The Constitution of 1865 continued which element of the previous state constitutions?

The correct answer highlights that the Constitution of 1865 maintained the concept of a bill of rights, which is a fundamental aspect of many state constitutions. A bill of rights serves to protect the individual liberties of citizens by enumerating specific rights that the government cannot infringe upon. This continuity reflects a commitment to safeguarding personal freedoms, a vital principle in American governance.

In terms of the other options, limitations on the governor's powers were present in earlier constitutions but may have changed in their specifics with each iteration, making this a less definitive element to carry over. The direct election of judges was not consistently practiced across all state constitutions, and while some iterations allowed for it, others did not, thus deviating from continuity. Lastly, while the process of amending constitutions tends to evolve, the method in which amendments were handled could vary significantly with each constitution, making it an unreliable choice when considering continuity between constitutions.