FLORIDA. The name of one of the new states of the United States of America.
2. It was admitted into the Union by virtue of the act of congress entitled "An act for the admis sion of the states of Iowa and Florida into the Union," approved March 3, 1845. The constitution was adopted January 11, 1839. It provides gene rally that no person shall be capable of bolding or of being elected to any post of honor, profit, trust, or emolument, civil or military, legislative, executive, or judicial, under the state, who shall Apt a duel, or send or accept a challenge to fight a duel, the probable issue of which may be death, or who shall be a second to either party, or who shall in any manner aid and assist in such duel, or shall be knowingly the bearer of such challenge or acceptance, whether the same occur or be com mitted in or out of the state; that no governor, justice of the supreme court, chancellor, or judge of the state, shall be eligible to election or appoint ment to any other and different station or office or post of honor or emolument under the state, or to the station of senator or representative in congress, until one year after he shall have ceased to be such governor, justice, chancellor, or judge; no senator or representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office of profit which shall have been created or the emoluments of which shall have been in creased during such term, except such as may be filled by election by the people; no member of con gress, or person holding or exercising any office of profit under the United States or under any foreign power, shall be eligible as a member of the general assembly or hold or exercise any office of profit under the state; and no person shall ever hold two offices of profit at the same time, except the offices of justice of the peace, notary public, constable, and militia offices. Art. 6, sects. 5-18.
The Legielative Power.
3. This is vested in a senate and a house of repre sentatives, two distinct branches, which together constitute and are entitled "The General Assembly of the State of Florida." The senate is to consist of not less than one-fourth nor more than one-half as many members as the house. They are elected biennially, on the first Monday of October, for the term of four years. Const. art. 4, sect. 5; Amend.
A senator must be a white citizen of the United States, twenty-five years of age or more, and have been an inhabitant of the state for the two years next preceding his election, and tt resident of the district or county for which he is chosen for the last year.
No person who fights a duel in or out of the state, no banking officer of any bank in the state until one year after retiring from such office, no minister of the gospel, no person who has procured his election by bribery, no member of congress, or person holding or exercising any office of profit under the United States or under a foreign power, can be a senator.
4. The house of representativee is to consist of not more than sixty members, chosen by the quali fied voters biennially, on the first Monday in Oc tober, for the term of two years. Representatives must be white citizens of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years ur more, and have been inhabitants of the state two years next preceding their election, and the last year residents of the counties for which they are chosen. Const. art. 4, sects. 2-4. The disqualifications are the same as for senators. The sessiops of the assembly are to be biennial, commencing on the fourth Monday in November. There are the usual previsions for or ganization of the two houses, for compelling at tendance of members and exempting them from arrest, for punishment and expulsion of members, for securing freedom of debate, for preserving and publishing records of the proceedings, for holding the sessions openly, etc.
The Executive Power.
5. The governor is elected for four years by the qualified electors, and is to remain in office until a successor is chosen and qualified, and is not eligible for re-election at the succeeding term. He must be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of the United States (and must have been for ten years, or must have been an inhabitant of Florida at the dine of the adoption of the'constitution), and have thsided in Florida at least five years preceding the day of election. He is commander-in-chief of the aimy, navy, and militia of the state, must take care that the laws are faithfully executed, may require in formation from the officers of the executive depart:. ment, may convene the general assembly by pro clamation upon particular occasions, shall from thus to time give information to the general as sembly, may grant pardons after conviction in all cases except treason and impeachment, and in these cases with the coosent of the senate, and be may respite the sentence in these eases until the end of the next session of the senate, may approve or veto bills, and in case of disagreement between the two houses as to thee, time of adjournment he may adjourn them to such time and place as he may think proper, not beyond the day of the next regular meeting.