on ▁equal ▁foot ing ▁with ▁the ▁original ▁states " ▁in ▁accord ance ▁with ▁the ▁laws ▁of ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Constitution , ▁the ▁North west ▁Ord in ance ▁of ▁ 1 7 8 7 , ▁and ▁the ▁En abling ▁Act . ▁Article ▁I , ▁which ▁contained ▁a ▁bill ▁of ▁rights ▁for ▁Indiana ' s ▁citizens , ▁con ferred ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁same ▁rights ▁as ▁the ▁U . S . ▁Bill ▁of ▁Rights , ▁including ▁civil ▁libert ies ▁and ▁such ▁basic ▁fre ed oms ▁as ▁the ▁freedom ▁of ▁speech , ▁the ▁right ▁to ▁bear ▁arms , ▁and ▁freedom ▁of ▁religion , ▁among ▁others . ▁Article ▁II ▁called ▁for ▁the ▁separation ▁of ▁powers ▁between ▁the ▁legisl ative , ▁executive , ▁and ▁jud icial ▁branches ▁of ▁state ▁government . ▁ ▁Articles ▁III , ▁IV , ▁and ▁V ▁out lined ▁the ▁powers ▁of ▁the ▁state ' s ▁legisl ative , ▁executive , ▁and ▁jud icial ▁branches ▁of ▁government . ▁Its ▁b ic amer al ▁legisl ature ▁divided ▁powers ▁between ▁two ▁ch amb ers ▁( the ▁state ' s ▁House ▁of ▁Representatives ▁and ▁its ▁Senate ), ▁each ▁one ▁composed ▁of ▁elected ▁members . ▁The ▁state ▁legisl ature ▁was ▁set ▁to ▁meet ▁ann ually . ▁E lections ▁would ▁be ▁held ▁ann ually ▁to ▁elect ▁represent atives . ▁State ▁sen ators ▁would ▁serve ▁three - year ▁terms , ▁with ▁one - third ▁of ▁the ▁sen ators ▁being ▁elected ▁each ▁year . ▁The ▁governor ▁and ▁lieutenant ▁governor ▁would ▁be ▁elected ▁to ▁serve ▁a ▁term ▁of ▁three ▁years . ▁Indiana '