Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

5. The state shall be divided by the first legislature into a convenient number of districts subject to such alteration from time to time as the public good may require; for each of which a district judge shall be appointed by the joint vote of the legislature, at its first meeting, who shall hold his office for two years from the first day of January next after his election; after which, said judges shall be elected by the qualified electors of their respective districts, at the general election, and shall hold their office for the term of six years.

6. The district courts shall have original jurisdiction, in law and equity, in all civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeds two hundred dollars, exclusive of interest. In all criminal cases not otherwise provided for, and in all issues of fact joined in the probate courts, their jurisdiction shall be unlimited.

7. The legislature shall provide for the election, by the people, of a clerk of the supreme court, and county clerks, district attorneys, sheriffs, coroners, and other necessary officers; and shall fix by law their duties and compensa tion. County clerks shall be, ex officio, clerks of the district courts in and for their respective counties.

8. There shall be elected in each of the organized counties of this state, one county judge, who shall hold his office for four years. He shall hold the county court, and perform the duties of surrogate, or probate judge. The county judge, with two justices of the peace, to be designated according to law, shall hold courts of sessions, with such criminal jurisdiction as the legislature shall prescribe, and he shall perform such other duties as shall be required by law.

9. The county courts shall have jurisdiction, in cases arising in justices' courts, and in special cases, as the legislature may prescribe, but shall have no original civil jurisdiction, except in such special cases.

10. The times and places of holding the terms of the supreme court, and the general and special terms of the district courts, within the several districts, shall be provided for by law.

11. No judicial officer, except a justice of the peace, shall receive to his own use, any fees or perquisites of office.

12. The legislature shall provide for the speedy publication of all statute laws, and of such judicial decisions as it may deem expedient; and all laws and judicial decisions shall be free for publication by any person.

13. Tribunals for conciliation may be established, with such powers and duties as may be prescribed by law; but such tribunals shall have no power to render judgment to be obligatory on the parties, except they voluntarily submit their matters in difference, and agree to abide the judgment, or as sent thereto in the presence of such tribunal, in such cases as shall be prescribed by law.

14. The legislature shall determine the number of justices of the peace, to be elected in each county, city, and town, and incorporated village of the state, and fix by law their powers, duties and responsibilities. It shall also determine in what cases appeals may be made from justices' courts to the county

courts.

15. The justices of the supreme court, and judges of the district court, shall severally, at stated times during their continuance in office, receive for their services a compensation, to be paid out of the treasury, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which they shall have been elected. The county judges shall also severally, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation to be paid out of the county treasury of their respective counties, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which they shall have been elected.

16. The justices of the supreme court and district judges shall be ineli

gible to any other office, during the term for which they shall have been elected.

17. Judges shall not charge juries with respect to matters of fact, but may state the testimony and declare the law.

18. The style of all process shall be "The People of the State of California;" all the prosecutions shall be conducted in the name and by the authority of the same.

ARTICLE VII.-MILITIA.

SEC. 1. The Legislature shall provide by law, for organizing and disciplining the militia, in such manner as they shall deem expedient, not incompatible with the Constitution and laws of the United States.

2. Officers of the militia shall be elected, or appointed, in such manner as the legislature shall from time to time direct; and shall be commissioned by the governor.

3. The governor shall have power to call forth the militia, to execute the laws of the state, to suppress insurrections, and repel invasions.

ARTICLE VIII.-STATE DEBTS.

The legislature shall not in any manner create any debt or debts, liability or liabilities, which shall singly, or in the aggregate, with any previous debts or liabilities, exceed the sum of three hundred thousand dollars, except in case of war, to repel invasion or suppress insurrection, unless the same shall be authorized by some law for some single object or work, to be distinctly specified therein, which law shall provide ways and means, exclusive of loans, for the payment of the interest of such debt or liability, as it falls due, and also pay and discharge the principal of such debt or liability within twenty years from the time of the contracting thereof, and shall be irrepealable until the principal and interest thereon shall be paid and discharged; but no such law shall take effect until, at a general election, it shall have been submitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the votes cast for and against it at such election; and all money raised by authority of such law, shall be applied only to the specific object therein stated, or to the payment of the debt thereby created; and such law shall be published in at least one newspaper in each judicial district, if one be published therein, throughout the state, for three months next preceding the election at which it is submitted to the people.

ARTICLE IX.-EDUCATION.

