LAWS OF DELAWARE. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. CHAPTER 1. AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION PROPOSED. AN ACT to propose an Amendment to Section 17 of Article 2 of the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of to 17th Sec- SECTION I. That the following amendment be and the Amendment Constitution Volume 14. Strike out of said Section 17, as altered and amended as Chapter 352, And insert in lieu thereof the words following: for General "The General Assembly shall also have power, by con- Provision tion Act. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. Exception. private corporations, excepting railroad and canal companies; Secretary of lish proposed in two or SECTION 2. That the Secretary of State be and he is Second and CHAPTER 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION PROPOSED. AN ACT proposing Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives SECTION I. That the following amendments be and the tion amend- ed. First, Strike out the third clause of the said Second Sec- CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. tives. creased. tle County. and then, two-thirds of each branch of the Legislature concurring, they may by law make provision for increasing their number," and in lieu thereof substitute and adopt the following, viz: "The House of Representatives shall consist of Representatwenty-five members, eleven of whom shall be chosen from Number inNew Castle County, seven from Kent County and seven from Sussex County. Provided, that, of the eleven Representa- Proviso. tives from New Castle County, four shall be chosen by the to New Cascitizens residing in the City of Wilmington, and seven by the citizens residing in the residue of said county. At each bi- Presiding ennial session of the House of Representatives, the person who was Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time of its next preceding adjournment sine die shall preside, or, if absent or disqualified, the person who was Speaker pro tempore at the time of said adjournment, and give a casting vote if the Representatives be equally divided, until its Tie. Speaker and other officers shall be duly chosen and qualified." officer. Number in Second, Strike out the third clause of the said Third Section reading thus: "There shall be three Senators chosen in each county. When a greater number of Senators shall by the General Assembly be judged necessary, two-thirds of each branch concurring, they may by law make provision for increasing their number; but the number of Senators shall never be greater than one-half, nor less than one-third of the number of Representatives," and in lieu thereof substitute and adopt the following, viz: "There shall be four Senators Senators. chosen from each county. Provided, that of the four Senators. creased. from New Castle County, two shall be chosen by the citizens Proviso. residing in the City of Wilmington and two by the citizens to New Casresiding in the residue of said county. At each biennial tle County, session of the Senate the person who was Speaker of the Presiding Senate at the time of its next preceding adjournment sine officer. die shall preside, or, if absent or disqualified, the person who was Speaker pro tempore at the time of said adjournment, and give a casting vote if the Senators be equally divided, Tie. until its Speaker and other officers shall be duly chosen and qualified.' Applicable ments. SECTION 2. That the offices of such as may be Senators Adoption of and Representatives at the time of the ratification of the amend foregoing amendments to the Constitution, shall not be vacated by any of the provisions of said amendments, nor otherwise affected. The first election for Representatives under Time of the Constitution as amended by said provisions, shall be held election. at the general election, on the Tuesday next after the first Terms of office. Proviso. to New Cas CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. Monday of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six. At the said general election there shall be three Senators elected for each of the counties of this State, by the citizens of said counties respectively, under the provisions of the Constitution so amended as aforesaid, one of whom shall be so elected to serve as a Senator for two years from the day of his election and no longer, and the others to serve as Senators for and during the full term of four years from the day of their election and no longer; provided, that of the three Senators for New Castle County so to Applicable be elected one shall be chosen by the citizens residing in the tle County. City of Wilmington to serve as a Senator for four years as aforesaid, and two by the citizens residing in the residue of said county, one thereof to serve as a Senator for two years as aforesaid, and the other for four years as aforesaid; and two Senators shall be elected from each county biennially thereMeeting of after. The first meeting of the General Assembly under the sembly. Constitution so amended, as aforesaid, shall be on the first Tuesday in January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, and the meetings of subsequent biennial sessions on the first Tuesday in January in every second year thereafter. General As If approved publish in newspapers. SECTION 3. That the Secretary of State of this State be by Governor and he is hereby directed, after the Governor shall have apState shall proved of the above proposed amendments, duly to publish two or more the above proposed amendments, and this act, in two or more newspapers of this State, for the consideration of the people, at least three and not more than six months before the next general election of Senators and Representatives in this State. Passed at Dover, March 30, 1883. When. |