Section I. Constitution, when to take effect

Constitution, when to take effect

This constitution shall be in force, from the last day of December, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. But all those parts of the same, which relate to the right of suffrage; the division of the state, into senate districts; the number of members of the assembly to be elected, in pursuance of this constitution; the apportionment of members of assembly; the elections hereby directed to commence on the first Monday of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two; the continuance of the members of the present legislature in office, until the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three; and the prohibition against authorising lotteries; the prohibition against appropriating the public monies, or property, for local or private purposes, or creating, continuing, altering, or renewing, any body politic, or corporate, without the assent of two thirds of the members elected to each branch of the legislature, shall be in force, and take effect, from the last day of February next. The members of the present legislature, shall, on the first Monday of March next, take, and subscribe, an oath, or affirmation, to support the constitution, so far as the same shall then be in force. Sheriffs, clerks of counties, and coroners, shall be elected at the election hereby directed to commence on the first Monday of November, in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two; but they shall not enter on the duties of their offices before the first day of January then next following. The commissions of all persons holding civil offices on the last day of December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two, shall expire on that day; but the officers then in commission may respectively continue to hold their said offices until new appointments, or elections, shall take place under this constitution.