SEC. 1. The legislature shall provide for the election, by the people, of a superintendent of public instruction who shall hold his office for three years, and whose duties shall be prescribed by law, and who shall receive such compensation as the legislature may direct.

2. The legislature shall encourage, by all suitable means, the promotion, of intellectual, scientific, moral and agricultural improvements. The proceeds of all land that may be granted by the United States to this State for the support of schools, which may be sold or disposed of, and the five hundred thousand acres of land granted to the new states, under an act of congress distributing the proceeds of the public lands among the several states of the Union, approved A. D. 1841; and all estates of deceased persons who may have died without leaving a will or heir, and also such per cent. as may be granted by Congress on the sale of lands in this state, shall be and remain a perpetual fund, the interest of which, together with all the rents of the unsold lands, and such other means as the legislature may provide, shall be inviolably appropriated to the support of common schools throughout the

state.

3. The legislature shall provide for a system of common schools, by which a school shall be kept up and supported in each district at least three months

in every year and any school district neglecting to keep up and support such a school, may be deprived of its proportion of the interest of the publie fund during such neglect.

4. The legislature shall take measures for the protection, improvement, or other disposition of such lands as have been, or may hereafter be reserved or granted by the United States, or any person or persons to this state for the use of a university; and the funds accruing from the rents or sale of such lands, or from any other source for the purpose aforesaid, shall be and remain a permanent fund, the interest of which shall be applied to the support of said university, with such branches as the public convenience may demand, for the promotion of literature, the arts and sciences, as may be authorized by the terms of such grant. And it shall be the duty of the legislature as soon as may be, to provide effectual means for the improvement and perma nent security of the funds of said university.

ARTICLE X.-MODE OF AMENDING AND REVISING THE CONSTITUTION.

SECTION 1. Any amendment, or amendments to this constitution, may be proposed in the senate or assembly; and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, such proposed amendment, or amendments, shall be entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the legislature then next to be chosen, and shall be published for three months next preceding the time of making such choice. And if, in the legislature next chosen as aforesaid, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be the duty of the legislature to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people, in such manner, and at such time as the legislature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the legislature voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become part of the constitution.

2. And if, at any time, two-thirds of the senate and assembly shall think it necessary to revise and change this entire constitution, they shall recommend to the electors, at the next election for members of the legislature, to vote for or against the convention, if it shall appear that a majority of the electors voting at such election have voted in favour of calling a convention, the legislature shall, at its next session, provide by law for calling a convention, to be holden within six months after the passage of such law; and such convention shall consist of a number of members not less than that of both branches of the legislature.

ARTICLE XI.-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

SEC. 1. The first session of the legislature shall be held at Pueblo de San Jose; which place shall be the permanent seat of government, until removed by law Provided, however, that two-thirds of all the members elected to each house of the legislature shall concur in the passage of each law.

2. Any citizen of this state who shall, after the adoption of this constitu tion, fight a duel with deadly weapons, either within this state or out of it; or who shall act as second, or knowingly aid and assist in any manner those thus offending, shall not be allowed to hold any office of profit, or enjoy the right of suffrage under this constitution.

3. Members of the legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation;

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of

California; and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office-according to the best of my ability." And no other oath, declaration, or test, shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust.

4. The legislature shall establish a system of county and town governments, which shall be as nearly uniform as practicable throughout the

state.

5. The legislature shall have power to provide for the election of a board of supervisors in each county; and these supervisors shall, jointly and individually, perform such duties as may be prescribed by law."

6. All officers whose election or appointment is not provided for by this constitution, and all officers whose offices may hereafter be created by law, shall be elected by the people or appointed, as the legislature may

direct.

7. When the duration of any office is not provided for by this constitution it may be declared by law; and if not so declared, such office shall be held during the pleasure of the authority making the appointment; nor shall the duration of any office, not fixed by this constitution, ever exceed four years.

.

8. The fiscal year shall commence on the first day of July.

9. Each county, town, city, and incorporated village, shall make provision for the support of its own officers, subject to such restrictions and regulations as the legislature may prescribe.

10. The credit of the state shall not in any manner be given or loaned to, or in aid of any individual, association, or corporation; nor shall the state, directly or indirectly, become a stockholder in any association or corporation. 11. Suits may be brought against the state in such manner, and in such courts, as shall be directed by law.

