The constitution of Georgia

Front matter

THE

As Adopted

December 5th, 1877,

Preface

As a claimant for public approval and patronage, this Pamphlet goes forth recommended by its salutary design and useful nature. Much labor and care has been bestowed upon the work, in order to give it comprehensiveness and accuracy.

The reforms demanded at the hands of the framers of the Constitution necessitated their entering verv largely into the details of Government and Legislation, and the limitations and restrictions on the Departments, and the directions given, are so varied and numerous, and are distributed throughout the body of the Constitution in such a manner as to render the systematizing effect of an Analysis highly desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to the proper understanding and satisfactory investigation of its provisions.

To afford relief from the perplexity and embarrassment, that has heretofore attended all reference to our New Constitution, is the design of this work. The Pamphlet now presented will, at a glance, disclose, to even the most inexpert, the Article, Section and Paragraph of every subject, on which the Constitution has any bearing, direct or remote.

Should this work meet with general patronage throughout the State, it will be a source of gratification to the compilers that thev have rendered more attractive and less laborious the study of the Constitution under which we live, and thereby indued a more general acquaintance with its benificent provisions.

Columbus, Ga., May, 1879.

CONSTITUTION

OF THE

STATE OF GEORGIA

Preaii ble.

BILL OF RIGHTS.

PREAMBLE.

To perpetuate the principles of free government, insure justice to all, preserve peace, promote the interest and happiness of the citizen, and transmit to posterity the enjoyment of liberty, we, the people of Georgia, relying upon the protection and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish this Constitution :

ARTICLE I.

Section I

Paragraph I. All government, of right, originates with the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted j e ct"of n Governsolely for the good of the whole. Public officers are the trus- m ' tees and servants of the people, and, at all times, amenable to them.

Par. II. Protection to person and property is the para- Protection. mount duty of government, and shall be impartial and complete.

Par. III. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or LifC) liliertVi property, except by due process of law. and property.

Par. IV. No person shall be deprived of the right to prose- Eights in courts. x x n i •

cute or defend his own cause in any of the courts of this State, in person, by attorney, or both.

Par. V. Every person charged with an offense against the fendSte e fncS- laws of tais State shall have the privilege and benefit of inai cases. counsel ; shall be furnished, on demand, with a copy of the accusation, and a list of the witnesses on whose testimony the charge against him is founded ; shall have compulsory process to obtain the testimony of his own witnesses ; shall be confronted with the witnesses testifying against him, and shall have a public and speedy trial by an impartial jury.

Par. VI. No person shall be compelled to give testimony self -crimination. t enc ]j n g { n anv manner to criminate himself.

Par. VII. Neither banishment beyond the limits of the and'whipping. 11 * State, nor whipping, as a punishment for crime, shall be allowed.

Par. VIII. No person shall be put in jeopardy of life, or jeopardyof life liberty, more than once for the same offense, save on his, or

more than once J > '

forbidden. k ei ^ own m otion for a new trial after conviction, or in case of mistrial.

Par. IX. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor exces- Excessive ban. s j ve fi nes imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted ; nor shall any person be abused in being arrested, while under arrest, or in prison.

Cogts Par. X. No person shall be compelled to pay costs, except

after conviction on final trial.

Habeas corpus. P ar - XI- The writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended.

Par. XII. All men have the natural and inalienable right to worship God, each according to the dictates of his own conscience, and no human authority should, in any case, con-

Freedom of

conscience.

trol or interfere with such right of conscience.

Par. XIII. No inhabitant of this State shall be molested in io*!&c!° usopm "P erson or property, or prohibited from holding any public office, or trust, on account of his religious opinions ; but the right of liberty of conscience shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness, or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the State.

Par. XIV. No money shall ever be taken from the public toteSSddOT treasury, directly or indirectly, in aid of any church, sect, or

THE STATE OF GEOEGIA.

denomination of religionists, or of any sectarian institution.

Par. XV. No law shall ever be passed to curtail, or re-gp^^/ran-

strain, the liberty of speech, or of the press ; any person may teed ' speak, write, and publish his sentiments, on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that liberty.

Par. XVI. The right of the people to be secure in their searches and

pp. • it warrants.

persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue except upon probable cause, supported by oath, or affirmation, particularly describing the place, or places, to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Par. XVII. There shall be within the State of Georgia ylavei- yneither slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime after lee;al conviction thereof.

Par. XVIII. The social status of the citizen shall never ,« tatus of th6

citizen.

be the subject of legislation.

