The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-17
THE NEW
CONSTITUTION
THE LAW THE PEOPLE MUST
NOW LIVE UNDER.
The Full Text OF South Carolina's New
Organic Law rs Adopted
ARTICLE VII.
COUNTIES AND COUNTY GovERNME

StUNTlES AND COUNTY SONEhNhESI.
Sec. /. The general assembly may
establish new counties in the following
manner: Whenever one-third of the
qualified electors within the aren of
each section of IN old county proposed
to be cut off to form new county
shall petition the governor for tho
creation of n new county, setting forth
the boundaries and showing compli-
anco with the requirements Of this nr-
! ticle, the governor shall order an cleo
ton, within reasonable time there
after, by the qualified electors within
the proposed area, in which election
they shall vote Eyes" or "No" upon
tho question of creating snid new
county; and Mt the same election the
question of name and county seat
for such county shall be submitted to
the electors.
Sec. .. If two-thirds CT the qualified
electors voting Mt such election shall
vote Yes upon such questions, then
the general assembly at the next Sos
sion shall establish such new county:
Provided. No section OF the county
proposed to ho dismembercd shall be
thus cut off without consent by IL two
thirds vote of those voting in such sec
ton; and no county shall be formed
without complying with all the condi-
tiops imposed in this article. An elec-
tion upon the question of forming the
same proposed new county shall not
be held oftener than once in four
years.
Sec. 3. No new county hereafter
| formed shall contain less than one one
| hundred and twentyfourth part Of the
whole number of inhabitants of the
| State, nor shall it have less assessed
taxable property than 81, 100000 as
! shown by the last tax returns, nor
shall it contain less area than 100
square miles.
Sec. i. No Old county shall be re-
! duccd to less srea than 500 square
miles, to less assessed taxable proper
ty than s., 900, 900, nor to a smaller
population than 15,OcO inhabitants.
Sec. >. IN the formation of now
counties no old county shall be cut
within eight miles o: its courthouse
building.
! Sec. &. All new couLt!es here
after formed shall bear just appUr-
t!onmcnt of the valid indebtncss of the
old county orcountieS from which they
hnvo been formed.
See. I. The general assembly shall
have the power to alter county lines at
any tim: Provided, That before any
ling county line is altered the
question shall he first submitted to the
qualified electors of the territory pro,
posed to be taken from one county and
given to another, and shall have re-
ceived two-thirds of the votes cast
Provided, further, That the change
shall not reduce the county from which
the territory is taken below the limits
prescribed in sections 3, and ) OF
this article: Provided, That the prop.
er proportion of the existing county
Indebtedness of the section SO trans
ferrcd shall be assumed by the county
to which the territory is transferred.
See s. No county seat shall he re-
moved except by vote of two-thirds
of the qualified electors Of said county
voting in IN election held for that pur-
pose, but such election shall not be
held in any county oftener than orce
in five years.
Sec. 9. Each county shall constitute
one election district, and shall be n
body polite and corporate.
Sec 10. The general assembly may
provide for the consolidation OF two
or more existing counties If majority
Of the qualified electors of such coun,
ties voting at an election held for that
purpose shall vote separately therefor,
but such election shall not be held
ottener than once Ill four years in the
same counties.
Sec. II. Each Of the several town.
ships of this State. with names and
boundaries IN now established by law,
shall constitute n body polite and cor.
porntc, but this shall not prevent the
general assembly from organizing other
townships or changing the boundaries
of those already established; and the
general assembly MNy provide sucl!
system OF township government ns il
shall think proper III any and nll the
counties, and may make special provis-
ION ior municipal! government and for
the protection "s chartered rights AND
powers of municipalities
Sec. II. Unit! changed lv the g,n-
era, assembly. as allowed 10y this Con-
( stitutipu the boundaries oi the several
+ c"EEncs shn.l remain as now cs;uh-
/ 'lshoi. except that the boundaries Of
. tn" cuu.ty ui Edyc,,cli shall! undergo
such changes RS are mad" necessary Uv
/ the formation ul II new county from II
/ portion ui iLdgyh"li, 10 be known us
Saluda tie lrHL,!urics oI which are set
/ forth II II constitutional ordinance.