LAWS OF MARYLAND.

1843

CHAPTER 16.

CHAP. 16.

An act to divide the Stale into six Congressional Districts.

Passed Jan.
15, 1844.

Whereas it is declared by the Constitution of the Uni-
ted States, that the House of Representatives in the Con-
gress of the United States, shall be composed of members
chosen every two years by the people of the several States;
that the electors in each State, shall have the same qualifi-
cations requisite for electors of the most numerous branch
of the State legislature; and whereas it is declared by the
act of Congress, passed the twenty fifth day of June, eigh-
teen hundred and forty-two, entitled, an act for the appor-
tionment of representatives among the several States,
according to the sixth census; that from and after the third
day of March, eighteen hundred and forty-three, the House
of Representatives of the United States, shall be com-
posed of members elected agreeably to a ratio of one repre-
sentative for every seventy thousand, six hundred and
eighty persons in each State, and one additional represen-
tative for each State, having a fraction larger than one half
of the said ratio, computed according to the rule pre-
scribed by the Constitution of the United States, according
to which apportionment this State is entitled, to six repre-
sentatives in the Congress of the United States.

Preamble,

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of
Maryland, That for the purpose of electing six represen-
tatives to the Congress of the United States, this State
shall be divided into six districts, which shall be numbered
from one to six. That Saint Mary's, Charles, Calvert,
Prince George's, Montgomery and Anne Arundel counties,
excepting Howard District in Anne Arundel county, shall
constitute the first district. That Allegany, Washington
and Frederick counties, shall constitute the second district.
That Carroll county, Baltimore county, Howard District in
Anne Arundel county, and the twelfth, thirteenth and four-
teenth wards of the city of Baltimore, as they are now
known and constituted, shall compose the third district.
That the wards of the city of Baltimore, known as the
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth,
ninth, tenth and eleventh wards, shall constitute the fourth
district. That Harford, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and
Caroline counties, shall constitute the fifth district. That
Talbot, Dorchester, Somerset and Worcester counties,
shall constitute the sixth district. That each district shall
be entitled to elect one representative to Congress.

Numbering of
districts.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That whereas this State
was not divided into Congressional Districts, at the time
of holding the regular elections in the month of October,

Special elec-
tion.