mony with this ancient rule the Constitution prescribes the same age as the period for admission to the most important privilege of citizenship.

7. Residence-The voter must have resided in the State six months and in the county where he offers his vote sixty days. Without some restriction of this kind great frauds could be easily perpetrated. Idle and corrupt men could go from place to place voting repeatedly on the same day, or, by temporarily concentrating in one or more precincts, manufacture fraudulent majorities for any candidate.

8.

Residence Defined-The residence of a voter is his permanent home or place of abode. One who remains in a place for the temporary purposes of business, pleasure, or education, does not thereby become a resident or legal voter, even though such temporary sojourn be prolonged into months or years.

9. Privilege of Electofs. (31)-On election days electors are privileged from arrest, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace, during their attendance at the polls, and while going to and returning therefrom (32). They are also exempt from military duty on such days, except in time of war or public danger. The word "elector" is synonymous with "voter" or "legal voter."

10. Reasons for Privilege-These provisions are made to prevent the corrupt and oppressive misuse of legal process and military power. But for the privilege thus secured, voters might be

arrested on trivial charges or called away on unnecessary military service for the mere purpose of keeping them from the polls.

II. Not Privileged-As above noted, the privilege from arrest does not extend to persons charged with treason or felony, or to those who may be engaged in a breach a breach of the peace. Treason and felonies are crimes of a grave and serious character, and it is to the interest of society that persons charged therewith be apprehended whenever and wherever found. A felony, under the laws of this State, is any public offense punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary.

12. Persons in Military Service. (33)-Members of the army and navy of the United States are not to be considered residents by reason of service at any military or naval station in the State.

13. Not Entitled to Vote. (34)-Idiots, insane persons, and persons convicted of any infamous crime are not legal voters. The term "infamous crime" as here used is synonymous with "felony" as defined in the tenth paragraph of this chapter. This disability or penalty for crime can be removed by the order or pardon of the Governor of the State.

14. Voting by Ballot. (35)-The manner of voting is by ballot. Each State has its peculiar manner of balloting; but the essential features by which the voter is guarded from intimidation and improper influence, and the secrecy of the ballot preserved, are everywhere given special attention. 15. Australian Ballot-In Iowa, as in many of

the states, the so-called Australian method of balloting has been adopted. By this method all the different party tickets are printed in parallel columns upon one large sheet, and opposite the name of each individual candidate is placed a square, ☐. These ballots are furnished by public authority and placed in the hands of the judges of election at each polling-place.

16. Manner of Balloting-The person desiring to vote applies to the officers in charge of the polls and receives one of the sheets containing all the tickets as above described, and retires alone to a small stall or booth to prepare his ballot. If by reason of bodily infirmity or inability to read he cannot properly mark the ballot, he may have the assistance of two of the officers of the election.

17. Marking the Ballot-In the seclusion of the booth the voter proceeds to mark his ballot in favor of the ticket or candidate of his choice. If he wishes to vote what is ordinarily called a "straight" party ticket he place a cross X in the squares before the names of all the candidates appearing in one column under the party name of the party of his choice.

18. Voting a "Mixed" or "Split" Ticket-If the voter desires to vote a "mixed" or "split" ticket-that is, for the candidates of one party for certain offices and for the candidates of another party for other offices he places a cross, X, in the square opposite the name of each individual candidate for whom he wishes his vote to be counted.

19. Depositing the Ballot-Before leaving the booth the voter is required to fold his ballot in such manner as to wholly conceal the vote he has prepared. This being done, he delivers it to the proper officer, who deposits it in the ballot-box.

20. General Election-The general election for State, district, county, and township officers is held each even numbered year on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November.

I.

CHAPTER VIII

DISTRIBUTION OF POWERS

Three Departments. (36)-The powers of the government are divided into three separate departments: the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial. In this respect, the plan or structure of the State government is identical with that of the National government.

2. Departments kept Separate These departments are to be kept separate and independent of each other, and no officer of one department can lawfully exercise any duty or power belonging to either of the others.

CHAPTER IX

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

legislative

I. General Assembly. (37)—The (37) The authority of the State is vested in a Senate and House of Representatives. Every law of the State begins with the sentence "BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA."

2. Legislative Sessions. (38)-The regular sessions of the General Assembly occur once in two years, beginning on the second Monday in January next after the election of its members,