NEW YORK INTRODUCTION

casting vote in case of ties. The doors of both houses were to be open,
"except when the welfare of the State" required secrecy. Bills could
originate in either house. A conference committee would resolve dif-
ferences between the two houses.
The Assembly was elected annually by adult male inhabitants who
had resided in a county for six months and who were freeholders own-
ing land worth at least E20 (half the colonial requirement) or tenants
paying annual rents of at least E2 and who had "been rated and actually
paid taxes to this State." All freemen as of 14 October 1775 in New
York City and Albany could also vote. As the population increased (de-
termined by a septennial census), a county's representation could be
increased or the legislature could create new counties until the Assem-
bly grew to a maximum of 300 members. Because of a demand for
switching from viva voce to balloting, it was decided that "as soon as
may be" after the war, an experiment with balloting for both houses
of the legislature should be tried. If, however, "after a full and fair
experiment" balloting should "be found less conducive to the safety
or interest of the State, than the method of voting viva voce, it shall be
lawful and constitutional for the legislature" by a two-thirds vote of
those present in each house to restore voice voting.
The Senate was to be chosen by freeholders possessed of net property
worth E100. Immediately after the first election, the twenty-four sena-
tors would be divided by lot into four classes of six senators each. Those
in the first class would have a one-year term, in the second class two
years, etc. In this way after the first four years all senators would have
a four-year term with one-quarter of the senators being elected in any
given year. The state's senators were to be grouped into four districts-
southern, eastern, western, and middle districts. The constitution ini-
tially allotted nine senators to the southern district, three to the eastern
district (which included Vermont), and six each to the middle and
western districts. When a septennial census indicated a sufficient popu-
lation growth, the legislature could increase the number of senators to
a maximum of 100 and increase the number of counties and districts.
The "supreme executive power, and authority" was lodged in a gov-
ernor elected by ballot by those freeholders qualified to vote for the
Senate. The governor had a three-year term, the longest of any state
executive in the Union. No reeligibility restrictions were placed upon
him. The governor was general and commander-in-chief of the state
militia and admiral of the state navy. He could call the legislature into
special session "on extraordinary occasions" and could prorogue it but
for no more than sixty days within a year. A lieutenant governor was

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