The Legislative Power.
4. The legislature is styled " the General Assem bly." It consists of a eenate and house of representa tives. The number of senators is not to exceed one third the number of representatives. The number of repreeentatives is not to exceed seventy-five, until the population of the state is a million and a half, and never to exceed ninety-nine. A represen tative must be twenty-one years old, and a senator thirty. In all other respecte their qualifications are the same. They are—citizenship of the United States, three years' residence in the state, and one year's residenoe in the county or district represented. Art. 2, ?? 9, 10. They are elected by ballot biennially, every odd year, on the first Tuesday in August. The eessions of the aseembly are also biennial, com menting on the drat Monday in October next ensuing the eleation. Art. 2, ?? 7, 8.
An elector for members of the general assembly and other civil offioers must be a free white man, twenty-one years of age, a citizen of the United States, a citizen of the county wherein he may offer his vote six months next preceding the day of election. A freeman of color who is four genera tions removed from negro anceetry may vote. Art. 4, g The Executive Power.
5. The Governor is to be thirty years of age, a eitizen of the United States, and a citizen of the state eeven years next before hiE election. The supreme executive power is vested in him. He is elected at the times and placee of electing members of the general assembly, and by the same electors. A plurality of votes elects either a governor or member of assembly. Art. 3, ?? 1, 2. He holds his office for two yeare and until his successor is elected and qualified. He is not eligible more than six years in any term of eight. g 4. The power of appointment to subordinate exeoutive offiaes is not veeted in him. He has no negative on the acts and resolutions of the general assembly. In other respeots he has the ordinary powerE of the ohief executive megistrate of the American states. His compensation can neither be increased nor dimi nished during the term for which he is eleoted. Art. 3, ?? 1-7.
The Jiidicial Power.
The judicial power is vested in one supreme court, in Euoh inferior courts as the legislature may eetablish, and in the judges therbof, and in juetioes of the peaoe, and oorporation oourte.
6. The Supreme Court is composed of three judges, one of whom muet reside in each of the grand divisions of the state. Its juriediction is appellate only, with a few inconsiderable excep tions. It is held at one plaoe only in each of the grand divisions of the state. g 2. Its sessions are held annually, at Knoxville, Nashville, and JackEon. The judges are elected for eight years, by the quali fied voters of the Etate at large. They must be thirty-five years of age.
The eourt of general original jurisdiotion is the Circuit Court. The state le divided into sixteen judicial circuits; and three terms of the court arc held annually in every county in the state. The
people of each eircuit eleot the judge thereof. for the term of eight years. The only qualification re quired by the conetitution is that he abaft be thirty years of age. Art. 6, 4. An appeal lies from every decision of the circuit court to the supreme court. Constitution, art. 6, ?? 1-4; Code, gg 3155, 3172, 3176.
The Chancery Court has general original jurisdio tion of all cases of an equitable nature where the demand exceeds fifty dollen. Code, g 4280. Thera are some cases of an equitable nature in which the circuit and county courts have concurrent jurisdia tion with the chancery courts. The state is divided into seven chancery districts, in each of which a chancellor is elected, by the people, for eight years. In nearly every county in the state two terms of the chancery court are held annually. An appeal liee to the supreme court from all its decisions.
7. The County C01171 has a very extensive mis cellaaeousjurisdietion, moetly, however, of matters of police. It is held monthly by the justices of the peace, with the exception of a few counties which have a county judge • and in them the justices of the peace bold quar'terly torms. It has original jurisdiction of the probate of uncontested wills, the granting of administrations, the appoint ment of guardians, and the general administration of decedents' estates. There ere some cases in which its jurisdiction le concurrent with the circuit and chancery courts. Code, 4201-4205. An peal lies from its decisione to the circuit oourt in all cases, and in Eome to the Eupreme court. Code, ?? 3147-3154.
Justices of the Peace have jurisdiction in eases to an extent varying from fifty to five hundred dollars, according to the nature of the demand. An appeal lies from their deoieions to the circuit court.
These five tribunale constitute the general court system of Tennessee. There are besides these a few epeoial oourts established in particular localities, and a variety of epecial and inferior jurisdictions, whioh are eubject to the general supervision of the circuit courts, as such tribunala are to the king's bench in England.
An Attorney-General and Reporter is eleoted by tbe people of the state at large, for the term of six years. His business is to report the decisions of the supreme court, and to proaeoute all the pleas of the state in that court.
By the constitution of 1796, these judicial officers were elected by the general aesembly, and held their offices during good behavior. By the consti tution of 1834, they were elected by the general as sembly for a term of yeare. By an amendment of the constitution in 1853, they are elected by the people, as above set forth. The executive officers for the state at large, such as the secretary of state, the treasurer, end the comptroller of the treasury, are still elected by the general assembly. All the important county officers are elected by the people, for terms varying from one to four years.