NEW HAMPSHIRE. The name of one of the original thirteen United States of America.
2. It was subject to Massachusetts from 1641 to 1680. Many of its institutions an'd laws are to be traced to that connection. It was governed as a provinoe, under royal commissions, by a governor and council appointed by the king, and a house of assembly eleoted by the people, until the revolu tion.
In January, 1776, a temporary constitution was adopted, which continued till 1784. The constitu tion adopted in 1784 was amended by a conven tion of delegates'huld at Concord, approved by the people in their town-meetings, and established by the convention in February, 1792. This constitu tion was amended in 1850, by abolishing the pro perty qualification for oertain offices, but is other wiae still in force.
Every male inhabitant of every town and place, of twenty-one years of age and upwards, except paupers and persons exoused from paying taxes at their own request, is entitled to vote in the town meetings for the officers eleoted by the people. By statute,,the names of all voters are required. to be placed by the selectmen on a oheok-list; and nu vote will be received unless the name of thp voter la so registered Three :months' resideneda in the town, six months' in the state, and the presentment to the selectmen of the record of naturalization of persons who have been aliens, thirty days be fore the day of meeting, are required to entitle a party to be registered on the check-list.
The Legislative Power.
3. This is lodged in the Senate and House ef Representatives, each of which has a negative upon the other, and which together are styled the Gene ral Court of New Hampshire.
The Senate is composed of twelve members, elected for the term of — years, one from mils district, by the people of the district. If no per son is elected by the people for any district, or if a vacancy occur, one is elected, by joint ballot of the two houses, from the two persons having the high est number of votes. A senator must be a Protest ant, thirty years old, an inhabitant of the district, and, for seven years next before his election, of the state. '
Representatives are elected annually, for the term of one year, by the voters of the several towns and districts, and in case of failure to elect, or vacancy, as senators are in like case. Each town having one hundred and fifty ratable male polls of twenty-one years of age and upwards may elect one repre sentative, and one more for each three hundred ad ditional polls. Towns and places having less than one hundred and fifty ratable polls may be classed by law for the chance of a representative; and towns which cannot be classed without great incon venience may be authorized by law to elect. A representative must be a, Protestant, an inhabitant of the town for whioh he is elected, and, for two years next preceding his election, of tho state. The constitution contains the usual provisions for securing the orgenization of each house, giving control of the conduot of members providing for keeping a,nd publishing a mord crYf proceedings, for open sessions, limiting the power of adjourn ment of hou.ses separately, securing members from arrest on civil proeess while going to, remaining at, and returning from the session, and for securing freedom of debate. The general assembly has full legislative powers, may constitute courts, regulate taxes, secure equal representation, etc., under re strictions similar to those contained in the consti tutions of the other states.
The Executive Power.
4. This is lodged in a Governor and Council.
The Governor is elected annually, and holds his office for one year from the first Wedneeday June. If no person has a majority of votes, the senate and house of representatives, by joint ballot, elect one of the two persons having the highest number of votes. In case of a vacancy, the presi dent of the senate exercises the powers of the office, but cannot then act as senator. The governor must be a Protestant, of the age of thirty years, and an inhabitant of the state far seven years next preceding his election.