State, of any Senator, or on his becoming Governor, or a Member of the Council, the Senate shall immediately thereupon, or at their next meeting thereafter, elect by ballot, in the fame manner as the electors are above directed to chufe Senators, another perfon in his place for the refidue of the faid term of five

years. XX. That not less than a majority of the Senate, with their Prefident (to be chofen by them by ballot), fhall conftitute an House for the tranfacting any bufinefs, other than that of adjourning.

XXI. That the Senate fhall judge of the elections and qualifications of Senators.

XXII. That the Senate may originate any other except money bills, to which their afsent or diffent only fhall be given; and may receive any other bills from the House of Delegates, and affent, diffent, or propofe amend

ments.

XXIII. That the General Affembly meet annually, on the firft Monday of November, and if neceffary oftener.

XXIV. That each House shall appoint its own officers, and fettle its own rules of proceeding.

XXV. That

XXV. That a perfon of wisdom, experience, and virtue, shall be chofen Governor, on the fecond Monday of November feventeen hundred and feventy-feven, and on the fecond Monday in every year forever thereafter, by the joint ballot of both Houses, to be taken in each House respectively, depofited in a conferenceroom; the boxes to be examined by a joint Committee of both Houfes, and the numbers feverally reported, that the appointment may be entered; which mode of taking the joint ballot of both Houfes fhall be adopted in all cafes. But if two or more fhall have an equal number of ballots in their favour, by which the choice fhall not be determined on the first ballot, then a fecond ballot fhall be taken, which fhall be confined to the perfons who on the first ballot fhall have had an equal number; and if the ballots fhould again be equal between two or more perfons, then the election of the Governor shall be determined by lot, between those who have equal numbers; and if the perfon chofen Governor fhall die, refign, remove out of the State, or refufe to act (fitting the General Affembly) the Senate and Houfe of Delegates fhall immediately thereupon proceed to a new choice in manner aforefaid,

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XXVI. That

XXVI. That the Senators and Delegates, on the second Tuesday of November, 1777, and annually on the fecond Tuesday of November forever thereafter, elect by joint ballot, in the fame manner as Senators are directed to be chofen, five of the moft fenfible, difcreet, and experienced men, above twenty-five years of age, refidents in the State above three years next preceding the election, and having therein a freehold of lands and tenements above the value of one thoufand pounds current money, to be the Council to the Governor; whofe proceedings fhall be always entered on record, to any part whereof any Member may enter his diffent; and their advice, if fo required by the Governor or any Member of the Council, fhall be given in writing, and figned by the Members giving the fame refpectively; which proceedings of the Council fhall be laid before the Senate, or House of Delegates, when called for by them, or either of them. The Council may appoint their own Clerk, who shall take fuch oath of fupport and fidelity to this State as this Convention or the legislature fhall direct, and of fecrecy, in fuch matters as he fhall be directed by the Board to keep fecret,

XXVII. That

XXVII. That the Delegates to Congress from this State fhall be chofen annually, or fuperfeded in the mean time by the joint ballot of both Houses of Affembly, and that there be a rotation in fuch manner that at least two of the number be annually changed; and no perfon fhall be capable of being a Delegate to Congrefs for more than three in any term of fix years; and no person who holds any office of profit in the gift of Congrefs fhall be eligible to fit in Congress, but if appointed to any such office his feat shall be thereby vacated. That no perfon, unless above twenty-one years of age, and a refident in the State more than five years next preceding the election, and having real and perfonal estate in this State above the value of one thousand pounds current money, shall be eligible to fit in Congrefs.

XXVIII. That the Senators and Delegates, immediately on their annual meeting, and before they proceed to any bufinefs, and every perfon hereafter elected a Senator or Delegate, before he acts as fuch, fhall take an oath of fupport and fidelity to this State as aforefaid; and before the election of a Governor, or Member of the Council, fhall take an oath, "to

elect without favour, affection, partiality, or prejudice, fuch perfon as Governor, or Member of the Council, as they in their judgement and confcience believe best qualified for the office."

XXIX. That the Senate and Delegates may adjourn themselves refpectively: but if the two Houses fhould not agree on the fame time, but adjourn to different days, then shall the Governor appoint and notify one of thofe days or fome day between, and the Affembly shall then meet and be held accordingly; and he fhall, if neceffary, by advice of the Council, call them before the time to which they shall in any manner be adjourned, on giving not less than ten days notice thereof; but the Governor shall not adjourn the Affembly otherwife than as aforefaid, nor prorogue or diffolve it at any time, XXX. That no perfon, unless above twenty

five

years of age, a refident in this State above. five years next preceding the election, and having in the State real and perfonal property above the value of five thousand pounds current money, one, thousand pounds whereof at least to be freehold eftate, fhall be eligible as Go

vernor.

XXXI. That