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THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FACTS 



wards, in 1788, entering the Union as one of the 

 thirteen original States. A new Constitution, 

 framed on a wider basis, was ratified by the 

 people in 1822. A third Constitution was 

 enacted in 1846, and a fourth in 1894. The 

 legislative authority is vested in a Senate ol 

 fifty members elected every two years, and an 

 Assembly of 150 members elected annually. 

 The senatorial electoral districts are counties, 

 either singly or grouped according to popula- j 

 tion; the Assembly districts are either counties 

 or parts of counties, the various districts having 

 approximately equal population. Each sena- 

 torial and each Assembly district elects one mem- 

 ber. Senators and representatives must be 

 citizens of the United States 21 years of age. 

 No member of Congress or Federal officer or 

 officer of any city government, nor any person 

 who within *100 days of the election has held 

 such office, can sit in either house. The two 

 Houses have equal powers, even with respect to 

 money bills. Every law must be passed by both 

 Houses with the assent of the majority of the 

 members of each. Bills appropriating money 

 for local or private purposes require a two-thirds 

 majority. The Legislature is by the Constitu- 

 tion prevented from enacting special laws in 

 numerous matters, and there are important 

 restrictions respecting financial legislation The 

 principal executive officer of the State is the 

 governor, elected by the people for two years. 

 He must be a citizen of the United States, 30 

 years of age, and resident in the State for five 

 years next preceding the election. He has a 

 veto in legislation, provided it be exercised 

 within ten days; but it may be overridden by 

 a two-thirds majority of each House. He is 

 commander-in-chief of the military and naval 

 forces; with the assent of the Senate, he appoints 

 many State officers; he may convene the 

 Senate or the Legislature if necessary; he rec- 

 ommends legislative measures and sees that the 

 laws are faithfully executed. He may reprieve 

 or pardon criminals, but not in cases of treason 

 or impeachment. Elective officers are the 

 state secretary who keeps the State records and 

 seal; the comptroller who audits accounts and 

 issues warrants for payments; the treasurer 

 who pays money on warrants; the attorney- 

 general who is law officer of the State ; the State 

 engineer and surveyor who has charge of public 

 lands and the construction of canals. The 

 administrative boards (civil service commis- 

 sioners, railroad commissioners, and many 

 others) are generally appointed by the governor 

 with the assent of the Senate. 



New Zealand. The present form of 

 government for New Zealand was established 

 in 1852. By this act the colony was divided 

 into six provinces, afterwards increased to nine, 

 each governed by a superintendent and provin- 

 cial council, elected by the inhabitants according 

 to a franchise practically amounting to house- 

 hold suffrage. By a subsequent act of the colo- 

 nial legislature, in 1875, the provincial system 

 of government was abolished, and the powers 

 previously exercised by superintendents and 

 provincial officers were ordered to be exercised by 

 the governor or by local boards. By the terms 

 of this and other amending statutes, the legisla- 



tive power is vested in the governor and a gen- 

 eral assembly, consisting of two chambers the 

 first called the legislative council, and the second 

 the house of representatives. The governor has 

 the power of assenting to or withholding consent 

 from bills, or he may reserve them. lie sum- 

 mons, prorogues, and dissolves the parliament. 

 He can send drafts of bills to either house for 

 consideration, but in case of appropriations of 

 public money must first recommend the house 

 of representatives to make provision accordingly 

 before any appropriations can become law. He 

 can return bills for amendment to either house. 

 The legislative council consists at present of 

 thirty-eight members, who are paid at the rate 

 of 200 per annum. Those appointed before 

 September 17, 1891, are life members, but those 

 appointed subsequently to that date hold their 

 seats for seven years only, though they are 

 eligible for reappointment. By an act passed 

 in 1900, the number of members of the house of 

 representatives was increased to eighty, includ- 

 ing four Maoris, elected by the people for three 

 years. They are paid at the rate of 300 per 

 annum. 



North Carolina. The Constitution of 

 1776, was succeeded by that of 1868, which, 

 amended in 1872, 1875, 1879, 1888, and 1899, is 

 still in force. Amendments proposed in either 

 House, and agreed to by a three-fifths vote of 

 each House of the Legislature, require ratification 

 by a majority vote of the people. The State 

 Legislature, known as the General Assembly, 

 consists of a Senate of fifty members, and a 

 House of Representatives of 120 members, 

 elected for two years. Senators must be United 

 States citizens, 25 years of age, resident in the 

 State for two years next preceding the election; 

 Representatives must be 21 years of age, citizens, 

 and resident in the State one year next before 

 the election. Any bill may originate in either 

 House. The chief executive official is the 

 governor, elected for four years. He is com- 

 mander-in-chief of the militia; has power to 

 pardon, etc., except in cases of impeachment, 

 but must report to the General Assembly on his 

 exercise of this power; he appoints, with the 

 consent of the Senate, to offices not otherwise 

 provided for. He has no veto. Officials elected 

 for four years are the lieutenant-governor, secre- 

 tary of state, auditor, treasurer, superintendent 

 of public instruction, and attorney-general. 



North Dakota, with its present boun- 

 daries, was admitted as a State into the Union 

 in 1889, and the original Constitution is still in 

 force. It may be altered by amendment pro- 

 posed in either House of the Legislature, agreed 

 to by a majoritv of all the members of each 

 House, and finally approved by a popular vote. 

 The Legislature, called the Legislative Assembly, 

 consists of a Senate of forty members, elected 

 for four years, and a House of Representative 

 of 100 members elected for two years. Any 

 bill may originate in either House. The Senate 

 tries cases of impeachment brought by the 

 House of Representatives. Senators must be 

 25 years of age; Representatives, 21; both must 

 l)e citizens resident in the State for two years 

 next before election. At the head of the execu- 

 tive is the governor, elected for two years. He 



