independent States. During the progrefs of that war, through which we had to labour for the eftabhfhment of our rights, the legiflature of the commonwealth of Virginia found it necef- fary to make a temporary organization of government for preventing anarchy, and pointing our efforts to the two important [ 4^4 ] objefts of war againfl our invaders, and peace and happinefs among ourfelves. But this, like all other afts of legiflation, being fubje6l to change by fubfequent legifla- tures, poffeffing equal powers with theni- felves; it has been thought expedient, that it ftiould receive thofe amendments which time and trial have fuggefted, and be ren- dered permanent by a power fuperior to that of the ordinary legiflature. The ge- neral aiTembly therefore of this ftate recommend it to the good people thereof, to choofe delegates to meet in general con- vention, with powers to form a confti- tution of government for them, and to declare thofe fundamentals to which all our laws prefent and future fliall be fubor- dinate: and, in compliance with this re- commendation, they have thought proper to make choice of us, and to veil: us with powers for this purpofe.
We, therefore, the delegates, chofen by the faid good people of this ftate for the purpofe aforefaid, and now aifembled in general convention, do in execution of the authority with which we are invefted, eftabiifh the following conftitution and fun- damentals of government for the faid ftate of Virginia.
The faid ftate fhall for ever hereafter be governed as a commonwealth.
The powers of government fhall be di- vided into three diftinfl: departments, each of them to be confided to a feparate body of magiftracy ; to wit, thofe which are le- giflative to one, thofe which are judiciary to another, and thofe which are executive to another. No perfon, or colledion of perfons, being of one of thefe departments, fhall exercife any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the inftances hereinafter exprefsly permitted.