Page:The Federal and state constitutions vol1.djvu/178

136 inhabitants to entitle it to one representative under the ratio of representation existing at the time of its formation, or unless the county or counties from which it is taken shall be left with the required number of inhabitants entitling such county or counties to separate representation.

1. The powers of the government of the State of Alabama shall be divided into three distinct departments, each of which shall be confided to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: Those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial, to another.

. 2. No person, or collection of persons, being of one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances hereinafter expressly directed or permitted.

1. The legislative power of this State shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives.

. 2. The style of the laws of this State shall be: “Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Alabama.” Each law shall contain but one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title; and no law shall be revised or amended unless the new act contain the entire act revised, or the section or sections amended; and the section or sections so amended shall be repealed.

. 3. Senators and Representatives shall be elected by the qualified electors, on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The term of office of the senators shall be four years, and that of the Representatives two years, commencing on the day after the general election.

. 4. No person shall be a Representative unless he is eligible as an elector to vote for members of the General Assembly.

. 5. No person shall be a Senator, unless he be eligible as an elector to vote for members of the General Assembly, and shall be twenty-seven years of age, and shall have resided for two years within the State, and for the last year thereof within the district for which he shall be chosen.

. 6. The House of Representatives, when assembled, shall choose a speaker, and its other officers; and the Senate shall choose a president, in the absence of the lieutenant-governor, and its other officers; each house shall judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its own members, but a contested election shall be determined in such manner as shall be directed by law. The president of the senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives shall remain in office until their successors are elected and qualified.

. 7. A majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and