STANDING ORDERS.

The system of "standing orders," which figures so prominently in the proceedings of the English Parliament, has no existence in the legislative assemblies of this country; the nearest approach to it being in the United States Senate, which, being a permanent body, containing always more than a quorum of its members, aud being always duly organized, its rules and orders are not renewed from one Congress to another, as is necessarily the case in the House of Representatives.

The early Congresses followed the English practice of "standing orders," and adopted but few rules. Gradually, however, the House increased the number of its rules, and the system of standing orders fell into disuse, so that at present there are but comparatively few. The line of distinction between. "special" and "standing orders" may be said to be that a "special order" applies only to a particular bill or subject, while a "standing order" applies to a class of business, and has really the permanent character of a rule. (See ruling of Speaker Carlisle as to whether a certain order was a "standing" or "special order.”—Journal, 1, 48, pp. 1051, 1052.)

STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENTS.

By the constitutions of all except New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Delaware, the powers of gov ernment are divided into three distinct departments-the legis lative, executive, and judicial.

There is in each State and Territory a legislature. In twenty it is called the General Assembly; in Oregon and all the Territories, the Legislative Assembly; and in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, the General Court, consisting of a senate (in the Territories a council) and a house of representatives, called in New York, Wisconsin, California, Nevada, and Florida the Assembly; in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, the House of Delegates; and in New Jersey the General Assembly. In all the States there is a governor, who is the executive authority, and generally a lieutenant-governor. But when there is no lieutenant governor the president of the senate succeeds if the governor dies or becomes incapable. His powers in his State are similar to those of the President of the United

States. The following are some of the qualifications required in the various States:

No person, in eleven States, can be a governor unless he is a citizen of the United States; in three, he must have been so for two years; in five, for five years; in Florida, nine years; in four, ten years; in one, twelve years; in Georgia, fifteen years; and in New Jersey and Mississippi, twenty years. He must also have been resident for periods varying from one year to ten.

In some States the governor must not be less than twentyfive years of age, in most thirty years, and in two (Kentucky and Missouri), thirty five.

In Delaware he is not eligible a second time for office. In Tennessee he is not eligible for more than six years in any term of eight. So in Oregon, for not more than eight years in any period of twelve years; in Indiana, for not more than four years in any term of eight.

By the constitutions of seven States, the governor is not eligible for re-election for any two successive terms, unless the office devolved upon him. In Georgia, he is not eligible for four years after the second term.

In Massachusetts, he must be possessed of a freehold estate, in his own right, of the value of £1,000. He is elected directly by the people, aud, not like the President, through a college of electors. His term of office varies from four years in sixteen States to three years in three States, two years in eighteen States, and a year in two States (Massachusetts and Rhode Island).

Both the senate and the house are in all States elected at the general election day, and vacancies in either house are generally filled in the same way by a special election; but in New Hampshire and Maine vacancies are so filled by election only in the house; a vacancy in the senate is filled by joint ballot of the legislatures; so in Massachusetts vacancies in the Senate are filled by special election, upon the order of a majority of the senators elected.

A senator, by the constitution of most States, is elected for four years; in New Jersey for three years, in several for two years, and in two (Massachusetts and Rhode Island) for one year.

Half the senators are in many States elected at each general election, the other half holding over; but in two, one-third are elected at each general election, the others keeping their

seats.

Representatives are usually elected for two years, but in Louisiana they are elected for four years, and in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey their tenure of office is only for one year. As a rule no person can be a State senator who is not a citizen of the United States, and in Maine he must have been thus qualified for four years.

Residence in the State is also required for terms varying from one year in eight States to four years in five, six years in one (Kentucky), and seven years in one (New Hampshire), besides which he must have been usually resident in the senatorial district for which he is a candidate for various periods ranging from one year to three months, and in Illinois aud Louisiana for two years.

To be eligible as a State senator a candidate must have paid a State and county tax within one year of election. By the constitution of Delaware no person can be a senator who is not possessed of a freehold estate of 200 acres, or a personal or mixed estate of the value of $5,000.

