Page:The Federal and state constitutions v5.djvu/289

Rh It shall be the duty of the general assembly to provide from time to time, for the registration of all electors, and no person shall be allowed to vote without registration, or to register, without first taking an oath or affirmation to support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the constitution and laws of North Carolina, not inconsistent therewith.

All elections by the people shall be by ballot, and all elections by the general assembly shall be viva voce.

Every voter, except as hereinafter provided, shall be eligible to office; but before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, he shall take and subscribe the following oath : "I, —— ——, do solemnly swear [or affirm] that I will support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of my office: so help me God."

The following classes of persons shall be disqualified for office: first, all persons who shall deny the being of Almighty God; second, all persons who shall have been convicted of treason, perjury, or of any other infamous crime, since becoming citizens of the United States, or of corruption, or malpractice in office, unless such persons shall have been legally restored to the rights of citizenship.

In each county, there shall be elected, biennially, by the qualified voters thereof, as provided for the election of members of the general assembly, the following officers: A treasurer, register of deeds, surveyor, and five commissioners.

It shall be the duty of the commissioners to exercise a general supervision and control of the penal and charitable institutions, schools, roads, bridges, levying of taxes, and finances of the county, as may be prescribed by law. The register of deeds shall be ex-officio clerk of the board of commissioners.

It shall be the duty of the commissioners first elected in each county to divide the same into convenient districts, to determine the boundaries, and prescribe the names of the said districts, and report the same to the general assembly before the first day of January, 1869.

Upon the approval of the reports provided for in the foregoing section, by the general assembly, the said districts shall have corporate powers for the necessary purposes of local government, and shall be known as townships.

In each township there shall be biennially elected, by the qualified voters thereof, a clerk and two justices of the peace, who shall constitute a board of trustees, and shall, under the supervision of the county commissioners, have control of the taxes and finances, roads, and bridges of the township, as may be prescribed by law. The general assembly may provide for the election of a larger number of justices of the peace in cities and towns, and in those townships in which cities and towns are situated. In every township