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its own Speaker, appoint its own officers, fettle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for the supplying intermediate vacancies.

All laws fhall originate in the House of Delegates, to be approved of or rejected by the Senate, or to be amended with confent of the House of Delegates; except money-bills, which in no instance fhall be altered by the Senate, but wholly approved or rejected.

A Governor, or Chief Magiftrate, shall be chofen annually, by joint ballot of both Houses, to be taken in each House respectively, depofited in the conference-room, the boxes examined jointly by a Committee of each Houfe, and the numbers severally reported to them, that the appointments may be entered (which shall be the mode of taking the joint ballot of both Houses in all cafes), who fhall not continue in that office longer than three years fucceffively, nor be eligible until the expiration of four years after he shall have been out of that office. An adequate, but moderate salary shall be settled on him during his continuance in office; and he fhall, with the advice of a Council of State, exercise the executive powers of government, according to the laws of this Commonwealth ;

and

and shall not, under any pretence, exercise any power or prerogative by virtue of any law, statute, or custom of England: but he shall, with the advice of the Council of State, have the power of granting reprieves or pardons, except where the profecution shall have been carried on by the House of Delegates, or the law shall otherwise particularly direct; in which cases no reprieve or pardon fhall be granted, but by refolve of the House of Delegates.

Either House of the General Affembly may adjourn themselves refpectively. The Governor fhall not prorogue or adjourn the Affembly during their fitting, nor diffolve them at any time; but he shall, if necessary, either by advice of the Council of State, or on application of a majority of the House of Delegates, call them before the time to which they shall stand prorogued or adjourned.

A Privy-Council, or Council of State, confifting of eight Members, fhall be chosen by joint ballot of both Houses of Affembly, either from their own Members or the people at large, to affift in the administration of government. They shall annually chufe, out of their own Members, a Prefident, who, in cafe of death, inability, or abfence of the Governor from the govern

cil

government, shall act as Lieutenant-Governor. Four Members fhall be fufficient to act, and their advice and proceedings fhall be entered on record, and figned by the Members prefent (to any part whereof any Member may enter his diffent), to be laid before the General Affembly, when called for by them. This Counmay appoint their own Clerk, who shall have a falary settled by law, and take an oath of fecrecy in fuch matters as he shall be directed by the Board to conceal. A fum of money appropriated to that purpose, shall be divided annually among the Members, in proportion to their attendance; and they shall be incapable, during their continuance in office, of fitting in either House of Affembly. Two Members shall be removed by joint ballot of both Houses of Affembly, at the end of every three years, and be ineligible for the three next years. These vacancies, as well as those occafioned by death or incapacity, fhall be supplied by new elections in the fame manner.

The Delegates for Virginia to the Continental Congress shall be chofen annually, or superfeded in the mean time by joint ballot of both Houses of Affembly.

The present militia officers fhall be conti

nued,

nued, and vacancies fupplied by appointment of the Governor, with the advice of the PrivyCouncil, on recommendations from the refpective county courts; but the Governor and Council shall have a power of fufpending any officer, and ordering a court-martial on complaint of misbehaviour or inability, or to supply vacancies of officers happening when in actual fervice.

The Governor may embody the militia, with the advice of the Privy-Council; and, when embodied, fhall alone have the direction of the militia under the laws of the country.

The two Houses of Affembly fhall, by joint ballot, appoint Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals, and General Court, Judges in Chancery, Judges of Admiralty, Secretary, and the Attorney-general, to be commiffioned by the Governor, and continue in office during good behaviour. In cafe of death, incapacity, or refignation, the Governor, with the advice of the Privy-Council, fhall appoint perfons to fucceed in office, to be approved or displaced by both Houses. Thefe officers shall have fixed and adequate falaries, and, together with all others holding lucrative offices, and all Mini

fters

fters of the Gospel of every denomination, be incapable of being elected Members of either House of Affembly, or the Privy-Council.

The Governor, with the advice of the PrivyCouncil, shall appoint Justices of the Peace for the counties; and in cafe of vacancies, or a neceffity of increafing the number hereafter, fuch appointments to be made upon the recommendation of the respective county courts. The prefent acting Secretary in Virginia, and Clerks of all the county courts, fhall continue in office. In cafe of vacancies, either by death, incapacity, or refignation, a Secretary fhall be appointed, as before directed, and the Clerks by the respective courts. The prefent and future Clerks fhall hold their offices during good behaviour, to be judged of and determined in the General Court. The Sheriffs and Coroners fhall be nominated by the refpective courts, approved by the Governor, with the advice of the Privy-Council, and commiffioned by the Governor. The Juftices fhall appoint conftables; and all fees of the aforefaid officers be regulated by law.

The Governor, when he is out of office, and others offending against the State, either by

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