Virginia to wit a house, of Representatives and a house of Senators which shall be called the General assembly of Virginia.

The sd house of representatives shall be composed of persons chosen by the people annually on the day of December] and shall have power to meet in General Assembly on the [. day of January] following & so from time to time on their own adjournments, or at any other time when summoned by the Administrator, & to continue sitting so long as they shall think the publick service requires.

Vacancies in the sd house by death or disqualification shall be filled up by the electors under a warrant from the Speaker of the house.

All persons holding [half All male persons of full age & sane mind having a freehold estate in [ of an acre] of land in any town, or in [250] acres of land in the country, & all persons resident in the country colony who shall have paid scot & lot to government the last [three two] years shall have right to vote give their vote in the election of their respective representatives. And all every person so qualified to vote elect shall be

be called the General Assembly of Virginia.

persons

sentatives.

The sd house of Representatives shall be com- Ho.of Repreposed of chosen by the people annually on the [1st day of October] and shall meet in General assembly on the [1st day of November] following and so from time to time on their own adjournments, or at any time when summoned by the Administrator and to shall continue sitting so long as they shall think the publick service requires.

Vacancies in the said house by death or disqualification shall be filled by the electors under a warrant from the Speaker of the said house.

Electors.

All male persons of full age and sane mind having a freehold estate in [one fourth of an acre] of land in any town, or in [25] acres of land in the country, and all persons resident in the colony who shall have paid scot and lot to government the last [two years] shall have right to give their vote in the election of their respective representatives. And every person so qualified

Elected.

capable of being elected; provided he shall have given no bribe either directly or indirectly to any elector voting for & and shall take an oath of fidelity to the government before he enters state & of duty in his office on the exercise thereof his office, and shall hold during his continuance therein in the said office he shall hold no public post of profit either himself or by another for his

use.

The number of representatives for each county or borough shall be so proportioned to the number of it's qualified electors that the whole number of representatives shall not exceed [300] nor be less than [150] for the present there shall be one representative for every [400] qualified electors in each county or borough; but when ever this or any future proportion shall be likely to exceed or fall short of the limits beforementioned, the proportion shall be again adjusted by the house of representatives.

The house of representatives when met shall be free to act according to their own judg

ments.

The Senate shall consist of [+5] not less than [15] Senate. nor more than [50]

to elect shall be capable of being elected, provided he shall have given no bribe either directly or indirectly to any elector, and shall take an oath of fidelity to the state and of duty in his office, before he enters on the exercise thereof. During his continuance in the said office he shall hold no public pension nor post of profit, either himself, or by another for his use.

The number of Representatives for each county or borough shall be so proportioned to the numbers of it's qualified electors that the whole number of representatives shall not exceed [300] nor be less than [125.] for the present there shall be one representative for every [ ] qualified electors in each county or borough: but whenever this or any future proportion shall be likely to exceed or fall short of the limits beforementioned, it shall be again adjusted by the house of repre

members at the least, who shall be appointed by the house of representatives [for life: Their qualifications shall be an oath of fidelity to government the state & of duty in their office the being of [31] years of age at the least and the having given no bribes directly or indirectly to obtain their appointment: while in the Senatorial office they shall be incapable of holding any public posts of profits either themselves or by others for their use.

With the house of Senators]' One third of them shall be removed out of office by lot at the end of the first three years & their places be supplied by a new appointment; one other third shall be removed by lot in like manner at the end of the second three years & their places be supplied by a new appointment; after which one third shall be removed annually at the end of every three years according to seniority. When once removed they shall be forever incapable of being re-appointed to that house.

The judges of the General court & of the High court of chancery shall have session & deliberative voice but not suffrage in the house of Senators.

members who shall be appointed by the house of Representatives. One third of them shall be removed out of office by lot at the end of the first [three] years and their places be supplied by a new appointment; one other third shall be removed by lot in like manner at the end of the second [three] years and their places be supplied by a new appointment; after which one third shall be removed annually at the end of every [three] years according to seniority. When once removed, they shall be forever incapable of being re-appointed to that house. Their qualifications shall be an oath of fidelity to the state, and of duty in their office, the being [31] years of age at the least, and the having given no bribe directly or indirectly to obtain their appointment. While in the senatorial office they shall be incapable of holding any public pension or post of profit either themselves, or by others for their use.

The judges of the General court and of the High court of Chancery shall have session and deliberative voice, but not suffrage in the house of Senators.

The Senate & the house of representatives shall each of them have power to originate & amend bills, save only that money bills shall be originated & amended by the Representatives only; and the assent of both houses shall be requisite to pass a law.

The General assembly shall have no power to pass any law inflicting death for any crime excepting murder & excepting also those offences in the military service for which they shall think punishment of death absolutely necessary; nor shall they have power to prescribe and all capital punishments in other cases are hereby abolished: nor shall they have power to prescribe torture in any case whatever; nor for in flicting torture for in any cause whatever-nor shall any law for levying money be in force longer than [ten] years from the time of it's commencement.

Two thirds of the members of either house shall be a quorum to proceed to business.

Delegates see post.

For The exercise of the executive Executive powers Administra- shall be exercised by in manner fol

tor

lowing one person to be called

VOL. 11.-2

The Senate and the house of representatives shall each of them have power to originate and amend bills; save only that bills for levying money bills shall be originated and amended by the representatives only: the assent of both houses shall be requisite to pass a law.

The General assembly shall have no power to pass any law inflicting death for any crime, excepting murder, & such those offences in the military service for which they shall think punishment by death absolutely necessary and all capital punishments in other cases are hereby abolished. Nor shall they have power to prescribe torture in any case whatever : nor shall there be power anywhere to pardon crimes or to remit fines or punishments: nor shall any law for levying money be in force longer than [ten years] from the time of its commencement.

[Two thirds] of the members of either house shall be a Quorum to proceed to business.

II. EXECUTIVE.

The executive powers shall be exercised in manner following.

One person to be Adminiscalled the [Adminis

trator

the [Administrator] who shall be annually appointed by the [house of representatives

on the second day of their first session, & who after having acted [one] year shall be incapable of being again appointed till to that office until he shall have been out of the said same office [three] years. Under him shall be appointed Deputy by the same house Admr. & at the same time a Deputy Administrator to assist his principal in the discharge of his office, & to succeed to the whole powers thereef in case of his death before the year shall have expired, to the whole powers thereof during the residue of the year.

The Administrator shall possess the powers formerly held by the king save only that

he shall be bound by acts of legislature tho' not expressly named.

he shall have no negative on

the bills of the Legislature. he shall be liable to action tho' not to personal restraint for private duties or wrongs?

he shall not possess no the prerogatives of

of dissolving, proroguing, or adjourning either house of assembly

same

Deputy Admr.

Under him shall be appointed by the same house and at the time, a Deputy-Administrator to assist his principal in the discharge of his office, and to succeed, in case of his death before the year shall have expired, to the whole powers thereof during the residue of the year.

The administrator shall possess the power formerly held by the king save only that, he shall be bound by acts of legislature tho' not expressly named ;

he shall have no negative on

the bills of the Legislature; he shall be liable to action,

tho' not to personal restraint for private duties or wrongs;

he shall not possess the prerogatives;

of dissolving, proroguing or

adjourning either house of Assembly;