_#State Constitutions.#_—­As the Federal Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, so the State constitution is the highest law of the States.  The Constitutions of the original thirteen States were naturally formed after the model of the charters enjoyed by the New England colonies.  In the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts their charters were adopted as constitutions without any change, except, of course, the annulment of obedience to the English king.  All subsequent constitutions have been closely modeled after these first thirteen.  The Federal Constitution provides that all State constitutions must be Republican in form. (For other conditions of admission of territories as States, see subject “Territories.”) The modes of amendment of constitutions differ in different States, but in all, amendment is much easier of accomplishment than in the case of the Federal Constitution.  This is shown by the fact that since 1776 there have been adopted by the States one hundred and five complete constitutions, and two hundred and fourteen partial amendments; while, since the passage of the first ten Federal amendments in 1789, there have been but five additional amendments.  Some States provide that the constitution shall be submitted to the people for amendment at the end of certain intervals of time.  In the larger number of cases a majority of the popular vote is required for ratification of a constitutional amendment.  State constitutions show a tendency to become longer, and to regulate a constantly increasing number of subjects.

    A normal State constitution has the following provisions: 

    1.  A definition of the State boundaries.

    2.  A bill of rights (guaranteeing private rights, such as freedom of
    the press and speech, trial by jury in criminal cases, right to
    assemble and petition, etc.).

    3.  A frame of government, an enumeration of officers and powers of
    legislature, executive, courts of justice, etc.

    4.  Miscellaneous provisions, relating to administration of schools,
    militia, taxation, debts, local government, corporations,
    amendments, etc.

_#State Legislatures.#_—­The legislature in all States consists of two Houses, of which the upper and smaller branch is called the Senate, and the lower and more numerous branch usually the House of Representatives, though in six States it is termed the Assembly, and in three the House of Delegates.  The members of both houses are elected by popular vote, but Senators usually for a longer time, and frequently higher qualifications for them are required.  States are divided into districts for election purposes, and, though members of the legislature may offer themselves for election from any district, it has become the invariable custom for them to be elected only from the districts in which they reside.  Universal manhood suffrage,