The weekly Butte record., 1862-08-02
Proposed Constitutional Amendments.

The following is an abstract Of the cons,itu-
tonal amendments upon which the people are
called to vote at the approaching election;
ARTICLE EIV-LEGIsLArIv DEPARTMENT.
Provides for biennial instead of annual sessions
of the Legislature, each regular session TO com.
mence on the first Monday of December next
ensuing the election of its members, and not
continue longer than l20 days; Assemblymen
to be chosen biennislly in September, for the
! term Of two years. and Senators at the same
time for four years, provided that after the
first election of Senators under this amend
ment, only half the whole number shalt be
elected every two years, so as 10 preserve the
present system of rotation and renewal.
! ARTICLE V-ExEoUrIvE DEPARrMENr.-
Makes the term of the Governor. Leuten-
ant Governor, Secretary of State, Controller,
Treasurer, Attorney General and Surveyor
General four years, instead of two and pro-
vidcs for the election of the Secretary of State
BY the people instead of bis appointment by
the Governor, and requires him TO keep and
report record of the official acts of the Leg
islative and Executive Departments of the
| Government.
ARTICLE VI-JUpIcIAL DEPAR1MENr.-
Vests the Judicial power of the State in
Supreme Court, District, County and Probate
Courts. and in Justices of the Peace Recor-
ders, and such other inferior courts as the Leg
islature may establish in any Incorporated city
or town. Makes the Supreme Court consist
of five instead of three Justices, requiring the
presence of three Justices to transact all bust
ness but such as is transacted in chambers, and
the concurrence of the same number is made
necessary to pronounce a Judgment. Provides
for the election of Supreme Judges at special
election, fixes their term of Office at ten years,
and classifes them so that one Justice shall go
out OF office every two years, while the Justice
having the shortest term to serve shall be
Chief Justice. Divides the State into fourteen
instead of seventeen Judicial Districts, provides
for election Of District Judges at special cleo
tions, fixes their term at six years, and prohi-
pitS tuS lSldNuiG nom SIEuNlil8 lutIl lGaNt
of absence from the State. The County Judges
are to be elected at the special Judicial elec-
tions to be held as provided for the choice of
Supreme Judges, and shall hold Office four
years from the first day of January next after
their election, and shall be ex xoficio Probate
Judges, though the Legislature may separate
the two Offices in San Francisco county. The
! jurisdiction and duties of all the higher courts
are carefully defined and simplifed, and the
Legislature required 10 fix by law the jursdic-
tion Of the inferior courts, which in civil cases
may be increased from $3.50 to $500.
ARTICLE IX-EDUcAT1ox- Simply pro-
vides that in and after the year 1868 the
State Superintendent Of Public Instruction
shall be chosen at the special election for Ju-
dcial officers and hold his office for four years,
entering upon it the first Monday Of Decem-
Der next ensuing, when the other State Off
GERS step into their places.
In order that no inconvenience may result
to the public service from the taking effect of
the proposed amendments, it is provided that
no officer shall be superseded thereby, until
the election and qualification of his successor
as provided for in said amendments nor shall
the organization of the several courts be
changed thereby, until the election and quail
fcation of the new Judicial officers"
Each one of the above amendments is 10 be
voted upon separately, in this form: Amend
ments to Article four, five, six or nine, as the
case may BEL Yes" Tor No;"l so that any
one or all of the amendments may be accepted
or rejected