constituted shall hold office until their respective terms expire under existing law, and until their successors shall be elected and confirmed as hereinafter required. Successors to those trustees whose terms expire in nineteen hundred and two shall hold office until nineteen hundred and seven; successors to those trustees whose terms expire in nineteen hundred and four shall hold office until nineteen hundred and eleven; successors to those trustees whose terms expire in nineteen hundred and six shall hold office until nineteen hundred and fifteen; and thereafter their successors shall hold office for a term of twelve years. When the terin of any member of such board shall expire, the remaining members of the board shall by secret ballot elect his successor; provided, that any trustee so elected shall hold office from the date of his election until his confirmation or rejection by the Senate, and, if confirmed, until the expiration of the term for which he was elected, and until his successor is elected. At every meeting of the Legislature the Superintendent of Education shall certify to the Senate the names of all who have been so elected since the last session of the Legislature, and the Senate shall confirm or reject them, as it shall determine is for the best interest of the University. If it reject the names of any members, it shall thereupon elect trustees in the stead of those rejected. In case of a vacancy on said board by death or resignation of a member, or from any cause other than the expiration of his term of office, the board shall elect his successor who shall hold office until the next session of the Legislature. No trustee shall receive any pay or emolument other than his actual expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties as such.

265. After the ratification of this Constitution there shall be paid out of the treasury of this State, at the time and in the manner provided by law, the sum of not less than thirty-six thousand dollars per annum as interest on the funds of the University of Alabama, heretofore covered into the treasury, for the maintenance and support of said institution; provided, that the Legislature shall have the power at any time they deem proper for the best interest of said University to abolish the military system at said institution, or reduce the said system to a department of instruction, and that such action on the part of the Legislature shall not cause any diminution of the amount of the annual interest payable out of the treasury for the support and maintenance of said University.

266. The Alabama Polytechnic Institute, formerly called the Agricultural and Mechanical College, shall be under the management and control of a Board of Trustees, which shall consist of two members from the Congressional district in which the institute is located, and one from each of the other Congressional districts in the State, the State Superintendent of Education, and the Governor, who shall be ex-officio president of the board. The trustees shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall hold office for a term of twelve years, and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified. The board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal as may be, so that one-third may be chosen quadriennially. Vacancies occurring in the office of trustees from death or resignation, and the vacancies regularly occurring in the year nineteen hundred and five, shall be filled by the Governor, and such appointee shall hold office until the next meeting of the Leg

islature. Successors to those trustees whose terms expire in nineteen hundred and three shall hold office until nineteen hundred and eleven; successors to those whose terms of office expire in nineteen hundred and five shall hold office until nineteen hundred and fifteen; and successors to those whose terms of office expire in nineteen hundred and seven shall hold office until nineteen hundred and nineteen. No trustee shall receive any pay or emolument other than his actual expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties as such

267. The Legislature shall not have power to change the location of the State University, or the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, or the Alabama school for the Deaf and Blind, or the Alabama Girls' Industrial school, as now established by law, except upon a vote of twothirds of the Legislature taken by yeas and nays and entered upon the Journals.

268. The Legislature shall provide for taking a school census by townships and districts throughout the State not oftener than once. in two years, and shall provide for the punishment of all persons or officers making false or fraudulent enumerations and returns; provided, the State Superintendent of Education may order and supervise the taking of a new census in any township, district or county, whenever he may have reasonable cause to believe that false or fraudulent returns have been made.

269. The several counties in this State shall have power to levy and collect a special tax not exceeding ten cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property in such counties, for the support of public schools; provided, that the rate of such tax, the time it is to continue, and the purpose thereof, shall have been first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the county, and voted for by three-fifths of those voting at such election; but the rate of such special tax shall not increase the rate of taxation, State and county combined, in any one year, to more than one dollar and twenty-five cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property; excluding, however, all special county taxes for public buildings, roads, bridges and the payment of debts existing at the ratification of the Constitution of eighteen hundred and seventy-five. The funds arising from such special school tax shall be so apportioned and paid through the proper school officials to the several schools in the townships and districts in the county that the school terms of the respective schools shall be extended by such supplement as nearly the same length of time as practicable; provided, that this section shall not apply to the cities of Decatur, New Decatur and Cullman.

270. The provisions of this article and of any act of the Legislature passed in pursuance thereof to establish, organize and maintain a system of public schools throughout the State, shall apply to Mobile county only so far as to authorize and require the authorities designated by law to draw the portions of the funds to which said county shall be entitled for school purposes and to make reports to the Superintendent of Education as may be prescribed by law; and all special incomes and powers of taxation as now authorized by law for the benefit of public schools in said county shall remain undisturbed until otherwise provided by the Legislature; provided, that separate schools for each race shall always be maintained by said school authorities.

ARTICLE XV

MILITIA

271. The Legislature shall have power to declare who shall constitute the militia of the State, and to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the same; and the Legislature may provide for the organization of a State and Naval Militia.

272. The Legislature, in providing for the organization, equipment and discipline of the militia, shall conform as nearly as practicable to the regulations for the government of the armies of the United States.

273. Each company and regiment shall elect its own company and regimental officers; but if any company or regiment shall neglect to elect such officers within the time prescribed by law, they may be appointed by the Governor.

274. Volunteer organizations of infantry, cavalry, and artillery and naval militia may be formed in such manner and under such restrictions and with such privileges as may be provided by law.

