Certain officers may be removed when to meet. sented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return; in which case it shall not be a law. Sec. XIII. All officers holding their offices during good behavior may be removed by joint resolution of by joint resoluthe two houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to the assembly, and a majority of all the members elected to the senate, concur therein. Sec. XIV. The political year shall begin on the Legislature first day of January; and the legislature shall every year assemble on the first Tuesday of January, unless a different day shall be appointed by law. Sec. XV. The next election for governor, lieu- Time of election tenant-governor, senators, and members of assembly, shall commence on the first Monday of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two; and all subsequent elections shall be held at such time, in the month of October or November, as the legislature shall by law provide. Sec. XVI. The governor, lieutenant-governor, places till 1st senators, and members of assembly, first elected, un. Jan., 1823. der this constitution, shall enter on the duties of their respective offices on the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three; and the governor, lieutenant-governor, senators, and members of assembly, now in office, shall continue to hold the same, until the first day of January one thou. sand eight hundred and twenty-three, and no longer. fixed. Officers to hold ARTICLE SECOND. Sec. I. Every male citizen of the age of twenty- Qualifications one years, who shall have been an inhabitant of this state one year preceding any election, and for the last six months a resident of the town or county where he may offer his vote; and shall have, within the year next preceding the election, paid a tax to the tually resides, and not elsewhere, for all officers that Freehold re now are, or hereafter may be, elective by the people. three years a citizen of this state, and for one year next Sec. II. Laws may be passed, excluding from the Sec. III. Laws shall be made for ascertaining, by proper proofs, the citizens who shall be entitled to the right of suffrage, hereby established. Sec. IV. All elections by the citizens shall be by ballot, except for such town officers as may by law be directed to be otherwise chosen. Persons excluded from right of suffrage. Laws to be passed. Election to be by ballot. ARTICLE THIRD. Executive power how vested. fications of the lieutenant gov Sec. I. The executive power shall be vested in a governor. He shall hold his office for two years; and a lieutenant-governor shall be chosen for the same time, and for the same term. Sec. II. No person, except a native citizen of the Requisite quali United States, shall be eligible to the office of gov- governor. ernor, nor shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not be a freeholder, and shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and have been for five years a resident within the state ; unless he shall have been absent during that time on public business of the United States, or of this state. Sec. III. The governor and lieutenant-governor Time and man of shall be elected at the times and places of choosing governor and members of the legislature. The persons respectively ernor. having the highest number of votes for governor, and lieutenant-governor, shall be elected ; but in case two or more shall have an equal and the highest number of votes for governor, or for lieutenant-governor, the two houses of the legislature shall, by joint ballot, choose one of the said persons, so having an equal and the highest number of votes, for governor or lieutenant-governor. Sec. IV. The governor shall be general and commander-in-chief of all the militia, and admiral of the ernor. navy of the state. He shall have power to convene the legislature (or the senate only) on extraordinary occasions. He shall communicate by message to the legislature, at every session, the condition of the state ; and recommend such matters to them as he shall judge expedient. He shall transact all necessary business with the officers of government, civil and military. He shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by the legislature, and shall take care that the laws are faithfully executed. He shall, at stated times, receive for his services a tion. Duties and power of gov His compensa er vested in the governor. Powers of governor devolve on the lieut. governor. compensation, which shall neither be increased nor been elected. reprieves and pardons after conviction, for all offences, Sec. VI. In case of the impeachment of the gov- state. of the senate, but shall have only a casting vote senate. To act as gov. cease. ARTICLE FOURTH. Manner of Sec. I. Militia officers shall be chosen, or appointed, sioned officers shall be chosen by the written votes officers of regiments, and separate battalions, by the written votes of the commissioned officers of the respective regiments, and separate battalions. Brigadier-generals, by the field officers of their respective brigades. Major-generals, brigadier-generals, and commanding officers of regiments or separate battalions, shall appoint the staff officers to their respective divisions, brigades, regiments, or separate battalions. Sec. II. The governor shall nominate, and, with Officers to be the consent of the senate, appoint, all major-generals, the governor brigade inspectors, and chiefs in the staff departments, except the adjutant-general and commissary-general. The adjutant-general shall be appointed by the gov senate. ernor. commissioned. Sec. III. The legislature shall, by law, direct the Election of militime and manner of electing militia officers, and of certifying their elections to the governor. Sec. IV. The commissioned officers of the militia Officers how shall be commissioned by the governor; and no commissioned officer shall be removed from office unless by the senate on the recommendation of the governor, stating the grounds on which such removal is recommended, or by the decision of a court-martial, pursuant to law. The present officers of the militia shall hold their commission, subject to removal as be. fore provided. Sec. V. In case the mode of election and appoint- Election of miment of militia officers directed, shall not be found be abolished. conducive to the improvement of the militia, the legislature may abolish the same, and provide by law for their appointment and removal, if two-thirds of the members present in each house shall concur therein. Sec. VI. The secretary of state, comptroller, trea- State officers surer, attorney-general, surveyor-general, and commissary-general, shall be appointed as follows: The senate and assembly shall each openly nominate one person for the said offices respectively: after which, they shall meet together, and if they shall agree in : |