Page:Constitution of the state of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations - 1824.djvu/5



1. The powers of the government shall be distributed into three distinct departments: the Legislative, Executive and Judicial.

2. No person or persons, belonging to one of these departments, shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except in cases herein expressly directed or permitted.

1. The Legislative power shall be vested in two distinct Houses or branches; the one to be styled the Senate, the other the House of Representatives, and both together, the General Assembly. The style of their laws shall be—Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations.

2. If any Senator or Representative, in the General Assembly of this State, shall be appointed to any office under the government of the United states, and shall accept of the same, after his election as such Senator or Representative, his seat shall thereby become vacated; and any person, who holds an office under the government of the United States, may be elected a member of the General Assembly, and may hold his seat therein, if, at the time of taking his seat, he shall have resigned said office, and shall declare the same, on oath, if required. No member of the General Assembly shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office, under this State, which shall have been crea-