INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AND LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. 433 



houses receive a fixed ;)fr dimi and mileage settled by the General Assem- 

 bly. In all elections by the General Assembly, or either House, the 

 members vote viva voce, and their votes are entered in the Journal. Both 

 houses sit with ojjen doors unless a secret session be ordered, in their dis- 

 cretion. 



Executive Department. The supreme executive authority of the 

 State is vested in a Chief Magistrate, who is styled the Governor of the 

 State of South Carolina ; he is elected by the qualified electors of the State, 

 holds his office for two years and until his successor shall be chosen and 

 qualified, and is re-eligible. No person is eligible for the office of Governor 

 who denies the existence of the Supreme Being, or who, when elected, is 

 not thirty years of age, or who has not been a citizen of the United States 

 and a citizen and resident of this State for two years next preceding the 

 day of election. The Lieutenant Governor is chosen in the same manner 

 and at the same time as the Governor, must possess the same qualifications, 

 and is ex officio President of the Senate. The Governor is Commander- 

 in-Chief of the militia of the State ; he has the power of reprieve and 

 pardon, but must report his actions in that regard to the General Assem- 

 bly ; he must sign all bills passed by the General Assembly before they 

 become laws, and if he refuses his assent to any bill, it can only be passed 

 over his veto by a two-thirds vote. The other executive officers of the 

 State are the Comptroller General, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. 

 They are elected by the qualified voters of the State, and hold their 

 offices for the term of two years. 



Judicial Department. The judicial power of the State is vested in 

 a Supreme Court, consisting of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices, 

 two Circuit Courts, namely, a Court of Common Pleas, having civil juris- 

 diction, and a Court of General Ses.sions, having criminal jurisdiction ; 

 Probate Courts, having jurisdiction in matters testamentary and in busi- 

 ness relating to minors, and of dower, idiocy and lunacy ; Courts of Trial 

 Justices, having cognizance of minor off'ences and civil matters of a 

 trifling sort. The Trial Justices also act as examining courts in criminal 

 matters, and discharge, commit or bind over to the Sessions Court persons 

 charged with off'ences. They may bail all persons except those charged 

 with capital crimes. The. Supreme and Circuit Court Judges are elected 

 by the General Assembly, the Probate Judges by the electors of the several 

 counties, and t"he Trial Justices are appointed by the Governor. The 

 term of office of the Justices of the Supreme Court is six years, but it was 

 directed that, immediately after their first election under this Constitu- 

 tion, the General Assembly should determine by lot which of the two 

 Associate Justices should hold office for two years, and which for four 

 years, so that there should be an election for Chief Justice or one Associate 



