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days being previously given; nor fhall any part of the fame be changed without the confent of a majority of the Members of the Senate and House of Reprefentatives.

XLV. That the Senate and Houfe of Representatives shall not proceed to the election of a Governor or Lieutenant-Governor, until there be a majority of both Houses present. In the COUNCIL-CHAMBER, the 19th day of March, 1778.

Affented to,

RAWLINS LOWNDES.

HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the
Legislative Council.

THOMAS BEE, Speaker of the Gene-
ral Assembly.

In the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, the 19th day

of March, 1778.

Published by Order of the Houfe,

PETER TIMOTHY, C. G. A.

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GEORGIA.

THE

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

STATE OF GEORGIA,

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO IN CONVENTION, THE FIFTH OF FEBRUARY, 1777.

W

HEREAS the conduct of the legiflature of Great-Britain for many years paft has been fo oppreffive on the people of America, that of late years they have plainly declared and afferted a right to raise taxes upon the people of America, and to make laws. to bind them in all cafes whatfoever, without their confent; which conduct being repugnant to the common rights of mankind, hath obliged the Americans, as freemen, to oppose fuch oppreffive meafures, and to affert the rights and privileges they are entitled to by the laws of nature and reafon; and accordingly it hath been done by the general consent of all the people of the States of New-Hampshire,

Maffa

Maffachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, the Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Suffex on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, given by their Representatives met together in General Congress in the city of Philadelphia.

And whereas it hath been recommended by the faid Congress, on the fifteenth of May last, to the respective Affemblies and Conventions of the United States where no government, fufficient to the exigencies of their affairs, hath been hitherto established, to adopt fuch government as may, in the opinion of the Reprefentatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their Constituents in particular, and America in general :

And whereas the Independence of the United States of America has been alfo declared, on the fourth day of July, one thoufand seven hundred and feventy-fix, by the said Honourable Congrefs, and all political connection between them and the Crown of Great-Britain is in confequence thereof dif folved:

We, therefore, the Reprefentatives of the people, from whom all power originates, and

for

for whose benefit all government is intended, by virtue of the power delegated to us, do ordain and declare, and it is hereby ordained and declared, that the following rules and regulations be adopted for the future government of this State.

I. The legislative, executive, and judiciary departments fhall be feparate and diftinct, fo that neither exercife the powers properly belonging to the other.

II. The legislature of this State fhall be compofed of the Representatives of the people, as is herein after pointed out: and the Reprefentatives fhall be elected yearly, and every year, on the first Tuesday in December; and the Representatives fo elected, shall meet the firft Tuesday in January following, at Savannah, or any other place or places where the House of Affembly for the time being fhall direct.

On the first day of the meeting of the Res prefentatives fo chofen, they fhall proceed to the choice of a Governor, who shall be stiled Honourable; and of an Executive Council, by ballot, out of their own body; viz. two from each county, except thofe counties which are

not

One of

not yet entitled to fend ten Members. each county fhall always attend where the Governor refides, by monthly rotation, unless the Members of each county agree for a longer or fhorter period: this is not intended to exclude either Member attending. The remaining number of Keprefentatives fhall be called The Houfe of Affembly; and the majority of the Members of the faid Houfe fhall have power to proceed on business.

III. It shall be an unalterable rule, that the House of Affembly fhall expire, and be at an end yearly and every year, on the day preceding the day of election mentioned in the foregoing rule.

IV. The Representation fhall be divided in the following manner: Ten Members for each county, as is herein after directed, excepting the county of Liberty, which contains three parishes, and that shall be allowed fourteen.

The ceded lands north of Ogeechie shall be one county, and known by the name of Wilkes.

The parish of St. Paul shall be another county, and known by the name of Richmond.

The

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