SECOND FRAME OF GOVERNMENT. 31 



Assembly shall consist of thirty-six persons, being six out of each coun- 

 ty, men of most note for their virtue, wisdom and ability; by whom all 

 laws shall be made, officers chosen, and public affairs transacted, as is 

 hereafter limited and declared. 



II. There being three persons already chosen for every respective 

 county of this province and territories thereof, to serve in the provin- 

 cial Council, one of them for three years ; one for two years, and one for 

 one year; and one of them to go off' yearly, in every county; that on the 

 tenth day of the first month yearly, for ever after, the freemen of the said 

 province and territories thereof, shall meet together, in the most conven- 

 ient place, in every county of this province and territories thereof, then 

 and there to chuse one person, qualified as aforesaid, in every county, 

 being one-third of the number to serve in provincial Council, for three 

 years; it being intended, that one-third of the whole provincial Council, 

 consisting and to consist of eighteen persons, falling oft' yearly, it shall 

 be yearly supplied with such yearly elections, as aforesaid ; and that one 

 person shall not continue in longer than three years; and in case any 

 member shall decease before the last election, during his time, that then, 

 at the next election ensuing his decease, another shall be chosen to sup- 

 ply his place for the remaining time he was to have served, and no 

 longer. 



III. That, after the first seven years, every one of the said third parts, 

 that goeth yearly off, shall be incapable of being chosen again for one 

 whole year following, that so all that are capable and qualified, as afore- 

 said, may be fitted for government, and have a share of the care and 

 burden of it. 



IV. That the provincial Council in all cases and matters of moment, 

 as their arguing upon bills to be passed into laws, or proceedings about 

 erecting of courts of justice, sitting in judgment upon criminals impeach- 

 ed, and choice of officers, in such manner as is herein after expressed, 

 not less than two-thirds of the whole shall make a quorum ; and that the 

 consent and approbation of two-thirds of that quorum shall be had in all 

 such cases, or matters, of moment : and that, in all cases and matters of 

 lesser moment, one-third of the whole shall make a q^corum, the majority 

 of which shall and may always determine in such cases and causes of les- 

 ser moment. 



V. That the Governor and provincial Council shall have the power of 

 preparing and proposing to the Assembly, hereafter mentioned, all bills, 

 which they shall see needful, and that shall, at any time, be past into 

 laws, within the said province and territories thereof, which bills shall 

 be published and affixed to the most noted places, in every county of 

 this province and territories thereof, twenty days before the meeting of 

 the Assembly, in order to passing them into laws. 



