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America’s First Constitutions and Declarations of Rights
ii.—and in order to provide for a representation of the citizens of
this Commonwealth, founded upon the principle of equality, every corporate town, containing one hundred and fifty rateable polls, may elect
one Representative: Every corporate town, containing three hundred
and seventy-five rateable polls, may elect three Representatives; and
proceeding in that manner, making two hundred and twenty-five rateable polls the mean increasing number for every additional Representative.
Provided nevertheless, that each town incorporated, not having one
hundred and fifty rateable polls, may elect one Representative: but no
place shall hereafter be incorporated with the privilege of electing a Representative, unless there are within the same one hundred and fifty rateable polls.
And the House of Representatives shall have power, from time to
time, to impose fines upon such towns as shall neglect to choose and return members to the same, agreeably to this Constitution.
The expenses of travelling to the General Assembly, and returning
home, once in every session, and no more, shall be paid by the government, out of the public treasury, to every member who shall attend as
seasonably as he can, in the judgment of the House, and does not depart
without leave.
iii.—every member of the House of Representatives shall be chosen
by written votes; and for one year at least next preceding his election
shall have been an inhabitant of, and have been seized in his own right
of a freehold of the value of one hundred pounds within the town he
shall be chosen to represent, or any rateable estate to the value of two
hundred pounds; and he shall cease to represent the said town immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid.
iv.—every male person, being twenty-one years of age, and resident
in any particular town in this Commonwealth for the space of one year
next preceding, having a freehold estate within the same town, of the annual income of three pounds, or any estate of the value of sixty pounds,
shall have a right to vote in the choice of a Representative or Representatives for the said town.
v.—the members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen an-