PENNSYLVANIA. One of the thir teen original states of the United States of America.
It received its name from a royal charter, granted hy Charles II. to William Penn on the 4th of March, 1681. By that diluter William Penn was constituted the proprietary and governor of the ter ritory. The first frame of government was adopted on the 20th of April, 1682. This was amended in 1683, again, in 1696, and again in 1701. The or genic law, as adopted in 1701, continued the su preme law of the province during the residue of the proprietary goverment. In 1776, after the decla ration of American independence, a constitution was formed adapted to the altered circumstances of the country, which continued in force until 1790, when a new one was substituted. This was amended in 1838 by the introduction of some very radical changes. Other amendments were made in 1850, in 1857, and in 1864.
The form of government established by the con stitution is republican. Legislative, executive, and judicial powers are committed te three distinct de partments, neither of which can exercise the powers of any other department.
The legislative power is vested in a general as sembly, consisting of a senate and house of repre sentativ es.
The supreme executive povrer is vested in a gov ernor.
All judicial power is vested in a supreme court, in courts of oyer and terminer and general jail de livery, in a court of common pleas, orphans' court, register's court, and court of qnarter sessions of the peace, for each county, in justices of the peace, and in such other courts as the legislature may from time te time establish.
The members of the senate and house of repre sentatives, the governor, and all judicial officers, are elected by the people, and they hold their offices during limited periods. All elections are hy ballot, except those made by persons acting in a represent ative character. Every white freeman, a citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state one year and in the elec tion district where he offers te vete ten days imme diately preceding the election, and having within two years paid a state or county tax assessed at least ten days before the election, is entitled to the rights of an elector ; end a citizen of the United States, who had previously been a qualified voter of the state, and removed therefrom and returned, is entitled to vote after a new residence within the state for six months, if he has resided in the elec tion district and paid taxes as aforesaid. White
freemen, oitizens of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two, are entitled to vote without the payment of taxes, subject to the restriotions respecting residenoe already mentioned. Qualified electors in actual military service of the United States or of the state, under a requisition from the president of the United States or under authority of the commonwealth, are also entitled to vote, under regulations prescribed by law, without being present at their usual place of election. The general election is held on the second Tues day of October in each year.
The house of representatives consists of one hun dred members, chosen annually. They are appor tioned and distributed every seventh year through out the etate, by districts, in proportion to the num ber of taxable inhabitants therein. No person is eligible to the house of representatives who has not attained to the age of twenty-one years, and been a citizen and inhabitant of the state three years next preceding the election, and the last of the three years an inhabitant of the district in and for which he shall be chosen a representative, uolesa he shall have been absent on the public business of the 'United States or of the state.
The number of the senators is fixed by the legis lature at the several periods of making the septen nial enumeration of taxables. It can never be less than one-fourth. nor greater than one-third of the number of the members of the house of representa tives. It is at present thirty-three. The senators are chosen in districts formed by the legislature. No county can be divided in forming a district; and no district can he entitled to more than two sena tors, unless the number of taxables in any city or county is such as to entitle it to elect more than two. No city or county, however, is entitled to elect more than four. The city of Philadelphia is divided into single senatorial districts. Senators hold their offices three years, and one-third of the members of the senate are elected each year. No persoo is eligible as a senator who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, and been a citizen and inhabitant of the state four years next before his eleotion, and the last year thereof an inhabitant of the district for which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public. business of the United States or of the state. No person can hold the office of senator after his removal from the dis trict for which he was chosen.