Par. XIX. The civil authority shall be superior to the , Civi 3 p° w .f r

J l above the nuh-

military, and no soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered tal- yin any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, except by the civil magistrate, in such manner as may be provided by law.

Par. XX. The power of the courts to punish for contempt, C 011 ^ 111 ! 1 *- shall be limited by legislative acts.

Par. XXL There shall be no imprisonment for debt. fo Sf omnent

Par. XXII. The right of the people to keep and bear arms, Arms, shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.

Par. XXJII. The legislative, judicial and executive powers Departments of

i -i-i p • t t -. t government sep-

snall forever remain separate and distinct, and no person dis- arate. charging the duties of one, shall, at the same time, exercise the functions of either of the others, except as herein provided.

Par. XXIV. The people have the right to assemble peacea- Right to as -

. ■ L - L A semble and peti-

bly for their common good, and to apply to those vested with liou - the powers of government, for redress of grievances, by petition or remonstrance.

Par. XXV. All citizens of the United States, resident in .Protection of this State, are hereby declared citizens of this State ; and it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to enact such laws as will protect them in the full enjoyment of the rights, privileges and immunities due to such citizenship.

citizens.

Section II

Par. I. In all prosecutions or indictments for libel the prosecutions truth may be criven in evidence: and the jury in all criminal

for libel, &c. J i=> ? J J

cases, shall be the judges of the law and the facts. The power of the Judges to grant new trials in cases of conviction, is preserved.

Par. II. Treason against the State of Georgia, shall consist Treason defined. j n levying war against her; adhering to her enemies; giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason, except on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or confession in open court.

Par. III. No conviction shall work corruption of blood or f w°ood. rrurti011 forfeiture of estate.

Par. IV. All lotteries, and the sale of lottery tickets, are hibiied elies 1)ro " hereby prohibited ; and this prohibition shall be enforced by penal laws.

Par. V. Lobbying is declared to be a crime, and the Gen- ^Low.ying erim- era i Assembly shall enforce this provision by suitable penalties.

Par. VI. The General Assembly shall have the power to Fraud. Con- provide for the punishment of fraud: and shall provide, by

ceahng property. r - ' i ■ J

law, for reaching property of the debtor concealed from the creditor.

Section III

Par. I. In cases of necessity, private ways may be granted compensation upon iust compensation being first paid bv the applicant.

Private property shall not be taken, or damaged, lor public purposes, without just and adequate compensation being first paid.

Par. II. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, retroactive Attainder, <>;law, or l aw impairing the obligation of contracts, or making &c - irrevocable grants of special privileges or immunities, shall

be passed.

Par. III. No grant of special privileges or immunities Non-revocation s h a i]_ b e revoked, except in such manner as to work no inius-

of grants to cor- ' J- J

porations. ^ ce to tne corporators or creditors of the incorporation.

Section IV

Paragraph I. Laws of a general nature shall have uniform anc? TioTvaricd! operation throughout the State, and no special law shall be

THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

Void acts.

enacted in any case for which provision has been made by an existing general law. No general law affecting private rights, shall be varied in any particular case, by special legislation, except with the free consent, in writing, of all persons to be affected thereby; and no person under legal disability to contract, is capable of such consent.

Par. II. Legislative acts in violation of this Constitution, or the Constitution of the United States, are void, and the Judiciary shall so declare them.

Section V

Paragraph I. The people of this State have the inherent, state Ei § hts - sole and exclusive right of regulating their internal government, and the police thereof, and of altering and abolishing their Constitution whenever it may be necessary to their safety and happiness.

Par. II. The enumeration of rights herein contained as a inherent Rights part of this Constitution, shall not be construed to deny to the people any inherent rights which they may have hitherto enjoyed.

ARTICLE II.

Elective Franchise.

Section I

Paragraph I. In all elections by the people, the electors Ballot. shall vote by ballot.

Par. II. Everv male citizen of the United States, (except who are Eiec-

• • n i i \i tors - 0ath 0f

as hereinafter provided) twenty-one years of age, who shall Electors, have resided in this State one year next preceding the election, and shall have resided six months in the county in which he offers to vote, and shall have paid all taxes which may hereafter be required of him, and which he may have had an opportunity of paying, agreeably to law, except for the year of the election, shall be deemed an elector : Provided, that no soldier, sailor or marine in the military or naval service of the United States, shall acquire the rights of an elector, by reason of being stationed on duty in this State ;

and no person shall vote who, if challenged, shall refuse to take the following oath, or affirmation: "I do swear (or affirm) that I am twenty-one years of age. have resided in this State one year, and in this county six months, next preceding this election. I have paid all taxes which, since the adoption of the present Constitution of this State, have been required of me previous to this year, and which I have had an opportunity to pay, and I have not voted at this election."