12. No contract of marriage, if otherwise duly made, shall be invalidated, for want of conformity to the requirements of any religious sect.

13. Taxation shall be equal and uniform throughout the state. All property in this state shall be taxed in proportion to its value, to be ascertained as directed by law; but assessors and collectors of town, county, and state taxes, shall be elected by the qualified electors of the district, county, or town, in which the property taxed for state, county, or town purposes is situated.

14. All property, both real and personal, of the wife, owned or claimed, by her before her marriage, and that acquired afterward by gift, devise, or descent, shall be her separate property; and laws shall be passed more clearly defining the rights of the wife, in relation as well to her separate property, as to that held in common with her husband. Laws shall also be passed providing for the registration of the wife's separate property.

15. The legislature shall protect by law, from forced sale, a certain portion of the homestead and other property of all heads of families.

16. No perpetuities shall be allowed, except for eleemosynary purposes. 17. Every person shall be disqualified from holding any office of profit in this state, who shall have been convicted of having given, or offered a bribe, to procure his election or appointment.

18. Laws shall be made, to exclude from office, serving on juries, and from the right of suffrage, those who shall hereafter be convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, or other high crimes. The privilege of free suffrage shall be supported by laws regulating elections, and prohibiting, under adequate penalties, all undue influence thereon, from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper practice.

19. Absence from this state on business of this state or of the United States, shall not affect the question of residence of any person.

20. A plurality of the votes given at any election shall constitute a choice, where not otherwise directed in this constitution.

21. All laws, decrees, regulations, and provisions, which from their nature require publication, shall be published in English and Spanish.

ARTICLE XII.—BOUNDARY.

The boundary of the state of California shall be as follows:

Commencing at the point of intersection of the 42d degree of north latitude with the 120th degree of longitude west from Greenwich, and running south on the line of said 120th degree of west longitude, until it intersects the 39th degree of north latitude, thence running in a straight line in a south-easterly direction to the river Colorado, at a point where it intersects the 35th degree of north latitude, thence down the middle of the channel of said river, to the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, as established by the treaty of May 30th, 1848; thence running west and along said boundary line to the Pacific Ocean, and extending therein three English miles; thence running in a north-westerly direction, and following the direction of the Pacific coast to the 42d degree of north latitude, thence on the line of the 42d degree of north latitude to the place of beginning. Also all the islands, harbours and bays, along and adjacent to the Pacific coast.

SCHEDULE.

SEC. 1. All rights, prosecutions, claims and contracts, as well of individuals as of bodies corporate, and all laws in force at the time of the adoption of this constitution, and not inconsistent there with, until altered or repealed by the legislature, shall continue, as if the same had not been adopted.

2. The legislature shall provide for the removal of all causes which may be pending when this constitution goes into effect, to courts created by the

same.

3. In order that no inconvenience may result to the public service, from the taking effect of this constitution, no officer shall be superseded thereby, nor the laws relative to the duties of the several officers be changed until the entering into office of the new officers to be appointed under this constitution.

4. The provisions of this constitution concerning the term of residence necessary to enable persons to hold certain offices therein mentioned, shall not be held to apply to officers chosen by the people at the first election, or by the legislature at its first session.

5. Every citizen of California, declared a legal voter by this constitution, and every citizen of the United States, a resident of this state on the day of election, shall be entitled to vote at the first general election under this constitution, and on the question of the adoption thereof.

6. This constitution shall be submitted to the people, for their ratification or rejection, at the general election to be held on Tuesday, the thirteenth day of November next. The executive of the existing government of California is hereby requested to issue a proclamation to the people, directing the prefects of the several districts, or in case of vacancy, the sub-prefect, or senior judge of first instance, to cause such election to be held, on the day aforesaid, in their respective districts. The election shall be conducted in the manner which was prescribed for the election of delegates to this convention, except that the prefect, sub-prefect, or senior judge of first instance ordering such election in each district, shall have power to designate any additional number of places for opening the polls, and that in every place of holding the election, a regular poll-list shall be kept by the judges and inspectors of election. It shall also be the duty of these judges and inspectors of election, on the day aforesaid, to receive the votes of the electors qualified to vote at such election. Each voter shall express his opinion, by depositing in the ballot-box a ticket, whereon shall be written or printed, "For the constitution," or "Against the constitution," or some such words as

« AnteriorContinuar »