Page:Constitution of the state of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations - 1824.djvu/8

 2. The Lieutenant-Governor shall, by virtue of his office, be President of the Senate, and have, when in committee of the whole, a right to debate; and when the Senate is equally divided, to give the casting vote.

3. When the government shall be administered by the Lieutenant-Governor, or he shall be unable to attend as President of the Senate, the Senate shall elect one of their own members, President pro tempore.

4. The Secretary of State shall be, by virtue of his office, Secretary of the Senate.

1. The House of Representatives shall consist of members elected by the electors of the several towns, in their respective town-meetings, on the third Wednesday of April, annually. Each town, having three thousand inhabitants, and under five thousand, shall be entitled to elect three Representatives; each town, having five thousand inhabitants, and under eight thousand, shall be entitled to elect four Representatives; each town, having eight thousand inhabitants, and under twelve thousand, shall be entitled to elect five Representatives; each town, having twelve thousand inhabitants, and under seventeen thousand, shall be entitled to elect six Representatives: and each town, having seventeen thousand inhabitants, shall be entitled to elect seven Representatives; but no town shall be entitled to elect more than seven Representatives; nor shall any town be entitled to less than two. The representation in the several towns in this State shall be apportioned agreeably to the census of the people of the United States, taken in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty, in conformity to the Constitution thereof; and said apportionment shall continue to have effect, until a new census be taken of the people of the United States, as by their constitution is provided. The representation in the several towns in this State shall be apportioned, agreeably to said new census; and so on, at each subsequent period thereafter, whenever a new census of the people of the United States shall be taken under the constitution thereof.