Page:The Federal and state constitutions v5.djvu/295

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No convention of the people shall be called by the general assembly unless by the concurrence of two-thirds of all the members of each house of the general assembly.

No part of the constitution of this State shall be altered unless a bill to alter the same shall have been read three times in each house of the general assembly and agreed to by three-fifths of the whole number of members of each house, respectively; nor shall any alteration take place until the bill, so agreed to, shall have been published six months previous to a new election of members to the general assembly. If, after such publication, the alteration proposed by the preceding general assembly shall be agreed to in the first session thereafter by two-thirds of the whole representation in each house of the general assembly, after the same shall have been read three times on three several days in each house, then the said general assembly shall prescribe a mode by which the amendment or amendments may be submitted to the qualified voters of the house of representatives throughout the State, and if, upon comparing the votes given in the whole State, it shall appear that a majority of the voters voting thereon have approved thereof, then, and not otherwise, the same shall become a part of the constitution.

All indictments which shall have been found, or may hereafter be found, for any crime or offence committed before this constitution takes effect, may be proceeded upon in the proper courts, but no punishment shall be inflicted which is forbidden by this constitution.

No person who shall hereafter fight a duel, or assist in the same as a second, or send, accept, or knowingly carry a challenge therefor, or agree to go out of this State to fight a duel, shall hold any office in this State.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law, and an accurate account of the receipts and expenditures of the public money shall be annually published.

The general assembly shall provide by proper legislation for giving to mechanics and laborers an adequate lien on the subject-matter of their labor.

In the absence of any contrary provision, all officers in this State, whether heretofore elected or appointed by the governor, shall hold their positions only until other appointments are made by the governor, or, if the officers are elective, until their successors shall have been chosen and duly qualified, according to the provisions of this constitution.

The seat of government in this State shall remain at the city of Raleigh.