MISSISSIPPI. The name of one of the new states of the United States.
2. This state was admitted into the Union by a resolution of congress pasmd Dec. 10, 1817. 3 Story, U. S. Laws, 1716.
The constitution of this etate was adopted at the town of Washington, the 15th day of August, 1817. It was revised by a convention, and adopted on the 26th of October, 1832, when it went into operation.
Every free white male person of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, who is a citizen of the United States and has resided in the state one year next preceding an election and the last four months within the county, city, or town in which be offers to vote, is a qualthed elector.
The Legislative Power.
This is lodged in the Senate and the Rouse of Representatives, the two houses together consti tuting " the Legislature of the State of Mississippi." 3. The Senate is composed of members elected, by the people of the district for which they ars chosen, for the term of four years, and is never to be less than one-fourth nor more than one-third the whole number of representatives. One half the senate is changed every second year. A senator mud be a citizen of the United States, thirty- years of age at least, must have been an inhabitant of the state for four years next preceding his election, and for the last year thereof a resident of the dis trict for which be is chosen. They are cnosen the odd years.
4. The House of .Representatives is composed of members elected by the people biennially, for Oa term of two years.
The number is limited between thirty-six sia one hundred. A representative must be a eitizer of the United States, twenty-one years old at least must have been an inhabitant of the state tw( years next preceding his election, aod for the lasi year thereof a resident of the county, city, or tow' for which be is chosen. There are the usual pro visions for organization of tbe houses, giving au tbority to judge of the qualifications and regulat the conduct of members providing for keeping I record of proceedings an'd publication thereof, fa open sessions except izg special oases; that nei ther house shall adjourn, without consent of the other, for more than three days ; that members shall he exempt from arrest in civil process during the session of the legislature and in going to and returning from the same, allowing one day for every twenty miles such member may reside from the place at which the legislature is convened ; that no senator or representative shall, during his term of service, or for a year afterwards, take an office which has been credted or the pay of which has been in creased during said term,—except those of which there is an election by the people ; that no judge of any court of law or equity, secretary of state, at torney-general, clerk of any court of record, she riff, or collector, or any person holding a lucrative office under the United States or this state, shall he eligible to the legislature : provided that offices in the militia to which there is attached no annual salary, and the office of justice of the peace, shall not be deemed lucrative.
The Executive Power.
5. The Governor is elected by the people, for the term of two years. He must be a,t least thirty years old, have been a eitizen of the United States for twenty years, have resided in the etate at least five years next preceding the day of his election ; cannot hold the office more than four in any six years. He is eommander-in-chief of the army and navy of the state, and of the militia except when they are called into the service of the United States; may convene the legislature at nn unusual time, and in an unusual place, if necessary, in case of emergency; may adjourn them not beyond the day of the next stated meeting of the legislature, in case of disagreement as to time of adjournment.
6. In all criminal and penal cases, except in those of treason and impeachment, he has power to grant reprieves and pardons aod remit fines, and, in cases of forfeiture, to stay the collection until the end of the next session of the legislature and to remit forfeitures, by and with the advice andeon sent of the senate. In cases of treason, he has power to grant reprieves by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and may alone respite the sentence until the end of the next aession of the legislature. Art. 5, sec. 10.