.ART. III] LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. 127

Sec. 8. Immediately after the Senate shall have convened,
after the first election, under this Constitution, the Senators
shall be divided by lot into two classes, as nearly equal in
number as may be. Senators of the first class shall go out of
office at the expiration of two years, and Senators shall be
elected on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the
month of November, eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, for the
term of four years, to supply their places; so that, after the
first election, one half of the Senators may be chosen every
second year. In case the number of Senators be hereafter
increased, such classification of the additional Senators shall
be made as to preserve, as nearly as may be, an equal number
in each class.

Covington v. Buffett, 90 Md. 577.

Sec. 9. No person shall be eligible as a Senator or Delegate
who, at the time of his election, is not a citizen of the State of
Maryland, and who has not resided therein for at least three
years next preceding the day of his election, and the last year
thereof, in the County or in the Legislative District of Balti-
more City, which he may be chosen to represent, if such

County or Legislative District of said City shall have been so
long established; and if not, then in the County or City, from
which, in whole or in part, the same may have been formed ;
nor shall any person be eligible as a Senator unless he shall
lave attained the age of twenty-five years, nor as a Delegate
unless he shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, at
the time of his election.

Sec. 10. No member of Congress, or person holding any

civil or military office under the United States shall be eligible
as a Senator or Delegate; and if any person shall, after his
election as Senator or Delegate, be elected to Congress, or be
appointed to any office, civil or military, under the Govern-
ment of the United States, his acceptance thereof shall vacate
his seat.

Sec. 11. No Minister or Preacher of the Gospel, or of any
religious creed or denomination, and no person holding any

civil office of profit or trust under this State, except Justices

of the Peace, shall be eligible as Senator or Delegate.

Sec. 12. No Collector, Receiver or holder of public money
shall be eligible as Senator or Delegate, or to any office of
profit or trust under this State, until he shall have accounted
for and paid into the Treasury all sums on the books thereof
charged to and due by him.