Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-24
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Legis-
lathe Department, as amended By the Conveation
and referred to the committee on, Reuision.
ART. I.
!. The legislative, executive and judiciary depart
ments shall be separate and dis inct that neither ex
ercse the powers properly belonging either of the
more than Of them at the time, except that
Justices OF the Peace shall be eligible either house
of Assembly.
ART. II.
rhe first four sections of this article refer to the Or
ganzaton of the Legislature which was embraced in
the provision known as. the Basis Compromise, and
heretofore acted upon.
s. ANY person may be elected Senator who at the
time OF the election shall have attained the age of
twenty-five years. and shall be actually resident within
that district and qualified to for members of the
General Assembly according to this Constitution And
any person may be elected member of the House of
Delegates, who The time OF the election shall have al.
tanned TO the oftwentyone years. and shat be &C.
tuay resident within the county, city, town. or
election district qualified to vote for members oil the Gle.
neral Assembly, according to this Constitution Prov-
ded, that all persons holding lucrative Offices and minis
tiers OF the Gospel and priests of every religious demo-
minatlon and all saaried officers of banking corpora
tlon and companies and all Attornies for he Common.
wealth, shall be incapable of being elected members of
either house of Assembly. A permanent change of
residence of any person elected either branch Of the
General Assembly from he county, city, town. or cleo
tion district which he resided the time of his eec.
ton, shall be deemed vacation of the office.
+. The General Assembly shall meet once in every
two years, and no oener unless convened by the act
ting Governor OF the Commonwealth, application in
recess, OF a majority OF the members of each house of
OF Assembly, or when. in his opinion, the interest of
the commonwealth may require it. But no sessions
OF the General Assembly shall continue longer than 80
days except the first session after the adoption of this
constitution: Provided, that when three-fflhs Of the
members elected TO each house OF the General Assem-
bly, shall concur, the session may be extended beyond
the Limitation herein established, but not for period
exceeding thirty days. Neither house, during the ses-
sion OF the Legislature shall without the consent of the
other, adjourn tor more than three days. nor to any
other place than that in which the houses shall be
sitting. majority of each house shall constitute a
quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adj
Iourn from day 10 day. and shall De authorized to COM
pei the attendance OF absent members in such manner
and under such penalties each house may provide
And each house shall choose its own speaker appoint
its officers, settle It's own rules of PROCEEDING and
direct wrlts OF election for supplying Intermediate va
cancies, except that of the Lieutenant Governor who
shall be the presiding officer Of the Senate provided
tor In this constitution But vacancies shall occur by
death or resignation during the of the General
Assembly, such writs may be issued by the Governor
nnoer such regulations may De prescribed by law
Eaca mouse shall Judge OF the election qualification and
returns ofs members punish its members for disor-
Derby behavour and with concurrence of two thirds
expe member but not second time Tor the same Of
fence and contested elections may be determined in sob
manner as prescribed by law.
z. The members OF the Assembly shall receive for
their services compensation, to be ascertaned by law
and paid out OF the puoc reasury but no law increasing
such compensation shall take effect until the end of the
term Tor which the members OF Inc House of Delegates
were elected. And no Senator or Delegate shall, dur.
ing the term tor which he shall have been elected be
appointed to any civil office OF profit under the
monwealth, which shall have been created or The
emouments OF which shall have been increased during
such term, except such Offices may be filled by cleo
tons by the people.
and
to houses OF the Genera Assembly, to be approved or
rejected by The othe and may be amended by either
house, with the cone nt of the other
9. Each house OF the General Assembly shall keep
journal OF Its proceedings which shall be published from
time to time. No bill shall become a law until it be
read on three different days of the session in the
mouse IN which 1t originated unless twothrds OF the
members elected to the house. where such bill is pend
ing, shall otherwise determine
lSecnons 10 and IL, "passed by by the committee
Of the WHOLE the subject being included in the Basis
COMPROMISE.
10. The whole number OF members to which III.
State may at any time be entitled in the House of Rep-
esentatves of the U. States shall he apportoned as
nearly may be among he al counties cities and
towns OF the state, according their respective numbers
which shall be determined by adding to The whole num-
Der OF free persons including those und 10 service for
term OF years, and excluding Indians taxed three
ths of all other persons And 10 the appor ionment
the State shall be divided into districts corresponding
in number with the representatives to which il NAV be
entitled in the House OF Representatives OF the Congress
OF the United States.
IL. The Districts 10 embrace respectively contiguous
counties, cities and towns to be compact and to to-
cude as nearly as may be- equal number of the pop
uatlon, upon which is based representation 10 the
House OF Representatives of The United States.
II The privilege of the writ oil habeas corpus shall
not, in any case, be suspended. The Legislature sba
not pass any bill OF aainder; any expost face law;
OF any law inpairng the obligation OF contracts; or
any law whereby private property shall be taken for
public uses without just compensation; nor any law Tor
the emancipation OF any slave, or any descendant OF
such slave, to take effect on said descendant either
before after his or her birth; or any law abdgng
the freedom OF speech or OF the press. No man snail
be compelled to frequent or support any religious wor
ship, place ministry Whatsoever; nor shall any man
be enforced, restrained molested or burthened in his
body or goods, or otherwise suffer on account of hi
religious opinions belief but all men shall be free TO
profess and by argument to maintain their opinions in
matters OF rel gon, and the shall in no Sc affect
diminish or enlarge their civil capacities. And the Leg
slaure shall not prescribe any religious test whatever
confer any peculiar privileges advantages on any
sect or denomination; nor pass any law requiring or
authorizing any religious society, or the people oil any
district withiR this Commonwealth, to levy on them