275. The militia and volunteer forces shall, in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at musters, parades and elections, and in going to and returning from the same.

276. The Governor shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint all general officers, whose terms of office shall be four years. The Governor, the generals and regimental and battalion commanders shall appoint their own staffs, as may be provided by law.

277. The Legislature shall provide for the safe keeping of the arms, ammunition and accoutrements and military records, banners and relics of the State.

278. The officers and men of the militia and volunteer forces shall not be entitled to or receive any pay, rations or emoluments when not in active service.

ARTICLE XVI

OATH OF OFFICE

279. All members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, before they enter upon the execution of the duties of their respective offices, shall take the following oath or affirmation: "I. -, solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be). that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Alabama, so long as I continue a citizen thereof; and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, to the best of my ability. So help me God."

The oath may be administered by the presiding officer of either House of the Legislature, or by any officer authorized by law to administer an oath.

ARTICLE XVII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

280. No person holding an office of profit under the United States, except postmasters, whose annual salaries do not exceed two hundred dollars, shall during his continuance in such office hold any office of profit under this State; nor, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, shall any person hold two offices of profit at one and the same time under this State, except Justices of the Peace, Constables, Notaries Public and Commissioners of Deeds.

281. The salary, fees or compensation of any officer holding any civil office of profit under this State or any county or municipality thereof, shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected or appointed.

282. It is made the duty of the Legislature to enact all laws necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Constitution.

283. The act of the General Assembly of Alabama, entitled, “An Act to consolidate and adjust the bonded debt of the State of Alabama," approved February 18th, 1895, and an act amendatory thereof entitled, "An Act to amend Section 6 of an act to consolidate and adjust the bonded debt of the State of Alabama, approved February 18th, 1895," which said last named act was approved February 16th, 1899, are hereby made valid, and both of said acts shall have the full force and effect of law, except insofar as they authorize the redemption before maturity of the bonds authorized by said acts to be issued. The Governor is authorized and empowered to act under the same and to carry out all the provisions thereof; provided, that the bonds authorized to be issued by said acts and issued thereunder may be made payable at any time, not exceeding fifty years from the date thereof, and shall not be redeemable until their maturity.

ARTICLE XVIII

MODE OF AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

284. Amendments may be proposed to this Constitution by the Legislature in the manner following: The proposed amendments shall be read in the House in which they originate on three several days, and if upon the third reading three-fifths of all the members elected to that House shall vote in favor thereof, the proposed amendments shall be sent to the other House, in which they shall likewise be read on three several days, and if upon the third reading threefifths of all the members elected to that House shall vote in favor of the proposed amendments, the Legislature shall order an election by the qualified electors of the State upon the proposed amendments, to be held either at the general election next succeeding the session of the Legislature at which the amendments are proposed or upon another day appointed by the Legislature not less than three months after the final adjournment of the session of the Legislature at which the amendments were proposed. Notice of such election, together with the proposed amendments, shall be given by proclamation of the

Governor, which shall be published in every county in such manner as the Legislature shall direct, for at least eight successive weeks next preceding the day appointed for such election. On the day so appointed an election shall be held for the vote of the qualified electors of the State upon the proposed amendments. If such election be held on the day of the general election, the officers of such general election shall open a poll for the vote of the qualified electors upon the proposed amendments; if it be held on a day other than that of a general election, officers for such election shall be appointed, and the election shall be held in all things in accordance with the law governing general elections. In all elections upon such proposed amendments, the votes cast thereat shall be canvassed, tabulated and returns thereof be made to the Secretary of State, and counted, in the same manner as in elections for Representatives to the Legislature; and if it shall thereupon appear that a majority of the qualified electors who voted at such election upon the proposed amendments voted in favor of the same, such amendments shall be valid to all intents and purposes as parts of this Constitution. The results of such election shall be made known by proclamation of the Governor. Representation in the Legislature shall be based upon population, and such basis of representation shall not be changed by constitutional amendment.

285. Upon the ballots used at all elections provided for in Section 284 of this Constitution, the substance or subject matter of each proposed amendment shall be so printed that the nature thereof shall be clearly indicated. Following each proposed amendment on the ballot shall be printed the word "Yes" and immediately under that shall be printed the word "No." The choice of the elector shall be indicated by a cross mark made by him or under his direction opposite the word expressing his desire, and no amendment shall be adopted unless it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of all the qualified electors who vote at such election.

286. No convention shall hereafter be held for the purpose of altering or amending the Constitution of this State, unless after the Legislature by a vote of the majority of all the members elected to each House, has passed an act or resolution calling a Convention for such purpose, the question of Convention or No Convention shall be first submitted to a vote of all the qualified electors of the State and approved by a majority of those voting at such election. No act or resolution of the Legislature calling a convention for the purpose of altering or amending the Constitution of this State, shall be repealed, except upon the vote of a majority of all the members elected to each House at the same session at which such act or resolution was passed: provided, nothing herein contained shall be construed as restricting the jurisdiction and power of the convention, when duly assembled in pursuance of this section, to establish such ordinances and to do and perform such things as to the convention may seem necessary or proper for the purpose of altering, revising, or amending the existing Constitution.

287. All votes of the Legislature upon proposed amendments to this Constitution, and upon bills or resolutions calling a Convention for the purpose of altering or amending the Constitution of this State, shall be taken by yeas and nays and entered on the Journals. No act