By the constitution of fourteen States, no person can be a representative in the lower house of the State legislature who is not a citizen of the United States, and in Maine he must have been so for five years. And in many he must have been resident in the State for a certain period, varying from one year in seven of the States to five years in two (Illinois and Louisiana). In nine of the States he must also be a qualified elector of the State, and in nearly, if not quite all, he must have been resident in the district for which he is chosen for a period varying from sixty days in Iowa to two years in Illinois and Louisiana.

In thirteen States a representative loses his seat if he ceases to reside in the district, and in six he must be a qualified elector in such district.

In fourteen States a candidate must be twenty-one years of age at the time of his election, in three twenty-four (Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri), and in Colorado twenty-five.

In Massachusetts the constitution forbids any property qualification for the State legislature or council.

The following persons are disqualified from sitting in the State legislature:

In Nebraska, any person interested in a contract with or an unadjusted claim against the State.

In Delaware, any person concerned in any army or navy contract.

In West Virginia, any salaried officer of a railroad.

In Kansas and Georgia, every person convicted of embezzlement of the public funds.

In Delaware, every person who has served as a State treasurer, before his accounts have been settled and discharged. In Georgia, any person who has not paid his legal taxes. In West Virginia and South Carolina, any person who has been convicted of bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime, or who has not accounted for public money intrusted to him.

In most States provision is made by the constitution that members of the legislature shall receive compensation. several it can not be increased or diminished during the term for which they are elected, and in two (Missouri and Texas) it can not be altered at all by the legislature at any time, the amount being fixed by the constitution.

In fourteen States no member of Congress is eligible for the State legislature.

Members of the legislature are, by the constitutions of most of the States, required to make oath to support the National and the State (if in a State) constitutions, and in one (Arkansas) to support the Union, and in five that they have not bribed anybody, and in four that they will not accept a bribe for giving or withholding a vote, or for doing any duty relating to their office, and in three (Kentucky, Texas, and Nevada) that they have not been concerned in a duel.

The mode of election is in twelve States by ballot; but in Kentucky all election by the people must be vira voce, except that dumb persons may vote by ballot. By the constitution of nearly all, the person having the highest number (in a plurality) of votes is declared duly elected; but in Rhode Island, in all elec

tions held by the people, a majority of votes cast is necessary to a choice.

By the constitution of Illinois (each district voting for three representatives) each voter may cast as many votes for each candidate as there are State representatives to be elected, or may distribute his votes among the candidates as he sees fit.

In nearly all the States and Territories election day is fixed by the constitution or statutes for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November: (1) biennially in the even years in twenty-one States; (2) biennially in the odd years in three States; (3) annually in nine States; the remainder vary as to their day.

The right of suffrage is given to every male citizen of the United States aged twenty-one or who has declared his intention of becoming a citizen.

Under the head of" Voters, qualifications of," will be found a table giving the requirements of the constitutions of the several States in respect to suffrage. It is believed to be substantially accurate, but will be verified before republication in the next edition, and additional matter given.

By the constitution of all the States, except Nebraska and Oregon, an impeachment is first made by the house of repre sentatives, and is tried by the senate sitting as a court under oath, except in New York, when it is tried by the senate and the judges of the court of appeals.

Two-thirds of the senators elected must, in fifteen States, cor cur for conviction; and in nineteen, two-thirds of the senators present. In New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Alabama, and Mississippi a vote of a quorum is sufficient; but in Nebraska the impeachment is first made by the legislature in joint convention upon resolution in either house, and a majority of elected members must concur; and it is then tried by the judges of the supreme court.

The effect of impeachment is, by the constitutions of all but Maryland and Oregon, merely to remove from office, and in all the States, except five, to disqualify the person impeached from holding any other State appointment.

A person impeached, whether convicted or not on the impeachment, is nevertheless liable, by the constitutions of all the States, except Indiana and Maryland, to indictment, trial, and punishment according to law.