Government. The State Constitution was adopted in October, 1889. A proposed amendment must receive the approval of a majority of the members elected to two successive legislative assemblies, and of a majority of the qualified electors at a popular election. Voters must be either citizens, or civilized Indians who have severed their tribal relations two years before election. Voters must also have resided in the State one year, in the county six months, and in the precinct ninety days. The Legislature may prescribe penalties for failing, neglecting, or refusing to vote at any general election. The capital of the State is Bismarck.
Legislative. The Senate must consist of not less than 30 or more than 50 members; the House of Representatives of not less than 60 or more than 140 members. The Senators are elected from districts of contiguous undivided counties for a term of 4 years. The Representatives are elected at large from the Senatorial districts for a term of 2 years. Both receive $5 per day and mileage. Sessions are biennial, beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, and are limited to 60 days.
Executive. The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commissioner of Insurance, three Commissioners of Railroads, an Attorney-General, and a Commissioner of Agriculture and Labor are elected every two years. The Governor can veto all bills or any item of any appropriation bill, but his veto is overridden by a two-thirds vote of both Houses. An unreturned bill becomes a law after three days. The Governor may call extra sessions, and, in conjunction with a board of pardons, may exercise the pardoning power.
Judiciary. There is a Supreme Court of three judges elected by the State at large for the period of 6 years. There are 6 district courts, a judge being elected in each district for 4 years. The Legislature can increase the number. A clerk of the district court is elected in each county for 4 years. County court judges are elected for 2 years. The Legislature provides by law for the election of justices of the peace and police magistrates.
Local Government. General laws provide for organizing new counties and changing county lines. There must be, however, at least 24 Congressional townships and 1000 inhabitants in each county. Changes in boundaries must be approved by popular vote of the counties affected. Township organization is also provided for by a general law. Every two years the counties elect a register of deeds, auditor, treasurer, sheriff, and attorney. Other county, township, and district officers may be provided for by law.
Other Legal Provisions. Trusts or combinations controlling the price or cost of exchange of articles are unlawful. The importation, manufacture, sale, or gift of intoxicating liquors is prohibited. The legal rate of interest is 7 per cent., though 12 may be allowed by contract. Judgments outlaw in 10 years, notes in 6 years.
Finances. The small public debt was created mainly in 1884-89, before admission to Statehood, for purposes of construction of public buildings. It bore 6 per cent., but was refunded after 1890 in 4 per cent. bonds. At the time of admission the debt was $689,000, and the Constitution prohibits any increase of this debt by more than $200,000. The income of the State is derived from a general property tax limited by the Constitution to 4 mills, from a tax on corporations and railroads, and from sale of public lands. All the proceeds from the last source must go into the permancnt school fund. On June 30, 1902, the State had a balance on hand in the treasury of $562,582.81. The total receipts from June 30, 1900, to June 30, 1902, were $3,126,435.08, and the expenditures for the same period amounted to $2,740,278.27. The bonded indebtedness on June 30, 1902, was $722,300.
Militia. The number of men of militia age in 1900 was 80,191. The militia in 1901 numbered 718.
Population. The population of North Dakota by decades is as follows: 1870, 2403; 1880, 36,909; 1890, 182,719; 1900, 319,146. North Dakota at the first two censuses was a part of the Territory of Dakota. The increase in the last decade amounted to 74.7 per cent. The counties along the Red River are the most densely populated. But few people are located in the western half of the State. There is a larger per cent. of foreign-born than is found in any other State. In 1900 this element of the population numbered 113,091, and there was a still larger number of native whites of foreign parents, these two elements almost equaling four-fifths of the total population. The Canadians and Swedes are the chief foreign nationalities represented. Only two towns had more than 4000 inhabitants in 1900: Fargo, 9589; and Grand Forks, 7652. The State sends two members to the National House of Representatives.
Religion. The principal Protestant denomination is the Lutheran. It represents about one-third of all the church members. The Roman Catholics form over one-seventh of the total population. The other denominations, in order of importance, are Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, and the Congregational.
Education. The Constitution provides for a free public school system under the supervision of a board of commissioners consisting of the Governor, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the president of the State University. The system of high schools is under the control of local boards of education, city superintendents, and State high school boards; and there are a State normal school and institutions for higher education. The proportion of illiteracy in 1900 was 5.6 per cent., being the highest (with the exception of Missouri) in the North Central division of States. This proportion ranges from 0.9 per cent. for the native white population, to 6.7 per cent. for the foreign white, and to 59.2 per cent. for the colored. The 2641 common schools (245 graded) had in 1900 an enrollment of 77,686, and an average daily attendance of 43,560. The length of the school term in 1900 was 155.7 days, as against 113 days in 1890. The average monthly salaries of male and female teachers in 1900 were $41.72 and $36.80 respectively.
The total income for school purposes in 1900 was $1,456,496, the revenue being derived principally from local taxes, from the permanent school fund, and from the sale and rental of school lands. The expenditure per pupil, based on average attendance, was $35.03—the highest ex-
