Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/635

 NEW YORK STATK

583

NEW YORK STATE.

Constitution and Government.— From 1609 to 1664 the region now called New York was under the sway of the Dutch ; then it came under the rule of the English, who governed the country till the outbreak of the War of Independence. Between July 9, 1776, and April 20, 1777, a Convention framed a Constitution under which New York was transformed into an inde- pendent State, afterwards, in 1788, entering the Union as one of the 13 original States.

The legislative authority is vested in a Senate of 51 members elected every two years, and an Assembly of 150 members elected annually. There are annual sessions.

The right of suffrage resides in every citizen 21 years of age, who has been a citizen for 90 days, and has resided in the State for a year preceding the election. A voter must also have resided four months in the county, and 30 days in the election district.

The question whether there shall be a Convention to revise the Consti- tution has to be submitted to the people every 20 years, beginning with 1916, 'and also at such times as the Legislature may by law provide. '

The State is represented in Congress by 2 Senators and 43 Representatives.

Governor.— Nathan L. Miller, 1921-23 (10,000 dollars).

Secretary of State. — John J. Lyons.

The seat of the State executive is at Albany.

For local government the State is divided into 62 counties.

Cities are in 3 classes, the first class having each over 175,000 inhabitants and the third under 50,000. Each is incorporated by charter, under special legislation. The government of New York City is vested in a board of Aldermen, elected for 2 years. Its members are the President, elected by the city ; the presidents of the 5 city boroughs (Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Richmond) ; 67 aldermen, one elected in each of the 67 districts, constituting a board of 73 members. The chief executive officer is the Mayor, elected for 4 years ; he appoints all the heads of departments, except the Comptroller, who is elected by the city.

Area, Population. — Area 49,204 square miles (1,550 square miles being water). Census population on January 1, 1920, 10,384,829. Population in census years : —

Year

1800 1900

Population

Total

589,051 7,268,894

Per eq. mile

Year

12 4 1525

Population

Total

9,113,614 10,384,829

Per »q. mile

1912 2111

In 1910 the population by race and sex was :

White

Negro

Asiatic

Indian

Total

Male .... Female

4,5U 4,455,51S

64,034 70,157

9,236 3,342

4,58V»7 4,529,017

Total

S,90'

134,191

6,532 6,046

9,113,614