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THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF FACTS 



POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT 

 FRO3I 1789 TO 19O4 Continued 



Rhode Island. On May 29, 1790, the 

 State accepted the Federal Constitution and 

 entered the Union as one of the thirteen original 

 States. The charter of 1663, however, contin- 

 ued to be the constitutional law of the State 

 down to 1842. In that year a new Constitu- 

 tion was adopted, which, with amendments, 

 accepted between 1854 and 1903, provides for 

 a Legislature called the General Assembly, con- 

 sisting of a Senate and a House of Representa- 

 tives. The Senate has thirty-eight members, 

 one from each of the cities and towns, besides 

 the governor who is ex-officio president, and the 

 lieutenant-governor who is ex-officio a senator. 

 The House of Representatives consists of sev- 

 enty-two members, twelve of whom are from 

 the city of Providence and the remainder from 

 the other cities and towns according to popula- 

 tion. Concurrent action between the two legis- 

 lative bodies is necessary for the enactment of 

 laws. Senators and Representatives are elected 

 at town, ward, and district meetings annually 

 in November, and hold office for a year, com- 

 mencing on the first Tuesday in January. The 

 governor is the chief executive officer of the 

 State, and his duty is to see that the laws 

 are faithfully executed. He has no power to 

 veto in legislation; most of the appointments 

 he makes require the consent of the Senate. 

 The governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary 

 of state, attorney-general, and the general 

 treasurer are elected annually in the same 

 manner, and at the same time, as the Senators 

 and Representatives. Amendments of the Con- 

 stitution may be proposed by the votes of a 



majority of all the members elected to each 

 House. The propositions must be published 

 and read to the electors at town and ward 

 meetings before the next election of Senators 

 and Representatives. If approved by a majority 

 of the members of each House next elected., 

 the proposed amendments are submitted to the 

 electors, and, if approved by three-fifths of 

 those voting thereon at town and ward meet- 

 ings held for the purpose, they become pa it 

 of the Constitution. The State is divided into 

 five counties and thirty-eight cities and towns. 

 The county divisions are now recognized only 

 for the holding of courts and the jurisdiction 

 of sheriffs. In the cities only certain property- 

 holders and tax-payers can vote for members of 

 councils. 



Rumania. The Constitution now in force 

 in Rumania was voted by a Constituent Assem- 

 bly, elected by universal suffrage, in the summer 

 of 1866. It has twice been modified, viz: in 

 1879, and again in 1884. The Senate consists 

 of 120 members, elected for eight years, includ- 

 ing two for the universities, and eight bishops. 

 The heir to the crown is also a Senator. The 

 Chamber of Deputies consists of 183 members, 

 elected for four years. A Senator must be 40 

 years of age, and a Deputy 25. Members 

 of either House must be Rumanians by 

 birth or naturalization, in full enjoyment of 

 civil and political rights, and domiciled in the 

 country. For the Senate an assured income of 

 9,400 lei ($1,880) is required. All citizens of full 

 age, paying taxes, are electors, and are divided 

 into three electoral colleges. For the Chamber 



