RHODE ISLAND. The name of one of the original states of the United States of America. This state was settled by emigrants1 from Massachusetts, who assumed the government of themselves by a voluntarry association, which was soon discovered to be insufficient2 for their protection. In 1643, a charter of incorporation3 of Providence4 Plantations5 was obtained; and in 1644, the two houses of parliament, during the forced absence of Charles the First, granted a char-ter for the incorporation of the towns of Providence, Newport and Portsmouth, for the absolute government of themselves, according to the laws of England. Soon after the restoration of Charles the Second, in July, 1663, the inhabi-tants obtained a new charter from the crown. Upon the accession of James, the inhabitants were accused of a violation6 of their charter; and a quo warranto was filed against them, when they resolved to surrender it. In 1686, their government was dissolved, and Sir Edward Andros assumed, by royal authority, the administration of the colony. The revolution of 1688 put an end to his power and the colony immediately resumed its charter, the powers of which, with some interruptions, it continued to maintain and exercise down to the period of the American Revolution.
2. This charter remained as the fundamental law of the state until the first Tuesday of May, one thousand eight hundred and forty-three. A convention of the people assembled in November, 1842, and adopted a constitution which went into operation in May, 1843, as above mentioned.
3. By the third article of the constitution the powers of the government are distributed into three departments; the legislative7, the executive, and the judicial8.
4. - §9;1. The fourth article regulates the legislative power as follows, to wit: Sect. 1. This constitution shall be the supreme10 law of the state, and any law inconsistent therewith shall be void. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to carry this constitution into effect.
5. - Sect. 2. The legislative power, under this constitution, shall be vested in two houses, the one to be called the senate, the other the house of representatives; and both together the, general assembly. The concurrence11 of the two houses shall be necessary to the enactment12 of laws. The style of their laws shall be, It is enacted13 by the general assembly as follows.
6. - Sect. 3. There shall be two sessions of the general assembly holden annually14; one at Newport, on the first Tuesday of May, for the purposes of election and other business; the other on the last Monday of October, which last session shall be holden at South Kingstown once in two years, and the intermediate years alternately at Bristol and East Greenwich; and an adjournment16 for the October session shall be holden annually at Providence.
7. - Sect. 4. No member of the general assembly shall take any fee, or be of counsel in any case pending17 before either house of the general assembly, under penalty of forfeiting18 his seat, upon proof thereof to the satisfaction of the house of which he is a member.
8. - Sect. 5. The person of every member of the general assembly shall be exempt19 from arrest and his estate from attachment20, in any civil action, during the session of the general assembly, and two days before the commencement, and two days after the termination thereof; and all process served contrary hereto shall be void. For any speech in debate in either house, no member shall be questioned in any other place.
9. - Sect. 6. Each house shall be the judge of the elections and qualifications of its members; and a majority shall constitute a quorum21 to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn15 from day to day, and may compel the atten-dance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as may be prescribed by such house or by law. The organization of the two houses may be regulated by law, subject to the limitations contained in this constitution.
10. - Sect. 7. Each house may determine its rules of proceeding22, punish contempts, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member; but not a second time for the same cause.
11. - Sect. 8. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings23. The yeas and nays24 of the members of either house, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal.
12. - Sect. 9. Neither house shall, during a session, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other place than that in which they may be sitting.
13. - Sect. 10. The general assembly shall continue to exercise the powers they have heretofore exercised, unless prohibited in this constitution.
14. - Sect. 11. The senators and representatives shall receive the sum of one dollar for every day of attendance, and eight cents per mile for travelling expenses in going to and returning, from the general assembly. The general assembly shall regulate the compensation of the governor and all other officers, subject to the limitations contained in this constitution.
15. - Sect. 12. All lotteries25 shall hereafter be prohibited in this state, except those already authorized26 by the general assembly.
16. - Sect. 13. The general assembly shall have no power hereafter, without the express consent of the people, to incur27 state debts to an amount exceeding fifty thousand dollars, except in time of war, or in case of insurrection or invasion, nor shall they in any case, without such consent, pledge the faith of the state for the payment of the obligations of others. This section shall not be construed28 to refer to any money that may be deposited with this state by the government of the United States.
17. - Sect. 14. The assent29 of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of the general assembly shall be required to every bill appropriating the public money or property for local or private purposes.
18. - Sect. 15. The general assembly shall, from time to time, provide for making new valuations of property for the assessment30 of taxes, in such manner as they may deem best. A new estimate of such property shall be taken before the first direct state tax, after the adoption31 of this constitution, shall be assessed.#p#副标题#e#
19. - Sect. 16. The general assembly may provide by law for the continuance in office of any officers of annual election or appointment, until other persons are qualified32 to take their places.
20. - Sect. 17. Hereafter when any bill shall be presented to either house of the general assembly, to create a corporation for any other than for religious, literary or charitable purposes, or for a military or fire company, it shall be continued until another election of members of the general assembly shall have taken place, and such public notice of the pendency thereof shall be given as may be required by law.
21. - Sect 18. It shall be the duty of the two houses upon the request of either, to join in grand committee for the purpose of electing senators in congress, at such times and in such manner as may be prescribed by law for said elections.
22. Having disposed of the rules which regulate both houses, a detailed33 statement of the powers of the house of representatives will here be given.
