The right of suffrage is confined by the constitution to adult male citizens who have resided in the state for one year.

Suffrage was by this constitution first extended to women tax-payers in questions " submitted to the tax-payers, as such."

A constitution of 1868 gave suffrage to the blacks, and disfranchised all whites made ineligible to office under the proposed Fourteenth Amendment to the national Constitution, and also (practically) those who had by word, pen or vote defended secession.

The deputies are elected by direct suffrage for the legislative session of three years, and have the same immunities from legal process as the senators.

The legislative power is vested in a national congress of two chambers, elected by direct suffrage, and convened on the 3rd of May each year.