Minnesota Constitutional Convention

“ Whenever a majority of both Houses of the Legislature shall deem it necessary to alter or amend the Constitution, they may propose such alterations or amendments, which proposed amendments shall be published with the law which have been passed at the same session, and said amendments shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection ”

“ Sec 7 No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases of impeachment or in cases cognizable by Justice of the Peace, or arising in the Army or Navy, or in the Militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger, and no person for the same offense shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. ”

“ Laws shall be passed for taxing the notes and bills discounted, or purchased, moneys loaned, and all other property, effects, or dues of every description, of all banks, and of all bankers; so that all property employed in banking shall always be subject to a taxation equal to that imposed on the property of individuals. ”

“ There shall be chosen by the qualified Electors of the States, one clerk of the Supreme Court, who shall hold his office for the term of three years, and untill his successor is duly elected and qualified, and the Judges of the Supreme Court, or a majority of them, shall have the power to fill any vacancy in the office of Clerk of the Supreme Court, until an election can be regularly had. ”

“ The State shall be divided by the Legislature into Six Judicial Districts, which shall be composed of contiguous territory, be bounded by county lines, and contain a population as nearly equal as may be practicable.
In each Judicial District, one Judge shall be elected by the electors thereof, who shall constitute said Court, and whose term of office shall be seven years. Every District Judge shall, at the time of his election, be a resident of the District for which he shall be elected, and shall reside therein during his continuance in office. ”

“ The Legislature shall provide for an annual tax sufficient to defray the estimated expenses of the State for each year, and whenever it shall happen that such ordinary expenses of the State for any year shall exceed the income of the State for any year, the Legislature shall provide for levying a tax for the ensuing year sufficient, with other sources of income, to pay the deficiency of the preceding year, together with the estimated expenses of such ensuing year. ”

“ The Lieutenant Governor shall be ex-officio President of the Senate, and in case a vacancy should occur, from any cause whatever, in the office of Governor, he shall be Governor during such vacancy. The compensation of Lieutenant Governor shall be double the compensation of State Senator. Before the close of each session of the Senate, they shall elect a President pro tempore, who shall be Lieutenant Governor in case a vacancy should occur in that office. ”

“ All persons shall before convictions be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require. ”

“ Sec 22 If upon canvassing the votes for and against the adoption of this Constition it shall appear that there has been polled a greater number of votes against than for it then no certificates of Election shall be issued for any State or District officer provided for in this Constitution and no State organization shall have validity within the limits of the Territory until otherwise provided for and until a Constitution for a State government shall have been adopted by the people. ”

“ Paul to any other place in the State, the Capitol building and grounds shall be dedicated to an institution for the promotion of science, literature and the arts, to be organized by the Legislature of the State, and of which institution the Minnesota Historical Society shall always be a department. ”

“ No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the United States, shall be deemed a resident of this State in consequence of being stationed within the same.
Section 5. During the day on which any election shall be held, no person shall be arrested by virtue of any civil process. ”

“ Every Bill shall be read on three different days in each separate House unless in case of urgency, two-thirds of the House where such Bill is depending shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule, and no Bill shall be passed by either House until it shall have been previously read twice at length. ”

“ The State shall never contract any public debt, unless in time of war, to repel invasion or suppress insurrection, except in the cases and in the manner provided in the fifth and sixth sections of this Article. ”

“ The Legislature may organize any city into a separate county when it has attained a population of twenty thousand inhabitants, without reference to geographical extent when a majority of the electors of the county in which such city may be situated, voting thereon, shall be in favor of a separate organization. ”

“ No person not belonging to one of the classes specified in the preceding Section, no person who has been convicted of treason or any felony, unless restored to civil rights, and no person insane, shall be entitled or permitted to vote at any election in this State. ”

“ The Legislature shall make such provisions, by taxation or otherwise, as, with the income arising from the School fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of Public Schools in each township in the State. ”

“ Third, The Stockholders in any corporation and joint association for banking purposes issuing bank notes shall be individually liable, in an amount equal to double the amount of stock owned by them, for all the debts of such corporation, or association, and such individual liability shall continue for one year after any transfer or sale of stock by any stockholder or stockholders. ”

“ Sec 12 No person shall be imprisoned for debt in this state, but this shall not prevent the Legislature from providing for imprisonment or holding to bail persons charged with fraud in contracting said debt. A reasonable amount of property shall be exempt from seizure or sale, for the payment of any debt or liability ”

“ At said Election the Polls shall be opened the Election held, returns made and certificates issued in all respects as provided by law for opening, closing and conducting elections and making returns except as herein before specified and excepting also that Polls may be open and elections held at any point or points in any of the counties where Precincts may be established as provided by law ten days previous to the day of election not less than ten miles from the place of voting in any established precinct. ”

“ White citizens of the United States. 2. White persons of foreign birth, who shall have declared their intentions to become citizens, conformably to the laws of the United States upon the subject of naturalization. ”

“ Article 8th School Funds, Education and Science Section 1. The stability of a republican government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people it shall be the duty of the Legislature to establish a general and uniform system of public schools. ”