TEXAS. The name of one of the new states of the American Union.
2. 'Under the name of Coahuila and Texas, it was a province of Mexico until 1836, when the inhabit, ants established a separate repnlilie. On the first day of Maroh, 1845, the congress of the United States, by a joint resolution, submitted to the new republic a proposition providing for the erection of the territory of Texas into a new state, and for its annexation to that country under the name of the state of Texas. This proposition was accepted by the existing, government of Texas on the 23d.of June, 1845, and was ratified by the people in con vention on the 6th of July. On the 29th of De cember following, by a joint resolution of congress, the new state was formally admitted into the Union.
The state constitution was adopted by a conven tion of the people, at Austin, on the 27th of August, 1845. It provides for the distribution of the powers of the government among three distinct depart ments,--the legislative, the executive, and the judi cial.
Every free male person who has attained the age of twenty-one years, and who is a citizen of the United States, or who was at the time of the adoption of the constitution by the congress of the United States a citizen of the republic of Texas, and who has resided in the state one year next pre ceding on election, and the last six months within the district, county, city, or town in which he offers to vote, and every free male person over the age of twenty-one years who had resided six months in Texas immediately preceding the acceptance of the constitution by the congress of the United States (Indians not taxed, Africans, and the de scendants of Africans, excepted) is deemed a quali fied elector; and should such qualified elector happen to he.in any other county situated in the district in which he resides at the time of an elec— tion, he is permitted to vote for any district officer: Prbvided, That the qualified electors shall be per mitted to vote anywhere in the state for state offi cers : And provided, further, That no soldier, sea man, or marine, in the army or navy of the United $tates, shall he entitled to vote at any election created by the constitution. Conet. art. 2,00 1,2.
The Legislative Power.
3. The legislative department is composed of the senate and house of representatives. The regular sessions of the legislature take place bien nially. Extra sessions may be called by the exe cutive at any time.
The third artiele of the constitution contains tbe customary provisions for seepring the organiza tion of the two houses, choice of officers, qualifica tion of members, powor of expulsion and punish ment of members, privilege from arrest, preserva tion and publication of proceedicgs, and open sessions. Const. art. 3,00 12-18.
Senators are chosen by the qualified electors, for four years, at each times and places as are or may hereafter be designated by law. No person °an be a senator unless he is a citizen of the United States, or was at the time of the acceptance of the constitution by the congress of tbe United States a oitizen of the republic of Texas, and has been an inhabitant of the state three years next preoeding tlie election, and for the last year thereof a resi dent of the district for which he is chosen, and must have attained the age bf thirty years.
The Houee of Repreeentativee il3 composed of mem he:s chosen by the qualified eleotors for the term of two years from the day of the general election, at such times and plaoes as ore now, or may here after be, designated by law. Const. art. 8,00 5-7. No person can he a representative unless he is a citizen of the United States, or was at the, time of the adoption of this constitution a citizen of the republic of Texas, and has been an inhabitant of this state two years next preceding hie election, and the last yeor thereof a citizen of the oounty, city, or town for which he shall be ohosen ; and he must have attained the age of twenty-one yetri at the time of his election.