Section II

Paragraph I. The General Assembly may provide, from wh?lS ? Sfran- ^ me t0 ti me j f° r the registration of all electors, but the folehised - lowing classes of persons shall not be permitted to register,

vote, or hold any office, or appointment of honor or trust in this State, to-wit: 1st. Those who shall have been convicted, in any court of competent jurisdiction, of treason against the State, of embezzlement of public funds, malfeasance in office, bribery or larceny, or of any crime involving moral turpitude, punishable by the laws of this State with imprisonment in the penitentiary, unless such person shall have been pardoned. 2d. Idiots and insane persons.

Section III. Privilege of

Electors

Paragraph I. Electors shall, in all cases, except for treason, felony, larceny, and breach of the peaee, be privileged from arrest during their attendance on elections, and in going to and returning from the same.

Section IV

Paragraph I. No person who is the holder of any public Public funds, money, contrary to law, shall be eligible to any office in this State, until the same is accounted for and paid into the treasury.

Par. II. No person who, after the adoption of this Consti- Dueiiing. tution, being a resident of this State, shall have been convicted of fighting a duel in this State, or convicted of sending, or accepting a challenge, or convicted of aiding, or abetting such duel, shall hold office in this State, unless he shall have been pardoned ; and every such person shall, also, be subject to such punishment as may be prescribed by law.

THE STATE OF GEOEGIA. 11

Section V

Paragraph I. The General Assembly shall, by law, forbid 01 ft^ the sale, distribution, or furnishing of intoxicating drinks within two miles of election precincts, on days of election — State, county or municipal — and prescribe punishment for any violation of the same.

Section VI

Paragraph I. Returns of election for all civil officers elected Election re-

& i turns.

by the people, who are to be commissioned by the Governor, and, also, for the members of the General Assembly, shall be made to the Secretary of State, unless otherwise provided by law.

sembly.

Senators

ARTICLE III.

Legislative Department.

Section I

Paragraph I. The legislative power of the State shall be sAml ^ neral As " vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.

Section II

Paragraph I. The Senate shall consist of forty-four members. There shall be forty-four Senatorial Districts, as now arranged by counties. Each District shall have one (Senator.

Par. II. The First Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Chatham, Bryan and Effingham.

The Second Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Liberty, Tatnall and Mcintosh.

The Third Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Wayne, Pierce and Appling.

The Fourth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Glynn, Camden and Charlton.

The Fifth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Coffee, Ware and Clinch.

The Sixth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Echols, Lowndes and Berrien.

The Seventh Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Brooks, Thomas and Colquitt.

The Eighth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Decatur, Mitchell and Miller.

The Ninth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Early, Calhoun and Baker.

The Tenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Dougherty, Lee and Worth.

The Eleventh Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Clay, Randolph and Terrell.

The Twelfth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Stewart, Webster and Quitman.

The Thirteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Sumter, Schley and Macon.

The Fourteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Dooly, Wilcox, Pulaski and Dodge.

The Fifteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Montgomery, Telfair and Irwin.

The Sixteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Laurens, Emanuel and Johnson.

The Seventeenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Screven, Bulloch and Burke.

The Eighteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Richmond, Glasscock and Jefferson.

The Nineteenth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Taliaferro, Green and Warren.

The Twentieth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Baldwin, Hancock and Washington.

The Twenty-first Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Twiggs, Wilkinson and Jones.

The Twenty-second Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Bibb, Munroe and Pike.

The Twenty-third Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Houston, Crawford and Taylor.

The Twenty-fourth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Muscogee, Marion and Chattahoochee.

The Twenty-fifth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Harris, Upson and Talbot.

The Twenty- sixth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Spalding, Butts and Fayette.

The Twenty-seventh Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Newton, Walton, Clark, Oconee and Rockdale.

The Twenty -eighth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Jasper, Putnam and Morgan.

The Twenty-ninth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Wilkes, Columbia, Lincoln and McDuffie.

The Thirtieth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Oglethorpe, Madison and Elbert.

The Thirty-first Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Hart, Habersham and Franklin.

The Thirty-second Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of White, Dawson and Lumpkin.

The Thirty-third Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Hall, Banks and Jackson.

The Thirty-fourth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Gwinnett, DeKalb and Henry.

The Thirty-fifth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Clayton, Cobb and Fulton.

The Thirty-sixth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Campbell, Coweta, Meriwether and Douglass.

The Thirty-seventh Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Carroll, Heard and Troup.

The Thirty-eighth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Haralson, Polk and Paulding.

The Thirty-ninth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Milton, Cherokee and Forsyth.

