counties; but no county may be divided, unless it be equitably entitled to two or more members. No county may have more than one-third of all the senators, and no two present adjoining counties more than one-half. See pp. 161, 162. SENATE DISTRICTS, APPORTIONMENT OF 1894. 1. Suffolk and Richmond. 2. Queens. 3-9. Brooklyn. 10-21. New York. 22. Westchester. 23. Rockland, Orange. 24. Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia. 25. Ulster, Greene. 26. Delaware, Chenango, Sullivan. 27. Montgomery, Fulton, Hamilton, Schoharie. 32. St. Lawrence, Franklin. 33. Otsego, Herkimer. 34. Oneida. 35. Jefferson, Lewis. 36. Onondaga. 37. Oswego, Madison. 38. Broome, Cortland, Tioga. 40. Chemung, Tompkins, Schuyler. 42. Ontario, Wayne. 28. Saratoga, Schenectady, Wash- 43, 44. Monroe. ington. 29. Albany. 30. Rensselaer. 31. Clinton, Essex, Warren. 45. Niagara, Genesee, Orleans. 46. Allegany, Livingston, Wyoming. 47-49 Erie. 50. Chautauqua, Cattaraugus. THE ASSEMBLY APPORTIONMENT OF 1894. Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Dutchess, Jefferson, Niagara, Orange, Otsego, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, and Ulster counties have each 2 districts; Oneida, Queens, Rensselaer, and Westchester have 3; Albany, Monroe, and Onondaga have 4; Erie has 8; Kings has 21; New York has 35. All the other counties form one district each, except Fulton and Herkimer, which form one jointly. See pp. 162–165. Counties entitled to more than one member are divided into assembly districts by the board of supervisors on the second Tuesday of June, 1895, and at such subsequent times as the Legislature making an apportionment shall decide. See page 163. What Restrictions are placed upon the division of a county into assembly districts? I. The districts must be as nearly equal as possible in number of inhabitants, excluding aliens. II. They must be of convenient and contiguous territory in as compact form as possible. III. Each district must be wholly within a senate district. IV. In counties having more than one senate district, the number of assembly districts in each senate district must be as nearly as possible uniform. V. No town, and no block in a city inclosed by streets or public ways, must be divided. VI. No district must contain a greater excess in population over an adjoining district in the same senate district than the population of a town or block therein adjoining such senate district. ELIGIBILITY. Who are Eligible to the Legislature? The requirements are these: I. The candidate must be 21 years of age. II. He must not be at the time of election, nor have been within 100 days previous thereto, a member of Congress, a civil or military officer under the United States, or any officer under any city government. III. Should any person after his election to the Legislature be elected or appointed to any of the offices just named, his acceptance thereof will vacate his seat in the Legislature. DUTIES. What are some of the duties of the members of the Assembly? 1. To take the oath of office. Art. XIII,Sec. I, Const., page 210. II. To organize by electing their presiding officer, who is called the Speaker, and who must be one of their number. III. To elect also the other officers, viz: a Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, Door-Keeper, and two assistant DoorKeepers; persons not members of their body. IV. To have co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Senate in the enactment of laws. V. To prefer charges against officers for misconduct in office, which is called Impeachment. ORGANIZATION. Who calls the Assembly to order for the purpose of Organization? The Clerk of the last Assembly. Who furnishes the Clerk with an official list of the members elect? The Secretary of State. By whom is the Oath of Office administered? Usually by the Secretary of State. The oath may, however, be taken previously, before any Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney-General, the LieutenantGovernor, any Judge of a County Court, the Mayor or Recorder of any city, or the Clerk of any county or Court of Record. The oath whenever taken must be duly subscribed, certified, and filed in the office of the Secretary of State. Members who are absent at the organization, may be sworn by the Speaker, if they have not previously taken the oath. By whom are the other officers Appointed? By the Speaker, except those in the department of the Clerk, he having power to appoint his own deputies. THE SENATE. Who is the Presiding Officer in the Senate? The Lieutenant-Governor; he is called the President of the Senate. DUTIES. What are some of the Duties of the State Senate? I. To elect the remaining officers, whose names and duties are about the same as in the Assembly. II. To have co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Assembly in enacting laws. III. To act as a court for the trial of impeachments, associated with the judges of the Court of Appeals, and the President of the Senate. IV. To confirm or reject appointments made by the Governor. V. To elect a temporary president when the Lieutenant-Governor shall not attend as president, or shall be called to act as Governor. How many members must be present in each house to do business? A majority, which is called a Quorum. Where may bills Originate? BILLS. Any bill may originate in either house of the Legislature. What is the Difference in this respect between the Legislature of this State and Congress? In Congress all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives. |