months next preceding the election
the last six months thereof in the Parish in which h
offers and who shall be citizen of the Unite
States shall have the right of voting but voter
moving Parish another within the State shal
lose the right Of voting in the former until he shall
acquired in the latter Electors shall in all
cep felony, breach of the be privilege
from arrest during their attendance at going to.
Ii turning from elections.
Art IL The Legislature shall provide by law. that til
names and residence Of al 0laded electors of the city
New Orleans shall be registered in order to entte thel
to vote but the registry shall be free OF cost to tn
- elector.
navy Of the United States pauper person under il
teriction under conviction OF any crime punshab
in this State.
Art l$ No person shall be entitled to vote at any elee
IA tion held in this State except in the Parish Of his
ience and in cities and towns divided into election pre-
cincts in the election precinct in which he resides
Art H. The members of the Senate shall be chosen 70
the term of four years The Senate when assembled
- shall have the power to choose its officers.
Art 10, The Legislature in every year in which the
shall apporon representation in the House of Rcresen
tatives shall divide the State into Senatorial Districts
II No Parish shall be divided in the formation of asenate
rial Dstrict-the Parish OF Orleans excepted And when
Parish shall be created, it shall be attache
to the Senatorial District from which most of its terTtor
was taken or to another contiguous district at tho d
creton of the Legislature but shall not be attached
more than District. The number of Senators sha
be thirtytwo and they shall be apportoned among h
Senatorial Districts according TO the total population
Il tanned in the several Districts Provided that Paris
shall be entitled to than five Senators.
Art 16 In all appOrtonments of the State the popr
laton of the city of NewOreans shall be deduct cd rol
the population of the whole State and the remainder
d the result produced by This division shall be- the senat
rial ratio emitting Senatorial District to a Senate
Single contiguous Parishes shall be formed into Di
rcts having population the nearest possible to the
ber emitting District to Senator; and it. in tho ar
portionment to be made, Parish District fall sho
= Of exceed the ratio one-ffth then District may
formed having not than two Senators butnot othe
lie wise. No new apportionment shall have the effect
abrdgin the term Of service of any Senator alread
elected at the time of making the apportionmen Att
"A enumeration has been made as directed in the (eghtl
article, the Legislature shall not pass any law until
= pprtionment OF Representation in both Houses Of IL
tieneral Assembly be made.
Art IL At the first session of the General Assembly
ter this Constitution takes effect the Senators shall
equally divided by lot into two classes the seats Of IL
Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expr
ton of the second year. of the second class the exI
le ration of the fourth year that half shall be chos,
every two years and rotation thereby kept up perpe
NJ, ally In any District shall have elected two
Senator'S said Senators shall their seats respecv
at the end Of two and four years and lots shall be draw
g. between them.
Art 1S The first election for Senators shall be gener
throughout the State and at the same time that the
eal election for held and hereatt
Is there shall be biennial elections to fill the places of tho
whose time of service may have expired
:. Art 10. Not less than majority of the members
each House of the Geneneral Assembly shall form gu
"a, rum to do business but smaller number may a
ourn from day to day, and shall be authorized by law
j, compel the attendance of absent members,
lie Art 20 Each House of the General Assembly shall ud
Of the qualification election and returns of its member
but contested election shall be determined in such
W ncr shall be directed by law
= Art. II Each House OF the General Assembly may
,lo ciine the rules of its proceedings punish member
dsordcry behavior and with the concurrence of tV
= thirds cXpe member, but not second time for
same offence
t. Art o. Each House of the General Assembly 81,
keep and publish weekly journal of its proceeding
Jfe and the yeas and of the members quest
It. shall at the desire Of any two of them be entered
49, Journal
'u Art 23. Each House may punish by imprisonment a
person, not member for diSrGSpectful and dsordery
ae avor in its presence, for obstructng any of its
V ceedings Such imprisonment shall not exceed ten d
= for any offence
ty, Art "a Neither House, during the session of the G
Y eral Assembly shall without the consent of the other
journ for than three days. to any other pl
py than that in which they may be sitting.
te Art %. Tho members of the General Assembly 81
receive from the public treasury compensation for II
services, which shall be four dollars per day during Il
ale Their respective houses The compensation may be
M creased diminished by law; but alteration 81
take effect during The period of service ot the member
by the House of Representatives by whom such altera
ct shall have been made No session shall extend to a
- riod beyond sixty days to date from its ccmmcnccm
aud any legislative action had after the expiration of
ce sixty days shall be null and void This provision s.
L., not apply to the first Legislature which is to cony
W after the adoption of this Constitution.
e' Art % The members Of the General Assembly 81
re in all eases except felony breach of the peace
privileged from arrest during their attendance at the
.r.t, 20 n