The Fortieth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Union, Towns and Rabun.

The Forty-first Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Pickens, Fannin and Gilmer.

The Forty-second Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Bartow, Floyd and Chattooga.

The Forty -third Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Murray, Gordon and Whitfield.

The Forty-fourth Senatorial District shall be composed of the counties of Walker, Dade and Catoosa.

Par. III. The General Assembly may change these dis- h DI f r ? ctS) bow tricts after each census of the United States : Provided, That neither the number of Districts, nor the number of Senators from each District shall be increased.

Section III

Paragraph I. The House of Representatives shall consist of Represents one hundred and seventy-five Eepresentatives, apportioned among the several counties as follows, to-wit : To the six counties having the largest population, viz : Chatham, Richmond, Burke, Houston, Bibb and Fulton, three Representatives, each ; to the twenty -six counties having the next largest population, viz: Bartow, Coweta, Decatur, Floyd, Greene, Gwinnett, Harris, Jefferson, Meriwether, Monroe, Muscogee, Newton, Stewart, Sumter, Thomas, Troup, Washington, Hancock, Carroll, Cobb, Jackson, Dougherty, Oglethorpe, Macon, Talbot and Wilkes, two Representatives, each ; and to the remaining one hundred and five counties, one Representative, each.

Par. II. The above apportionment shall be changed by the Apportionment, General Assembly at its first session after each census taken

how changed. J

by the United States Government, so as to give to the six counties having the largest population three Representatives, each ; and to the twenty-six counties having the next largest , population two Representatives, each ; but in no event shall the aggregate number of Representatives be increased.

Section IY.

Paragraph I. The members of the General Assembly shall Term of mem- be elected for two years, and shall serve until their successors

bers. J '

are elected.

Par. II. The first election for members of the General ^Ejection, when Assembly, under this Constitution, shall take place on the first Wednesday in December, 1877 ; the second election for the same shall be held on the first Wednesday in October, 1880, and subsequent elections biennially, on that day, until the day of election is changed by law.

Par. III. The first meeting of the General Assembly, after Meeting of the t ne ratification of this Constitution, shall be on the first Wed-

Geueral Ass em- '

bly - nesday in November, 1878, and biennially thereafter, on the

same day, until the day shall be changed by law. But nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the Governor from calling an extra session of the General Assembly before the first Wednesday in November, 1878, if, in his opinion, the public good shall require it.

Oath of members.

| Par. IV. A majority of each house shall constitute a Q norum quorum to transact business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the presence of its absent members, as each house may provide.

Par. V. Each Senator and Representative, before taking his scat, shall take the following oath, or affirmation, to- wit : "I will support the Constitution of this State, and of the United States, and on all questions and measures which may come before me, I will so conduct myself, as will, in my judgment, be most conducive to the interests and prosperity of this State."

Par. VI. No session of the General Assembly shall con- . Length of se8 .

■/ sion limited.

tinue longer than forty days, unless by a two-thirds vote of the whole number of each house.

Par. VII. No person holding a military commission, or Eligibility of

L o «/ i members.

other appointment, or office, having any emolument, or compensation annexed thereto, under this State, or the United States, or either of them, except Justices of the Peace and officers of the militia, nor any defaulter for public money, or for any legal taxes required of him, shall have a seat in either

Appointments

house; nor shall any Senator, or Representative, after his prohibited.

qualification as such, be elected by the General Assembly, or

appointed by the Governor, either with or without the advice

and consent of the Senate, to any office or appointment having

any emolument annexed thereto during the time for which

he shall have been elected.

Par. VIII. The seat of a member of either house shall be 4 Removal vacates,

vacated on his removal from the district or county from which he was elected.

Section V

Paragraph I. The Senators shall be citizens of the United Qualification of

° r . Senators.

States, who have attained the age of twenty-five years, and who shall have been citizens of this State for four years, and for one year residents of the district from which elected.

Par. II. The presiding officer of the Senate shall be styled President. the President of the Senate, and shall be elected viva voce from the Senators.

Par. III. The Senate shall have the sole power to try im- impeachment, peachments.

Par. IV. When sitting for that purpose, the members shall im eachml^f^ 6 on oatn ? or affirmation, and shall be presided over by the g£ fJusticepre " Chief Justice, or the presiding Justice of the Supreme Court. Should the Chief Justice be disqualified the Senate shall select the Judge of the Supreme Court to preside. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two- thirds of the members present.

Par. V. Judgments, in cases of impeachment, shall not ex-

me ut ?" imVeach- tend farther than removal from office, and disqualification to

meat. hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit, within this

State ; but the party convicted shall, nevertheless, be liable,

and subject, to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment,

according to law.