23. - 1. The house of representatives is regulated by the fifth article as follows; Sect. 1. The house of representatives shall never exceed seventy-two members, and shall be constituted on the basis ofpopulation, always allowing one representative for a fraction, exceeding half the ratio; but each town or city shall always be entitled to at least one member; and no town or city shall have more than one-sixth of the whole number of members to which the house is hereby limited. The present ratio shall be one representative to every fifteen hundred and thirty inhabitants, and the general assembly may, after any new census34 taken by the authority of the United States or of this state, re-apportion the representation by altering the ratio; but no town or city shall be divided into districts for the choice of representatives.
25. - Sect. 2. The house of representatives shall have authority to elect its speaker, clerks and other officers. The senior member from the town of Newport, if any be present, shall preside in the organization of the house.
26. - 2. The senate is the subject of the sixth article, as follows: Sect. 1. The senate shall consist of the lieutenant35-governor and of one senator from each town or city in the state.
27. - Sect. 2. The governor, and, in his absence the lieutenant-governor, shall preside in the senate and in grand committee. The presiding officer of the senate and grand committee shall have a right to vote in case of equal division, but not otherwise.
28. Sect. 3. If, by reason of death, resignation, absence, or other cause, there be no governor or lieutenant governor present, to preside in the senate, the senate shall elect one of their own members to preside during such absence or vacancy36, and until such election is made by the senate, the secretary of state shall preside.
29. - Sect. 4. The secretary of state shall, by virtue37 of his office, be secretary of the senate, unless otherwise provided by law; and the senate may elect such other officers as they may deem necessary.
30. - §2. The seventh article regulates the executive power. It provides: Sect. 1. The chief executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor, who, together with a lieutenant governor, shall be annually elected by the people.
31. - Sect. 2. The governor shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.
32. - Sect. 3. He shall be captain general and commander-in-chief of the military and naval38 force of this state, except when they shall be called in
to the service of the United States.
33. - Sect. 4. He shall have power to grant reprieves39 after conviction, in all cases except those of impeachment40, until the end of the next session of the general assembly.
34. - Sect. 5. He may fill vacancies41 in office not otherwise provided for by this constitution, or by law, until the same shall be filled by the general assembly, or by the people.
35. - Sect. 6. In case of disagreement between the two houses of the general assembly, respecting the time or place of adjournment, certified42 to him by either, he may adjourn them to such time and place as he shall think proper; provided that the time of adjournment shall not be extended beyond the day of the next stated session.
36. - Sect. 7. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene43 the general assembly at any town or city in this state, at any time not provided for by law; and in case of danger from the prevalence of epidemic44 or contagious45 disease, in the place in which the general assembly are by law to meet, or to which they may have been adjourned46; or for other urgent reasons, he may, by proc-lamation, convene said assembly, at any other place within this state.
37. - Sec. 8. All commissions shall be in the name and by the authority of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; shall be sealed with the state seal, signed by the governor and attested47 by the secretary.
38. - Sect. 9. In case of vacancy in the office of governor, or of his inability to serve, impeachment, or absence from the state, the lieutenant governor shall fill the office of governor and exercise the powers and authority appertaining thereto, until a governor is qualified to act, or until the office is filled at the next annual election.
39. - Sect. 10. If the offices of governor and lieutenant governor be both vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, absence, or otherwise, the person entitled to preside over the senate for the time being, shall in like manner fill the office of governor during such absence or vacancy.
40. - Sec. 11. The compensation of the governor and lieutenant governor shall be established by law, and shall not be diminished during the term for which they are elected.
41. - Sect. 12. The duties and powers of the secretary, attorney general, and general treasurer48, shall be the same under this constitution as are now established, or as from time to time may be prescribed by law.
42. - §3. The judicial power is regulated by the tenth article as follows: Sect. 1. The judicial power of this state shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as the general assembly may from time to time, ordain49 and establish.
43. - Sect. 2. The several courts shall have such jurisdiction50 as, may from time to time be prescribed by law. Chancery powers may be conferred on the supreme court, but on no other court to any greater extent than is now provided by law.
44. - Sect. 3. The judges of the supreme court shall in all trials, instruct the jury in the law. They shall also give their written opinion upon any question of law whenever requested by the governor, or by either house of the general assembly.
45. - Sect. 4. The judges of the supreme court shall be elected by the two houses in grand committee. Each judge shall hold his office until his place be declared vacant by a resolution of the general assembly to that effect; which resolution shall be voted for by a majority of all the members elected to the house in which it may originate, and be concurred51 in by the same majority of the other house. Such resolution sliall not be entertained at any other than the annual session for the election of public officers: and in default of the passage thereof at said session, the judge shall hold his place as herein provided. But a judge of any court shall be removed from office, if, upon impeachment, he shall be found guilty of any official misdemeanor.
46. - Sect. 5. In case of vacancy by death, resignation, removal from the state or from office, refusal or inability to serve, of any judge of the supreme court, the office may be filled by the grand committee, until the next annual election, and the judge then elected shall hold his office as before provided. In cases of impeachment, or temporary absence or inability, the governor may appoint a person to discharge the duties of the office during the vacancy caused thereby52.
47. - Sect. 6. The judges of the supreme court shall receive a compensation for their services, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
48. - Sect. 7. The towns of New Shoreham and Jamestown may continue to elect their wardens53 as heretofore. The other towns and the city of Providence, may elect such number of justices of the peace resident therein, as they may deem proper. The jurisdiction of said justices and wardens shall be regulated by law. The justices shall be commissioned by the governor.
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