The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-05-16
TIA rsE stare LEGISLATURES.


As by tho Constitution of the United
States, all legislative power is vested in
Congress, so in the several States the legis.
lative power is vested in an Assembly, COM
posed OF two branches. The collective title
for the dual body is commonly the "Legis-
lature, " yet, officially, this is true in twelve
States only.
In twenty-five it is styled the General
Assembly; in two the General Court; and
in one, the Legislative Assembly. Separate
~, the upper and smaller house is called the
Senate the lower and larger is generally
known as the House of Representatives
though in Maryland, Virginia and West Viz.
ginia, 1t is termed the House of Delegates.
In New York, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Cali.
fornia, the latter appears as the Assembly
in North Carolina, it is called the House OF
Commons and in New Jersey, the General
Assembly.
Though both Houses are directly elected
by the people, it will be noticed that the
representative name clings only to the lower.
In the colonial Governments, there was but
one representative body, over which was sci
grave and dignified Council; for which, in
some of the States, after the colonies became
independent States, Senate was substituted.
The smaller number of the Senate, the long.
er term OF office for which, in many of the
States, its members serve, and the larger
districts from which Senators are elected.
,onduce to make it--what it was originally
iutpudnd--o mora solid owl ,1o,.,,,o,,o,,t lrl.,
less subject to the influence of local pre-.
udiee, than the more numerous and chang.
ing House of Representatives.
For political convenience, each State is
divided into number of Senatorial and
Representative districts, the number of each
members in either House.
That there may be no gerrymandering, II
is generally provided that these districts
shall be composed of contiguous territory.
This provision, however, is not always
strictly adhered to. AS, for instance, in the
seventh congressional district of South Caro-
ina, where two strips of land fulfill the re-
quirement at low water only.
In each of the New England States, the
term of Office is the same for both Senators
and Representatives; but in the Middle,
Southern and Western States, Senators are
generally elected for four years, and Repre-.
sentatives for two. The session of the Leg
stature is in few of the States annual but
in more than five-sixths of them it is biennial
only.
A member of either House in any State
must be citizen, born or naturalized, and
must have been for certain time, specified
in the Constitution of that State, resident
of the district from which he is chosen In
earlier times, the ownership of property was
necessary; that requirement 10 now abolish
ed except in Rhode Island.
Kentucky, more old-fashioned still, has
even yet the curious provision that "No
person, while he continues to exercise the
functions of a clergyman, priest, or teacher
of any religious persuasion, society, or Sect
shall be eligible to the General Assembly,"
In her manner of election, too, Kentucky
differs from the other States. Instead of
using written ballot, or a printed slip, tho
Kentucky elector gives aloud the name of
the person for whom he votes. This QiUa
uOce voting, however, occurs only in State
elections.
The privileges of State Representatives
are much the same as those of National
Representatives. Like the latter they are
free from arrest in civil process during the
session of the Assembly, and in going to and
from the same. In Rhode Island, this ex-
empton extends to property, which cannot
be attached until after prescribed time.
The practical workings of State Legisla-
lures correspond very nearly to those of
Congress. Money bills usually originate in
the lower House, where, indeed, in Kansas,
all bills must originate. Trial of Impeach-
ment belongs to the Senate, while the House
only can accuse
In Maine the Legislature In Joint conven-
ton elects the Governors Council; and in
several States such executive officers as
Treasurer, Secretary and Attorney-G General
are chosen in the same way.
There are, in many State Constitutions,
mare rigid restrictions on legislation than
appear in the rules of Congress.
In Alabama, no bill can become law
until 1t has been referred TO committee
from each House.
In Arkansas, no law can be passed within
the last three days of the session and in
Colorado, not after the first twenty Ave.
very common provision is, that no bill
shall contain more than one subject, which
must be clearly expressed in the title;
restriction too often evaded by convenient
amendments.
The Constitution of Pennsylvania declares,
among many other limitations, that no local
bill shall be brought up in the Assembly
until due notice has been posted for at least
thirty days in the locality to which it has
reference.
But beside the many constitutional restric.
tons upon arbitrary and corrupt legislation,
there exists in nearly all the States still an-
other obstruction. The Governors have the
power to veto any bill which they deem un.
wise or injudicious. Yet this veto is fan
from absolute, since in some States two.
thirds, and in others, simple majority vote
can nullify it, Pouth's Companion.
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