Article VII

Sect. 1st. The Militia of the State of Indiana shall consist of all free able bodied male persons; Negroes, Mulattoes and Indians excepted, resident in the said state, between the ages of eighteen, and forty-five years, except such persons as now are, or hereafter may be exempted by the laws of the United States, or of this State; and shall be armed, equipped, and trained, as the general Assembly may provide by law.
Sect. 2. No person or persons conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms, shall be compelled to do Militia duty; provided such person or persons shall pay an equivalent for such exemption; which equivalent shall be collected annually, by a civil officer, and be hereafter fixed by law, and shall be equal as near as may be, to the lowest fines assessed on those privates in the Militia, who may neglect or refuse to perform Militia duty.

Sect. 3. Captains and subalterns shall be elected by those persons in their respective Company districts, who are subject to perform Militia duty, and the captain of each Company shall appoint the non-commissioned officers to said company.

Sect. 4. Majors shall be elected by those persons within the bounds of their respective Battalion districts, subject to perform Militia duty, and Colonels shall be elected by those persons within the bounds of their respective Regimental districts, subject to perform Militia duty.

Sect. 5. Brigadier Generals shall be elected by the commissioned officers within the bounds of their respective brigades, and Major Generals shall be elected by the Commissioned officers within the bounds of their respective Divisions.

Sect. 6. Troops and squadrons of Cavalry, and companies of Artillery riflemen, grenadiers, or light infantry, may be formed in the said state, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law: provided, however, that every troop or squadron of Cavalry, company of Artillery, riflemen, grenadiers, or light infantry which may hereafter be formed within the said state, shall elect their own officers.

Sect. 7. The Governor shall appoint the adjutant general, and quarter-master generals, as also his aids de camp.

Sect. 8. Major Generals shall appoint their aids de camp, and all other Division Staff officers; Brigadier Generals shall appoint their Brigade Majors, and all other Brigade Staff officers; and Colonels shall appoint their Regimental Staff officers.

Sect. 9. All militia officers shall be commissioned by the Governor, and shall hold their Commissions during good behaviour, or until they arrive at the age of sixty years.

Sect. 10. The General Assembly shall, by law, fix the method of dividing the militia of the said State, into Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, Battalions, and Companies, and shall also fix the rank of all staff officers.