SECT. 19. For the present the supreme executive council of this state shall consist of twelve
persons chosen in the following manner: The freemen of the city of Philadelphia, and of the
counties of Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks, respectively, shall choose by ballot one person for
the city, and one for each county aforesaid, to serve for three years and no longer, at the time and
place for electing representatives in general assembly. The freemen of the counties of Lancaster,
York, Cumberland, and Berks, shall, in like manner elect one person for each county respectively
, to serve as counsellors for two years and no longer. And the counties of Northampton, Bedford,
Northumberland and Westmoreland, respectively, shall, in like manner, elect one person for each
county, to serve as counsellors for one year, and no longer. And at the expiration of the time, for
which each counsellor was chosen to serve, the freemen of the city of Philadelphia, and of the
several counties in this state, respectively, shall elect one person to serve as counsellor for three
years and no longer and so on every third year forever. By this mode of election and continual
rotation, more men will be trained to public business, there will in every subsequent year be
found in the council a number of persons acquainted with the proceedings of the foregoing years,
whereby the business will be more consistently conducted, and moreover the danger of
establishing an inconvenient aristocracy will be effectually prevented. All vacancies in the
council that may happen by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled at the next general
election for representatives in general assembly, unless a particular election for that purpose shall
be sooner appointed by the president and council. No member of the general assembly or
delegate in congress, shall be chosen a member of the council. The president and vice-president
shall be chosen annually by the joint ballot of the general assembly and council, of the members
of the council. Any person having served as a counsellor for three successive years, shall be
incapable of holding that office for four years afterwards. Every member of the council shall be a
justice of the peace for the whole commonwealth by virtue of his office.
In case new additional counties shall hereafter be erected in this state, such county or counties
shall elect a counsellor, and such county or counties shall be annexed to the next neighbouring
counties, and shall take rotation with such counties.
The council shall meet annually, at the same time and place with the general assembly.
The treasurer of the state, trustees of the loan office, naval officers, collectors of customs or
excise, judge of the admirality, attornies general, sheriffs, and prothonotaries, shall not be
capable of a seat in the general assembly, executive council, or continental congress.
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