612    CONSTITUTION OF NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

ry defense and support of the government of this State, and the protec.
tion and preservation of the subjects thereof, according to such acts as are
or shall be in force within the same.

6. And while the public charges of goveimment, or any part thereof
shall be assessed on polls and estates in the manner that has heretofore
been practiced; in order that such assessments may be made with equal-
ity, there shall be a valuation of the estates within the State, taken anew
once in every five years at least, and as much oftener as the General
Court shall order.

7. No member of the General Court shall take fees, be of counsel, or
act as advocate in any cause before either branch of the Legislature; and
upon due proof thereof such member shall forfeit his seat in the Legis-
lature.

8. The doors of the galleries of each House of the Legislature shall be
kept open to all persons who behave decently, except when the welfare
of the State, in the opinion of either branch, shall require secrecy.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

9. There shall he in the Legislature of this State a representation of the
people, annually elected, and founded upon principles of equality; and
m order that such representation may be as equal as circumstances will
admit, every town, parish,' or place entitled to town privileges, having
one hundred and fifty ratable male polls, of twenty-one years of age and
upward, may elect one representative; if four hundred and fifty ratable
polls, may elect two representatives; and so proceeding in that propor-
tion, making three hundred such ratable polls the mean increasing num-
ber for every additional representative.

10. Such towns, parishes, or places as have less than one hundred and
fifty ratable polls shall be classed by the General Court for the purpose of
choosing a representative, and seasonably notified thereof. And in every
class formed for the above mentioned purpose, the first annual meeting
shall be held in the town, parish or place wherein most of the ratable polls
reside; and afterward in that which has the next highest number, and so
on annually by rotation, through the several towns, parishes or places
forming the district.

11. Whenever any town, parish or place entitled to town privileges
as aforesaid, shall not have one hundred and fifty ratable polls, and be
so situated as to render classing thereof with any other town, parish or
place very inconvenient, the General Court may, upon application of a
majority of the voters in such town, parish or place issue a writ for
their electing and sending a representative to the General Court.

12. The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen an-
nually, in the month of March, and shall be the second branch of the
Legislature.

13. All persons qualified to vote in the election of senators shall be
entitled to vote within the district where they dwell, in the choice of
representatives.

14. Every member of the House of Representatives shall be chosen
by ballot; and for two years at least next preceding his election, shall
have been an inhabitant of this State, [shall have an estate within the
district which he maybe chosen to represent, of the value of one hundred
pounds, one half of which to be a free hold, whereof he is seized in his
own right]* shall be at the time of his election an inhabitant of the
town, parish or place he may be chosen to represent; shall be of the Pro-
testant religion, and shall cease to represent such townor parish or place
immediately on his ceasing to be qualified as aforesaid.

15. The members of both Houses of the Legislature shall be compen-
sated for their services out of the treasury of the State, by a law made

* See Amendments