In respect to the creation of debts, the constitu tion provides as follows: "The legislature shall not, in any manner, create any debt or debts, lia bility or liabilities, which shall singly or in the ag gregate, with any previous debts or liabilities, ex ceed the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, except in case of war, to repel invasion, or suppress insurrection, unless the same shall be authorized by law for some single object or work, to be diS tinctly specified therein, which law shall provide' ways and means, exclusive of loans, for the 1 ment of the interest of such debt or liability as it i falls due, and also to pay and discharge the princi pal of such debt or liability within twenty years from the time of the contracting thereof, and shall be irrepealable until the principal and interest thereon shall be paid and but no such law shall take effect until at a general election it shall have been submitted to' the people and have received a:Majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election; and all money raised by authority of such law shall be applied only to the ape ific object therein stated, or to the payment of the ebt thereby created; and such law shall be publi hed in' at least one newspaper in each judi cial dist ict, if one be publiehed therein, through out the state, for three months next preceding the' election at which it is submitted to the people." The Executive Power.
S. The Governor is elected by the qualified elect-' ors, at the time and pliceof voting for members of the assembly; and his term of ',thee is two years frani the time of his installation, and until the qualifica tion of his successor. No person is eligible to the office of governor who has net been a citizen of the United States and'a resident of the state two years next preceding the election, and attained the age of twenty-five years at the time of his election; nor can he exercise the office of governor if he holds any office under the United States, or any other office under the state.
In case of the impeachment of the governor, or his, removal froth office, death, inability to discharge the powers and duties of his or absence from the state, the' Powers and duties of the office devolve upon the lieutenant-goVernor for the residue of the term, or until the disability shall cease.
He is the commander-in-chief of the militia; is to see that the laws are executed;.has power to call out the militia to execute the laws, suppress insurrections, or repel invasions; may adjourn the legislature in case of disagreement between the two houses on the subject, and has a qualified veto upon all laws, a majority of two-thirds of eithh house being required to pass a law notwithstanding his objections.
The Lieutenant-Goverrior is elected at the same time and place, for the same Wile, and inlet possess' the same qualifications, as the governor.
The judicial Power.
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9. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and two associate justices, any two of whom con stitute a quorum.
The justices of the eupreme court are elected at 0th general election, by the qualified electors of the state, and hold the offices for six years from the lit of .January after their election. They are so classified that onegoes out of office every two years. The senior justice in commission is the chief jus tice.
, This court has appellate jurisdiction in all cases Where the matter in dispute exceeds two hundred dollars, where the legality of any tax, toll, im post, or municipal fine, is in, question, and in all criminal cases amounting to felony on questions of law alone.
The District Courts have original jurisdiction, in law and equity, in all, civil eases where the amount in dispute exceeds two hundred dollars, exclusive of interest., In all criminal cases not otherwise provided for, and in all issues of tact joined in the probate courts, their jurisdiction The state is divided by the legislature into fifteen judiciel districts, for each of which a district ;ridge is elected by the electors of the district and holds his office for slit years: Three terms are held in each'county'annually.
10. A County' Court is held in each county each alternate' month, by a judge elected by the people of the county for the term of yeari. This co,rt has jurisdiction of appeals from justices', Makers, and recorders' courts, and has original jurisdiction of cases of mechanics' lien, of procest against ships where the'voyages are partly out of the state, of insolveiley proceedings, and to remove or abate nuisances. It regulates the internal police of the county, has the supervision of roads, bridges.' etc. Laws, 744; The Court of Sessions is composed of a county' judge and two justices, selected by the justices of the county trim their number as associate Terms are held in each county of this court every' second month; alternating with the county court. It hada genera jurisdiction in cases where a fine less than five hundred dollars may be in flicted, and, in San Francisco, over all orioles' for which the penalty is less than death.
A Probate Court is held by.the county judge'of each county: It hie the common jurisdiction, in cluding care of the estates of decedents, guardian ship of 'orphans, lunatics, probate of wills, and Clinger matters. Comp. Laws; 748.
11. The Superior Court for the city of Sari Prim cisoo is composed of one chief and two associate justices, elected for the term of by the voters of the city. Either judge' may hold court, or all may hold at the same time in different places. Terms are to be held monthly. It has juris diction generally of a district court within the limits of the city of San Francisco. Laws 1850-53, p. 160 ; Conip. Laws, 743; Laws 1850, p. 97.
Recorders' and Mayors' Courttiexist in the various cities, jurisdiction over offences against the city laws. , Justices of the Peace are elected, two or theriflu each township, by the 'Voters thersof,'fot the term of two years., They have a'limited jurisdiction in actions to recover money, personal Mort gages, or enforce liens on personal property, and to recover specific property; the limit being two hun dred dollars of value.
The justices of the supreme court and district judges are ineligible to any effies'dthing the term for Which they are elected.
No judicial officer, except a justice of the peace; eon receive to his own use any fees or perquisite's of office. Ths justices of the supreme court and the dis trict and county judges are to receive, at stated times; a compensation, which cannot be increased nor dimi nished during the term for which they are elected: Judges cannot charge juries with respect to Mat ters of fact, but' may state the testimony and di alers the law.