Chap. 690.—JOINT RESOLUTION proposing amendments to sections 1 and 2 of
article seven of the constitution of Virginia, and providing for publishing said
amendment and certifying the same to the next general assembly.

Approved March 8, 1818.

1. Resolved by the senate and house of delegates (a majority of the
members elected to each house agreeing thereto), That the following
amendment to the constitution of Virginia be, and is hereby, proposed
and is hereby referred to the general assembly to be chosen at the next
general election of senators and members of the house of delegates for
its concurrence, in conformity with the provisions of section one of
article twelve of said constitution, viz:

Strike out from the constitution of Virginia sections one and two of
article seven, which are in the following words:

§ 1. There shall be elected by the qualified voters of the county one
sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth (who shall also be the eom-
monwealth’s attorney for the circuit court), one county clerk (who shall
also be the clerk of the circuit court, except that in counties containing
fifteen thousand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for the circuit
court), one county treasurer, and 80 many commissioners of the revenue
as may be provided by law; and there shall be appointed in the like
manner, to be provided by law, one superintendent of the poor and one
county surveyor; and there shall also be appointed in the manner pro-
vided for in article eight, one superintendent of schools. All regular
elections for county oflicers shall be held on the fourth Thursday in
May; and all officers elected or appointed under this provision shall
enter upon the duties of their oflices on the first day of July next suc-
ceeding their election, and shall hold their respective offices for the term
of four years, except that county and circuit court clerks shall hold
office for six years.

§ 2. Each county of the state shall be divided into so many com-
pactly located magisterial districts as may be deemed necessary, not less
than three: provided, that after these have been formed no additional
districts shall be made containing less than thirty square miles. Fach
magisterial district shall be known as ———- magisterial district of
county.

In each district there shall be elected one supervisor, three justices of
the peace, one constable and one overseer of the poor, who shall hold
their respective offices for the term of two years. <All regular elections
for magisterial district officers shall take place on the fourth Thursday
in May, and all officers so elected shall enter upon the duties of their
respective offices on the first day of July next succeeding their election.

The supervisors of the districts shall constitute the board of supervisors
for that county, whose duty it shall be to audit the accounts of the
county, examine the books of the commissioners of the revenue, regu-
late and equalize the valuation of property, fix the county levies for the
ensuing year, and perform any other duties required of them by law.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

§ 1. There shall be elected by the qu: nlified voters of the county one
sheriff, one attorney for the commonwealth (who shall also be common-
wealth’s s attorney for the circuit court), one county clerk (who shall also be
the clerk of circuit court, except that in counties containing fifteen thou-
sand inhabitants there may be a separate clerk for the circuit court), one
county treasurer, and so many commissioners of the revenue as may be
provided by law: and there shall beappointed in a like manner, to be
provided by law, one superintendent of the poor and one county sur-
vevor; and there shall also be appointed in the manner provided for in
article eight, one superintendent of schools.

All regular elections for county officers shall be held on the Tuesday
succeeding the first Monday in November, and all officers elected orap-
pointed under this provision shall enter upon the duties of their offices
on the first day of January next succeeding their election, and shall hold
their respective offices for the term of four years, except that county and
circuit court clerks shall hold office for six years.

§ 2. Each county of the state shall be divided into so many compactly
located magisterial districts as may be deemed necessary, not less than
three: provided that after these have been formed, no additional districts
shall be made containing less than thirty square miles. Each magiste-
rial district shall be known as ——— magisterial district of
county. In each district there shall be elected one supervisor, three
justices of the peace, one constable and one overseer of the poor, who
shall hold their respective offices for the term of two years. All regular
elections for magisterial district officers shall take place on the Tuesday
succeeding the first Monday in November, and all officers so elected shall
enter upon the duties of their respective offices on the first day of Janu-
ary next succeeding their election. The supervisors of the districts shall
constitute the board of supervisors for that county, whose duty it shall
be to audit the accounts of the county, examine the books of the com-
missioners of the revenue, regulate and equalize the valuation of pro-
perty, fix the county levies for the ensuing year, and perform any othe
duties required of them by law.

2. Resolved, That the clerk of the senate or the clerk of the house o
delegates, or, if a vacancy happen in both of the said offices, the presid
ing officer of either house of the general asscmbly, be authorized anc
required to cause this proposed amendment and these resolutions to br
published in one newspaper published in each of the cities of the com
monwealth, having more than ten thousand inhabitants, once a week
for three consecutive months previous to the time of choosing the mem:
bers of the general assembly at the next general election of senators anc
members of the house of delegates.

3. Resolved, That the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house
of delegates be required to transmit to the general assembly, to be choser
at the next general election of senators and members of the house o!
delegates, a certified copy of said proposed amendments and these reso.
lutions, together with the certificates of publication by the publishers o:
newspapers in which the said amendment shall have been published.