Article V.
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Apportionment of members of assembly
The members of the assembly, shall be chosen by counties, and shall be apportioned among the several counties of the state, as nearly as may be, according to the number of their respective inhabitants, excluding aliens, paupers, and persons of colour not taxed. An apportionment of members of assembly, shall be made by the legislature, at its first session after the return of every enumeration; and when made, shall remain unaltered until another enumeration shall be taken. But an apportionment of members of the assembly, shall be made by the present legislature, according to the last enumeration, taken under the authority of the United States, as nearly as may be. Every country heretofore established, and separately organized, shall always be entitled to one member of the assembly; and no new county shall be hereafter be erected, unless its population shall entitle it to a member.
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Future appointments of legislature
That from the first Monday in July next, and on the return of every census thereafter, the number of the assembly shall be increased at the rate of two members for every year, until the whole number shall amount to one hundred and fifty; and that upon the return of every such census, the legislature shall apportion the senators and members of the assembly amongst the great districts and counties of this state, as nearly as may be, according to the number of their respective electors: Provided, That the legislature shall not be prohibited by any thing herein contained, from allowing one member of assembly to each county, heretofore erected within this state.
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That as soon after the expiration of seven years, subsequent to the termination of the present war, as may be, a census of the electors and inhabitants in this state be taken, under the direction of the legislature. And if on such census it shall appear, that the number of representatives in assembly from the said counties, is not justly proportioned to the number of electors in the said counties respectively, that the legislature do adjust and apportion the same by that rule. And further, that once in ever seven years, after the taking of the said first census, a just account of the electors resident in each county shall be taken; and if it shall thereupon appear, that the number of electors in any county, shall have increased or diminished one or more seventieth parts of the whole number of electors, which on the said first census shall be found in this state, the number of representatives for such county shall be increased or diminished accordingly, that is to say, one representative for every seventieth part as aforesaid.
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