Section VI

Paragraph I. The Eepresentatives shall be citizens of the E^esentSef United States who have attained the age of twenty-one years, and who shall have been citizens of this State for two years, and for one year residents of the counties from which elected. Par. II. The presiding officer of the House of Representaspeaker. tives shall be styled the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and shall be elected viva voce from the body.

Par. III. The House of Representatives shall have the sole Power to im- power to impeach all persons who shall have been, or may be,

peach. .

m office.

Section VII

Paragraph I. Each House shall be the judge of the elec- Eiections; Ro- tion, returns, and qualifications of its members, and shall

tutus; Disorder- . . .

ly conduct. have power to punish them for disorderly behavior, or misconduct, by censure, fine, imprisonment, or expulsion ; but no member shall be expelled, except by a vote of two-thirds of the House to which he belongs.

Par. II. Each House may punish by imprisonment, not ex-

contem!t ment of tending beyond the session, any person, not a member, who shall be guilty of a contempt, by any disorderly behavior in its presence, or who shall rescue, or attempt to rescue, any person arrested by order of either House.

Par. III. The members of both Houses shall be free from

members. 16 ^ 8 of arrest during their attendance on the General Assembly, and in going thereto, or returning therefrom, except for treason, felony, larceny, or breach of the peace ; and no member shall be liable to answer in any other place for anything spoken in debate in either House.

Par. IV. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceed- journals, ings, and publish it immediately after its adjournment.

Par. V. The original journal shall be preserved after pub- where prelication, in the office of the Secretary of State, but there shall be no other record thereof.

Par. VI. The yeas and nays on any question shall, at the Teas and nays, desire of one- fifth of the members present, be entered on the journal.

Par. VII. Every bill, before it shall psss, shall be read Reading of bms. three times, and on three separate days, in each House, unless in cases of actual invasion or insurrection.

Par. VIII. No law or ordinance shall pass which refers to 0ue gubject . more than one subject matter, or contains matter different matter - from what is expressed in the title thereof.

Par. IX. The general appropriation bill shall embrace Appropriation nothing except appropriations fixed by previous laws, the ordinary expenses of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial Departments of the Government, payment of the public debt and interest thereon, and for support of the public institutions and educational interests of the State. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.

Par. X. All bills for raising revenue, or appropriating buis for Bevemoney, shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose, or concur in amendments, as in other bills.

Par. XI. No money shall be drawn from the treasury ex- Public money

J how drawn.

cept by appropriation made by law, and a regular statement and account of the receipt and expenditure of all public money shall be published every three months, and, also, with the laws passed by each session of the General Assembly.

Par. XII. No bill or resolution appropriating money shall Appropriation become a law unless, upon its passage, the yeas and nays, in each House, are recorded.

Par. XIII. All acts shall be signed bv the President of the signing of Acts.

° J Rejected Bills.

Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and no bill, ordinance or resolution, intended to have the effect of a law, which shall have been rejected by either house, shall be again proposed during the same session, under the same or any other title, without the consent of two- thirds of the House by which the same was rejected.

Par. XI Y. No bill shall become a law unless it shall re- Majority re-ceive a maiority of the votes of all the members elected to

quired to pass ° V

bm - each House of the General Assembly, and it shall, in every

instance, so appear on the journal.

Par. XV. All special or local bills shall originate in the

ciai Buis and Spe " House of Eepresentatives. The Speaker of the House of Eepresentatives shall, within five days from the organization of the General Assembly, appoint a committee, consisting of one from each Congressional District, whose duty it shall be to consider, and consolidate all special and local bills, on the same subject, and report the same to the House ; and no special or local bill shall be read or considered by the House until the same has been reported by said committee, unless by a two- thirds vote. And no bill shall be considered or reported to the House, by said committee, unless the same shall have been laid before it within fifteen days after the organization of the General Assembly ; except by a two-thirds vote. Par. XYI. No local or special bill shall be passed, unless Requirements notice of the intention to apply therefor shall have been pub-

to pass Local and i. j. ./ i

special Bins, lished in the locality where the matter, or thing to be effected, may be situated, which notice shall be given at least thirty days prior to the introduction of such bill into the General Assembly, and in the manner to be prescribed by law. The evidence of such notice having been published, shall be exhibited in the General Assembly before such act shall be passed.

Par. XVII. No law, or section of the Code, shall be Amendment of amended or repealed by mere reference to its title, or to the number of the section of the Code, but the amending, or repealing act, shall distinctly describe the law to be amended or repealed, as well as the alteration to be made.