S. No person is eligible to the office of governor unless he has attained the age of thirty years, is a native citizen of the United States, and has been a citizen of Virginia for five years next preceding his election.
The governor must reside at the seat of govern ment, receives five thousand dollars for each year uf his service, and, while in an iS to receive no other emolument from this or any other govern ment.
He is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed ; communicate to the general assembly, at every session, the condition of the commonwea,lth; reoommend to their consideration such measures as he may deem expedient ; and convene the general assembly, on application of a majority of the mem b5rs of both houses thereof, or when in his opinion the interest of the commonwealth noay require it. He is commander-in-chief of the land and naval forces of the state ; has power to embody the militia to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, aod enforce the execution of the laws; conduct, either in per son or in such other manner as is prescribed by law, all intercourse with other and foreign states; and, during the recess of the general assembly, fill pro tempore all vacancies in those offices for which the constitution and laws make no provision : hut his appointments to such vacancies are by commissions to expire at the end of thirty days after the commencement of the next session of the general assembly. He has power to remit fines and penalties in such oases and, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by law ; and, exoept when the prosecution has been carried on hy the house of delegates, or the law shall other wise particularly direct, to grant reprieves and pardons after conviction, and to commute capital punishment. But he must communicate to the general assembly, at each session, the particulars of every case of fine or penalty remitted, of re prieve or pardon granted, and of punishment com muted, with his reasons for remitting, graating, or commuting the same.
He may require information in writing from the officers io the executive department upon any sub ject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and may also require the opinion in writing uf the attorney-general upon any question of law con nected with his official duties.
Commissions and graots run in the name of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and must be attested by the governor, with the seal of the commonwealth annexed.
A Lieutenant-Governor is elected at the same time, and for the same term, as the governor ; and his qualifications and the manner of his election in all respects are the same.
In case of the removal of the governor from office, or of his death, failure to qualify, resigna tiao, or removal from the state or inability to dis charge the powers and duties of the office, the said office, with its emStpensation, devolves upon the lieutenant-governor ; and the general assembly is to provide by law for the discharge of the execu tive functions in other necessary cases.
The lieutenant-governor is president of the senate, but has no vote, and, while acting as such, receives a compensation equal to that allowed to the speaker of the house of delegates. Art. 5, 0? 9. The Judicial Powers are regulated by the sixth article of the constitution.
There are a supreme court of appeals, district courts, and circuit courts.
The state is divided into twenty-one judicial circuits, ten districts, end five sections.
The general assembly may, at intervals of eight years from. the adoption of the constitution, re arrange the circuits, districts, and sections, and place any number of circuits in a district, and of districts in a section ; but each circuit must be alt,gether in one district, and eaoh district in one section; and there mnst not be less than two dts. tricts and four circuits in a section ; and the number of sections shall not be increased or di minished.
The Supreme Court of Appeals consiets of five judges, elected one for each section by the voters of that section, to serve for twelve years, unless sooner removed under the constitution. The judges must be thirty-five years old at the time of their electioo, and reside in the section for which they are elected,during their continuance in office. Any three of the five may hold court. The court has appel late jurisdiction only, except in cases of habeas pprpus. mandamus., and prohibition. It does not have jurisdiction tn civil causes where the matter in controversy, exclusive of costs, is less in value or amount than five hundred dollars, except in controversies concerning the title or boundaries of land, the probate of a will, the appointment or qualification of a personal representative, guardian, committee, or curator, or concerning a mill, road, way, ferry, or landing, or the right of a corpora tion or of a county to levy tolls or taxes; and except in cases of habeas corpus, mandamus, and prohibition, and cases involving freedom or the constitutionality of a law.