The third article of this constitution distributes the powera of government, into the legialative, exe cutive, acid judiuial.
5. The fourth article regulates the legislative power. It provides that the constitution shall be the supreme law, and the general aaaembly shall pass laws to carry it into effect; that there shall he a aenate and house of repreaentativea, consti tuting together the general assembly, and that a cooeurrence of these two houses shall be necessary to the validity of a law; that there shall be one ses sion, to be holden at Newport, commencing the last Tuesday in May, and an adjounament from the same held annually at Providence, Amend. 1854, art. hi.; that members shall not take fees or be of counsel iv any case pending before either house, under penalty of expulsion; against arrest of the person and attachment of the property o4 the members during the session and two days before and after ; for freedom of debate; that each house shall judge the qualifications of its members, see Amend. art. i., as to evidence required; what shall be a quorum, and for continuing the session without a quorum ; that each house may prescribe rules of proceedings, and puniah and expel members; for keeping a journal of its proceedings; for not adjourning, without consent of the other house, for more than two daya at a time; that the assembly shall exercise all their usual powers, though not granted by this constitution ; for regulating the pay of members and all other officers. It also provides for abolishing lotteries; for restricting the power to create a debt of more than fifty thousand dollars, except in time of war or invasion or insurrection, without the expresa consent of the people; that the assent of two-thirds of the members of each house shall be required to a bill appropri ating public money for local or private purposea; that new valuations of property may be made by order of the aasembly for purposes of taxation; that laws may be passed to contioue officers in office till their successors are chosen; that no bill to create a corporation other than for religious, chari table, or literary purposes, or for a military or Ere company, shall he prided by the aascmbly to which it is first preaented; for joining to elect senators in congress.
6. It is alao provided that amendments to the constitution may be proposed to the people by vote of a majority of all the members elected to each house; that these amendments shall be read, at the annual election of members of the houses, by the elerka of the towns and cities : if the propositions are again approved by a majority of the members of both houses then elected, they are to be sub mitted to the electors, and if approved by three-fifths of those voting they are adopted.
The Legislative Power.
The Senate. The sixth article of the constita lion provides that it aball consist of the lieutenant governor and one senator from each town or city in the state; the governor, and in his absence the lieutenant-governor, shall preside, and may vote only in ease of a tie; that the senate may elect a presiding officer in case of the death or disability of the governor and lieutenant-governor ; that the secretary of state shall be secretary of the aenate, unless otherwise provided by law, and shall preside over the senate in cam of death of the presidiug officer, till a new one ia chosen.
The Rouse of Representatives. The fifth article provides that it shall not exceed seventy-two menabera, elected on the basis of population, giving each town and city one at least, and one for more than half the ratio, allowing reappointment after each United States censna, end forbidding diatrict ing any town or city; that the house shall elect its presiding officer, and the aenior membera from the town of Newport ahall preside in the organization.
The Executive Power.
7. The seventh article provides that the chief executive power of the state ahall be vested in e govera or, who, together with a lieutenant-governor, shall be annually elected by the people; that the governor akall take oare that the laws be faithfully executed; that he shall be captain-general and commander-in-chief of the military and naval force of the state, except when they shall be called into the service of the United Statea; that be shall have power to grant reprieves after conviction, in all cases except those of impeachment, until the end of the next session of the general asaembly; that he may fill vacancies in office not otherwise pro vided for by thia constitution, or by law, until- the same shall be filled by the general assembly or 11 fhe people; that he may adjourn the houses, in ease of disagreement as to time of' adjournment, till the time for the next session, or for a. shorter period; that he may eoovene the assembly at a time or place not provided for by law, in case of necessity; that he shall sign ail commissions, and that the secre tary of state shall attest them; that the lieutenant governor shall supply the place in case of vacancy or inability of the governor to fill the office; that the president of the senate shall 8,et ai governor if the gov eruor and lieutenant-governor's offices be va cant; that the compensation of the governor and lieutenant-governor shall he fixed by law, and not dimioished during their term of- office; that the governor, by and with the advice aud consent of the aenate, shall hereafter exclusively exercise the pardoning power, exoept in cases of impeachment, to the aame extent as such power ia now exercised by the general assembly, Amend. art. ii.; that the duties and powers of the secretary, attorney general, and general treasurer shall be the same nuder this constitution aa are new established, or as from time to time may he prescribed by law.