Page:The Federal and state constitutions v2.djvu/554

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The general assembly shall provide by law for a uniform and equal rate of assessment and taxation, and taxes shall be levied upon all such property, real and personal, as the general assembly may from time to time prescribe; but all property appropriated and used exclusively for municipal, literary, educational, scientific, or charitable purposes, and personal property to an amount not exceeding one hundred dollars for each head of a family, and all property appropriated and used exclusively for religious purposes, to an amount not exceeding two hundred thousand dollars, may by general laws be exempted from taxation.

The general assembly shall provide by law for an annual tax sufficient to defray the estimated ordinary expenses of the State for each year.

Every law imposing a tax shall state distinctly the object of the same to which it shall be applied.

On the passage in either house of the general assembly of any law which imposes, continues, or renews a tax, or makes, continues, or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases, discharges, or commutes a claim or demand of the State, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal, and three-fifths of all the members elected to such house shall in all such cases be required to constitute a quorum.

The general assembly shall provide by law for the election of county, city, town, and township officers.

All officers whose election or appointment is not provided for by this constitution shall be elected by the people, or appointed as the general assembly may by law direct.

Provision shall be made by law for the removal for misconduct, or malversation in office, of all officers whose powers and duties are not local or legislative, and who shall be elected at general elections, and also for supplying vacancies created by such removal.

The legislature may declare the cases in which any office shall be deemed vacant, where no provision is made for that purpose in this constitution.

The general assembly shall not create corporations by special act except for municipal purposes.

Corporations may be formed under general laws, but such laws may at any time be altered or repealed.