7. The eenate is composed of thirty members, of the freemen of the county for which they are elected, who must have attained the age of thirty years, and who are annually elected, by ballot, by the freemen of each county retpeetively, according to an apportionment upon the basis of pnpulstion, to he made by the legislature after each census of the United States, or state census taken for that purpose; but every county is to have at least one senator. Art. Amend. 23.
It has like powers as the house of representatives with respect to election, qualification, and expul sion of its members, election of its own officers, and making its own rules. A majority constitutes a quorum. Tho lieutenant-governor is president of the senate; but when he exercises the offioe of governor, or is absent, or the office uf lieutenant governor is vacant, the senate appoints one of its own numbers presidentpro tempore. The president of the senate has a casting vote, but no other.
It tries impeachments, and convicts upon the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in case of impeachment cannot extend further than to removal from office and disqualifi cation to hold office of honor, trust, or profit under the state; hut such judgment is not a bar to trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. Art. Amend. 7.
S. The holm of representativee "consists of per sons most noted for wisdom and virtue" (Const. art. 2, 8, 7), who are chosen by ballot, by the freemen of every town in the state, un the first Tuesday of September annually, one representative being choeen by each town, without regard to num ber of population. It has power to choose its own speaker and other officers, to sit on its own adjourn ments, except as above limited, to judge of the qualifioations of its own members, expel members, but not fur causes known to their constituents be fore their election, administer oaths and affirms. tions in matters depending before it, and impeach state criminals. Const. pt. 2, 9 and Amend.
The legislative powers of the two houses extend to the preparation of hills and the enaotment of the same into laws; the redress of grievances ; the granting of aots of incorporation; the constituting of towns, boroughs, citiee, and counties; the elec tion of major-generals and brigadier-generals, sec retary of state, and other officers not otherwire pro vided for; and they possess, generally, all other powers necessary.for the legislature of a free and sovereign state ; but they have no power to alter, abolish, or infringe any part of the constitution.
9. Every bill which has passed both houses is presented to the governor, and signed by him, if approved; if not, it is returned by him, with his objections in writing, to the house in which it ori ginated, whioh shall proceed to reconsider the same. If paseed again by a majority of that house, it is sent, with the objections, to the other house, and if ap proved by a majority of the men bere, it beoomes a law. But if the governor does not return a bill within five days after it is presented to him, it be, comes a law. unless the two houses, by adjourning within three days after. such presentation, prevent its return ; in which case it does not become a law. Art. Amend. 11.
10. The supreme executive power of the state is exercised by the governor, or, in case of hie absenoe er disability, by the lieutenant-governor. The du ties of the executive are as follows: Collet. pt. 2, 11, 27; Art. Amend. 8. To eommission all offioers, and appoint officers where provision 11/3 not made by law or the constitution ; to supply vacan cies in offices; to correspond with other states; transaot business with officers of government, civil and military, and to prepare such business as may appear neoessary to lay before the general assembly ; to grant pardons, end remit fines, in all cases what soever, except in treason and murder, in which it shall have power to grant reprieves, but not to par don, until after the end of the next session of the essembly, and except in cases of impeaehment, in which there shall be nc remission or mitigation of punishment but by act of the legislature ; to take care that the laws be faithfully executed; to expedite the execution of such measures as may be resolved upon by the general assembly ; to draw upon the treasury for such sums as may he appropriated by the house of representatives ; to lay embargoes, or prohibit the exportation of any commodity, for any time not exceeding thirty days, in the recess of the legislature only ; to grant such licenses as shall be directed by law ; and to call together the general assembly, when necessary, before the day te which it shall stand adjourned. The governor shall be eaptain-geoeral and commander-in-chief of the forces of the state, but shall not comniand in pe'r son, except advised thereto by the senate, and then only so long as they shell approve thereof. And the lieutenant-governor shall, by virtue of his office, be lieutenant-gencrel of all the forees of the state.