aforesaid. This rotation shall be applied to each division, according to its number, and continued in due order annually.

The right of suffrage in the election of members for both houses, shall remain as exercised at present; and each house shall choose, its own speaker, appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election, for the supplying intermediate vacancies.

All laws shall originate in the house of delegates, to be approved of or rejected by the senate, or to be amended, with consent of the house of delegates; except money bills, which in no instance shall be altered by the senate, but wholly approved or rejected.

A governor, or chief magistrate, shall be chosen annually by joint ballot of both houses (to be taken in each house respectively) deposited in the conference-room; the boxes examined jointly by a committee of each house, and the numbers severally reported to them, that the appointments may be entered (which shall be the mode of taking the joint ballot of both houses in all cases) who shall not continue in that office

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longer than three years successively, nor be eligi ble until the expiration of four years after he shall have been out of that office. An adequate, but moderate salary, shall be settled on him, during his continuance in office: and he shall, with the advice of a council of state, exercise the executive powers of government, according to the laws of this commonwealth; and shall not, under any pretence, exercise any power or prerogative, by virtue of any law, statute, or custom of England. But he shall, with the advice of the council of state, have the power of granting reprieves or pardons, except where the prosecu tion shall have been carried on by the house of delegates, or the law shall otherwise particularly direct; in which cases, no reprieve or pardon shall be granted, but by resolve of the house of delegates.

Either house of the general assembly may adjourn themselves respectively. The governor shall not prorogue or adjourn the assembly dur ing their sitting, nor dissolve them at any time; but he shall, if necessary, either by advice of the council of state, or on application of a majo

rity of the house of delegates, call them before the time to which they shall stand prorogued or adjourned.

A privy council, or council of state, consisting of eight members, shall be chosen by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, either from their own members, or the people at large, to assist in the administration of government. They shall annually choose, out of their own members, a president, who, in case of death, inability, or absence of the governor from the government, shall act as lieutenant-governor. Four members shall be sufficient to act, and their advice and proceedings shall be entered on record, and signed by the members present (to any part whereof, any member may enter his dissent) to be laid before the general assembly, when called for by them. This council may appoint their own clerk, who shall have a salary settled by law, and take an oath of secrecy, in such matters as he shall be directed by the board to conceal. A sum of money, appropriated to that purpose, shall be divided annually among the members, in proportion to their at

tendance; and they shall be incapable, during their continuance in office, of sitting in either house of assembly. Two members shall be removed, by joint ballot of both houses of assembly, at the end of every three years, and be ineligible for the three next years. These vacancies, as well as those occasioned by death or incapacity, shall be supplied by new elections, in the same manner.

The delegates for Virginia to the continental congress shall be chosen annually, or superseded in the mean time, by joint ballot of both houses of assembly.

The present militia officers shall be continued, and vacancies supplied, by appointment of the governor, with the advice of the privy council, on recommendations from the respective county courts; but the governor and council shall have a power of suspending any officer, and ordering a court martial, on complaint of misbehaviour or inability, or to supply vacancies of officers, happening when in actual service.

The governor may embody the militia with the advice of the privy council; and when embodied

shall alone have the direction of the militia, under the laws of the country.

The two houses of assembly shall, by joint ballot, appoint judges of the supreme court of appeals, and general court judges in chancery, judges of admiralty, secretary, and the attorney general, to be commissioned by the governor, and continue in office during good behaviour. In case of death, incapacity, or resignation, the governor, with the advice of the privy council, shall appoint persons to succeed in office, to be approved or displaced by both houses. These officers shall have fixed and adequate salaries, and, together with all others, holding lucrative offices, and all ministers of the gospel, of every denomination, be incapable of being elected members of either house of assembly or the privy council.

The governor, with the advice of the privy council, shall appoint justices of the peace for the counties: and in case of vacancies, or a necessity of increasing the number hereafter, such appointments to be made upon the recom mendation of the respective county courts. The