Year: 1869




The following law In relation to
the election of United States Sena-
tors, IL OF special interest at this
| time


CHAP. CCXLV.--An Act to Regu-


tate the Times and Manner of hold


ing Elections for Senator'S IN Con-


gf'ess.


BE IL enacted Jy The Senate and
House Of Representatives of the
United States Of America IN Congress
assembled, That the legislature of
each State which shall be chosen
next proceeding the expiration of
the time for which any Senator was
elected to represent said State In
congress, shall, on the second Tues
day after the meeting and organiza-
tion thereof, proceed to elect "A Sena-
tor in Congress, In the place OF such
Senator so~going out of office, In the
following manner: Each house shall
openly, by viva voce of each MEM
ber present, naiue one person for
Senator in Congress from said State,
and tue name of the person SO voted
for, who shall have a majority of the
whole number OF votes cast In each
House by the Clerk or Secretary
thereof; but IL either House shall
fail to give such majority to any per-
son on said day, that fact shall be
entered on the journal. At twelve
O'Clock, meridian, of the day follow
ing that on which proceedings are re-
quired to take place, as aforesaid, the
members of the two Houses shall
convene in joint assembly and the
journal of each House shall then be
read, and IL the same person shall
have received a majority of all the
votes i'm each Mouse, such person
shall be declared duly elected Sena-
tor to represent said State In the
Congress of the United States; but
If the same person shall not have re-
ceived majority of the votes i'm each
house, or If either house shall have
failed to take proceedings as required
by this act, the joint Assembly shall
then proceed to choose, by viva
voce vote of each member present, a
person for the purpose aforesaid, and
the person having majority of all
the votes of the said joint assembly,
a majority of all the members elected
to both houses being present and
voting shall be declared duly elect.
ed; and I'm case no person shall re-
ceive such majority on the first day,
the joint assembly shall meet ut
rw elve o'clock, meridian, Of each day
during the session of the Legislature,
and take at least one vote until a
Senator shall be elected.


SEC. 2. And be IL further enacted,
That whenever, ON the meeting OF
tic Legislature of any State. va
cancy shall exist I'm the representa-
tion of such State In the Senate OF
the United States, said Legislature
shall proceed, ON the second Tuesday
after the commencement and organi-
cation OF its session, to elect person
to fill such vacancy, in the manner
her"inbeiore provided for the election
of Senator for full term; aud If q
vacancy shall happen during the ses.
sion of the Legis allure, then on the
second Tuesday after the Legislature
shall have been organized and shall
have notice of such vacancy.


SEC. 3. 44ad be 10 further enacted,
That II shall be the duty Of the Gov
ernor of the State from which any
Senator shall have been chosen a.
aforesaid to certify his election. un
der the seal Of the State, to the Pres
ident of the Senate OF the Unite,
States, which certificate shall b,
countersigned by the Secretary 0
State of the State.


Approved, July 25. 1866.