MENT. 1930 ulation living in cities of more than 2,500 inhabitants increased from 18.7 in 1910 to 28.4 in 1930. The ten largest cities and their populations according to the Fed eral census of 1930 were: Huntington, 75,572 ; Wheeling, 61,659; Charleston, 60,408; Parkersburg, 29,623; Clarksburg, 28,866; Fairmont, 23,559; Bluefield, 19,339; Morgantown, 16,186; Mar tinsburg, 24,857; Moundsville, 14,411.
Government.—The present Constitution which superseded the first Constitution of 1863, was adopted Aug., 1872. This Constitu tion may be amended (I) by a constitutional convention, the mem bers of which shall be elected by the people and the acts of which shall be ratified by the people, or (2) by amendments which must be passed by a two-thirds majority of each house of the legislature and approved by a majority of the voters at the next general elec tion. All citizens above 21 years of age have the right of suffrage provided they have resided in the State one year and in the county in which they expect to vote 6o days.
The executive department consists of the governor, secretary of State, superintendent of free schools, auditor, treasurer, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture, all elected by the people at the time of the presidential election and for a period of four years. The governor is ineligible for re-election for a second con secutive term. He appoints, subject to the consent of the senate, all State officers whose selection is not otherwise provided for.
The legislature, consisting of the senate and the house of dele gates, meets at the capital on the first Wednesday in January of odd-numbered years. The senate is composed (1937) of 3o mem bers, chosen from 15 districts for a term of four years, one-half the membership retiring biennially. The house of delegates is composed (1937) of 94 members elected biennially, each county choosing at least one. A constitutional amendment, ratified in 1920, provided that all regular sessions of the legislature should convene for a period not to exceed 15 days, during which all bills are to be presented, but none but emergency bills passed or re jected. A recess of both houses must then be taken until the
Wednesday after the second Monday of March following, where upon the legislature reassembles to consider and vote upon the bills. In the reconvened session no bill may be introduced except with the consent of three-fourths of all the members elected to each house. The governor may veto a bill, or in case of an appro priation bill, the separate items, but this veto may be overridden by a simple majority of the total membership of each house. The governor may convene the house in extraordinary session if he deems it necessary.
The judicial power is vested in the supreme court of appeals, the circuit courts, such inferior courts as may be established, county courts, the powers and duties of which, however, are chiefly police and fiscal and justices of the peace. The supreme court of appeals, consisting of five judges, elected for terms of 12 years, holds regular terms twice a year at Charleston and special terms at such times and places as may be designated by the court. The circuit court is composed of 24 circuits with 25 judges. Inferior courts are established by special act of the legislature to relieve the circuit judges, and are found in eight counties of the State. Generally they have criminal jurisdiction only.
As in Virginia, the county is the unit of local government, though an unsuccessful attempt to introduce the township system was made in the first Constitution.