Amendments, Election of 10-6-1896:

1895 JR 1 (Article XVI, Section 6) {Adopted}

1895 JR 2 (Article III, Section 17) {Adopted}

1895 JR 3 (Article IV, Section 12) {Adopted}

1895 JR 4 (Article V, Section 22) {Adopted}

1895 JR 5:

(Article III, Section 3) {Adopted}

(Article VII, Section 2) {Adopted}

(Article XVIII, Section 9) {Adopted}

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JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Section 6, of Article XVI, of the Constitution of the State of Florida, Relating to the Supreme Court, and the Publication of all Laws Enacted by the Legislature of Florida.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to the constitution of the State of Florida be and is hereby agreed to, and shall be submitted to the electors of the state at the general election in October 1896 for ratification or rejection.

Section 6 of Article XVI shall be amended so as to read as follows:

Section 6. The legislature shall provide for the speedy publication and distribution of all laws it may enact. Decisions of the supreme court and all laws and judicial decisions shall be free for publication by any person. But no judgment of the supreme court shall take effect until the decision of the court in such case shall be filed with the clerk of said court.

Approved May 30, 1895.

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A JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Section 17, of Article III, of the Constitution of the State of Florida, Relating to the Manner of Legislative Proceedings.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Florida be, and the same is hereby agreed to, and shall be submitted to the electors of the State at the general election in October, 1896, for ratification or rejection.

Section 17, of Article III, of the Constitution of the State of Florida is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 17. Every bill shall be read by its title, on its first reading, in either house, unless one-third of the members present desire it read by sections. Every bill shall be read on three several days, unless two-thirds of the members present when such bill may be pending shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule. Every bill shall be read by its sections on its second reading and on its final passage, unless on its second reading two-thirds of the members present in the House where such bill may be pending, shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule. The vote on the final passage of every bill or joint resolution shall be taken by yeas and nays to be entered on the journal of each house; Provided, That any general revision of the entire laws embodied in any bill shall not be required to be read by sections upon its final passage, and its reading may be wholly dispensed with by a two-thirds vote. A majority of the members present in each House shall be necessary to pass every bill or joint resolution. All bills or joint resolutions so passed shall be signed by the presiding officer of the respective Houses and by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved May 30, 1895.

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A JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Section 12 of Article IV, of the Constitution of the State of Florida, Relating to Pardons.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to the Constitution of the State of Florida be and the same is hereby agreed to, and shall be submitted to the electors of the State at the general election in October, A. D. 1896, for ratification or rejection.

Section 12, of Article IV, of the Constitution is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 12. The Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, Attorney General and Commissioner of Agriculture or a major part of them, of whom the Governor shall be one, may upon such conditions and with such limitations and restrictions as they may deem proper, remit fines and forfeitures, commute punishment and grant pardon after conviction, in all cases except treason and impeachment, subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by law relative to the manner of applying for pardons.

Approved May 29, 1895.

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A JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to Section 22, of Article V, of the Constitution of the State of Florida, Relating to Justices of the Peace.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

That the following amendment to Section 22, of Article V, of the Constitution of the State of Florida be and the same is hereby agreed to, and shall be submitted to the electors of the State at the general election in October, A. D. 1896, for ratification or rejection.

That Section 22, of Article V be amended so as to read:

Section 22. The justices of the peace shall have jurisdiction in cases at law in which the demand or value of the property involved does not exceed $100.00, and in which the cause of action accrued or the defendant resides in his district; and in such criminal cases, except felonies, as may be prescribed by law, and he shall have power to issue process for the arrest of all persons charged with felonies and misdemeanors not within his jurisdiction to try, and make the same returnable before himself or the county judge for examination, discharge, commitment or bail of the accused. Justices of the peace shall have power to hold inquests of the dead. Appeal from justices of the peace courts in criminal cases may be tried de novo under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe.

Approved May 30, 1895.

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the State of Florida.

Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

The following amendments to the Constitution of the State of Florida, be and the same are hereby agreed to, and shall be submitted to the electors of the State at the general election in October, 1896, for ratification or rejection.

Article I of amendments to the Constitution of the State of Florida is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 3, of Article III, of the Constitution is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 3. The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Florida shall be chosen biennially beginning with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1898, and thereafter on the corresponding day of every second year.

Article II of amendments to the Constitution of the State of Florida is hereby amended to read as follows:

Section 2, of Article VII, of the Constitution is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 2. The Legislature shall consist of not more than thirty-two members of the Senate, and of not more than sixty-eight members of the House of Representatives. The members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for terms of two years, and the members of the Senate shall be elected for terms of four years, except as hereinafter provided. The elections for members of the House of Representatives and Senate shall be at the same time and places. The terms of office of the Senators elected in October, A. D. 1896, shall expire on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, A. D. 1900, and the terms of those elected in November, A. D. 1898, shall expire on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, A. D. 1902, and thereafter all Senators shall be elected for four years.

Article III of amendments to the Constitution of the State of Florida shall be amended so as to read as follows:

Section 9, Article XVIII, of the Constitution is hereby amended so as to read as follows:

Section 9. A general election shall be held in each county in this State on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, A. D. 1898, and every two years thereafter, for all elective State and county officers, whose terms of office are about to expire, or for any elective office that shall have become vacant.

Approved May 29, 1895.