The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-02
Amendments to the Constitution.

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/. Be it enacted by the general assembly,
That it shall be the duty of the officers con-
Quoting the election directed by law to be
held on the first Tuesday after the first Nom
day in November, eighteen hundred and
seventy-siX, at the places appointed for hold
ing the same, to open n poll to take tho sense
OF the qualified voters of this commonwealth
upon the ratification or rejection of the
amendments to the constitution of Virginia,
contained in joint resolutions proposing
amendments TO the state constitution, i'll re-
lation to the elective franchise and qualiica-
lions for Office, and concerning the legisla
tive department., and directing IL submission
OF said proposed amendments to the people
for their approval and ratification, viz:
Strike from the constitution of Virginia
the first section Of the third article, in refer
ence to the elective franchise aud qnalifica-
tons for office; aud in lieu thereof insert The
following:
l. Every citizen of the United States,
tweuty-one years old. who shall have been a
resident OF the state twelve months, and of
the county, city, nr town III which he shall
offer to vote, three months next preceding
any election, and shall have paid to the
state, before the day of election, the capita
ton tax required by law, for the preceding
year, shall be entitled to vote for members
of the general assembly. ard all officers cleo
ted by the people: provided, that no officer,
seaman, or marine of the United States army
or navy shall be considered resident Of
this state by reason of being stationed there
in; and provided also, that the following
persons shall be excluded from voting:
First. Idiots and lunatics. RI -.
Second. Persons convicted of bribery in
any election, enlbezzlement of public funds,
treason, felony, or petit larceny.
Third. No person who, while a citizen OF
this state, has, since the adoption of this con-
stitution, fought duel with a deadly weap-
on, sent or accepted challenge to fight a
duel with deadly weapon, either within or
beyond the boundaries of this state, or know
ingly conveyed challenge, or aided or as
sisted in any manner in fighting duel,
shall be allowed to vote or hold any office of
honor, profit, or trust, under this constitu-
ton.
Strike out the fourth section of the same
article.
2. That all elections held subsequently, to
the ratification of these amendments by the
people, before the adjournment of the next
regular session of the legislature, held after
such ratification, shall be had and conducted
| under and in accordance with the election
laws and registration laws which may be in
the same shall! have been sooner amended or
repealed by the general assembly. d.
Strike out from the constitution of Vir-
| ginia the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
and eighth sections of the fifth article, con-
corning the Legislative department.; and in
| sert in lieu thereof the following:
| -. The house of delegates shall be elect
ed biennially by the voters of the several
cities and counties, on the Tuesday succeed
| ing the first Monday in November. and shall,
from and after the Tuesday succeeding the
| first Monday in November, eighteen hum
dred and seventy-nine, consist Of not more
than one hundred and not less than ninety
members.
IS. From and after the same dates the
| senate shall consist of not less than thirty
three nor more than forty members. They
shall be elected for the term Of four years
for the election of whom, the counties, cit
les, and towns shall be divided into districts.
Each county, city, and town Of the respec-
tive districts shall, at the time of the first
| election Of its delegate or delegates under
this amendment, vote for one or more seDa-
tors. The senators first elected under this
amendment, in districts bearing odd num-
bers. shall vacate their offices at the end of
two years; and those elected in districts bear
ing even numbers, at the end of four years;
and vacancies occurring by expiration of
term shall be filed by the election of sena-
tors for the full! term. ,;5
4. An apDOrtionment Of senators and
| members of the house of delegates shall be
| made at the regular session of the general
| assembly next preceding the Tuesday after
the first Monday in November, eighteen
hundred and seventy-nine, or sooner. re-
apportionment shall be made in the year
eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and every
tenth year thereafter.
| QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS AND DELE
GATES.
| 5. Any person may be elected senator
who, at the time of election, is actually u
resident within the district, and qualified to
vote for members of the general assembly
according to this constitutions; and any per-
| son may be elected a member of the house
OF delegates who, at the time of election, is
actually a resident within the county, city,
town, Or election district, qualified to vote
for members OF the general assembly accord
ing to this constitution. But no person hold
ing salaried office under the state govern
ment shall be capable Of being elected q
member Of either house of the general as
sembly. The removal of any person elected
to either branch OF the general assembly,
from the city, county, town, or district for
| which he was elected, shall vacate his office.
!
| SEMBLY.
5 6. The general assembly shall meet once
in two years, and not oftener, unless coll
vened by the governor in the manner pre-
| scrbed in this constitution. No session Of
| the general assembly, after the first under
| this amendment, shall continue longer than
| ninety days, without the concurrence Of
| three fifths Of the members elected to each
| house; in which case the session may be eX-
tended for a further period, not exceeding
| thirty days. Neither house during the ses-
| sion Of the general assembly, shall, without
| the consent of the other, adjourn for more
| than three days, nor to any other place than
that in which the two houses shall be sit
ting. A majority of the members elected to
each house shall constitute quorum to do
business; but a smaller number may adjourn
from day to day, and shall have power to
| compel the attendance of absent members in
such manner and under such penalty as
each house may prescribe.
} 8. The members of the general assembly
shall receive for their services salary, to be
ascertaned by law, and paid out of the pub
| lie treasury; but no act increasing such sala-
ry shall take effect until after the end of the
| term for which the members OF the house of
delegates voting thereon were elected; and
no senator or delegate, during the term for
WHICH, iie SiiiiIl nave ueeN eIcCCeQ, snail De
appointed to any civil Office of profit under
| The commonwealth, which has been created,
the emoluments Of which have been in
| creased during such term, except Offices fill
ed by election by the people.
Add the following sections at the end of
the article:
5 90. The legislature shall have power to
provide for the government of cities and
towns, and to establish such courts therein
as may be necessary for the administration
OF justice.
s "a. The general assembly shall have
power, by Il two-third vote, to remove disa-
bilities incurred under clause third, section
one, article third of this constitution, with
reference to dueling.
SCHEDULE.
3. At such election each of said voters
who shall approve said amendments, shall,
on the ballot which he uses to vote at said
election, have written or printed, the words
ssFor the amendments to the constitutions"
and each of said voters who shall be opposed
To said amendments SHALL OH the ballot