Judiciary. A court of appeals, consisting of four judges, one of whom is elected in each judicial district for ten years.  One is designated by the governor and senate as chief-justice.  They must be thirty years of age, and have been citizens of the state five years.  They are disqualified at seventy.  There are eight judicial circuits, in each of which, except the fifth, is elected a judge, for ten years, who holds circuit courts in the counties within his circuit.

There are, in the city of Baltimore, courts peculiar to that city.

Justices of the peace and constables, are elected for two years in each ward of the city of Baltimore, and in each election district in the several counties.

A sheriff and a state’s attorney are elected in each county and the city of Baltimore, the former for two, and the latter for four years.  Sheriffs are ineligible for the next two years.

Amendments may be made only by a convention, called by the legislature in pursuance of a vote of the people to be taken after each United States census.

Virginia.

A constitution was adopted in 1716; another in 1830; the present in 1851.

Electors. White male citizens, having resided in the state two years, and in the county, city or town where they offer to vote, one year.  Votes are given openly, or viva voce.  Dumb persons only vote by ballot.

Legislature. Senate and house of delegates.  Delegates, one hundred and fifty-two in number, are elected biennially, and apportioned among the several counties and election districts according to population.  The senate consists of fifty members, elected in single districts for four years, one-half every two years.  Apportionments are made every ten years.  Delegates are eligible at the age of twenty-one years; senators at the age of twenty-five.

Quorum, a majority.  Bills to become laws, do not require the governor’s approval.

Executive. The governor is elected for four years, and is ineligible for the next term.  He must be thirty years of age, a native citizen of the United States, and have been a citizen of the state five years.  A lieutenant-governor.

A secretary of state, a treasurer, and an auditor of public accounts, are elected for two years in joint assembly; an attorney general is elected for four years by the people at every election for governor.

Judiciary. The state is divided into twenty-one judicial circuits, ten districts, and five sections, in each of which division, one judge is elected by the people; the circuit judges for eight years, the judges of the supreme court of appeals for twelve years.  A circuit judge holds circuit courts in the several counties composing his district.  The judges of the circuits constituting a section, and the judge of the supreme court of appeals for that section, hold district courts in such section.  The supreme court of appeals consists of the five judges elected in the sections, and three of whom may hold a court.  Judges may be removed by the legislature.