Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-03-25
REPORT OF THE
CommIttee ON the,LIcsisIative Department.

The Committee onthe Legislative Department
ofthe Government have, according to order NAG
| under consideration the several articles ana
clauses of the existing Constitution to them re-
ferredi and have agreed upon recommending1ne
following provisions Ftz:
/ ARTICLE l.
The Legislative, Executive and Judiciary De-
partmeMts shall be separate and distinct SO thst
! neither exercise the powers properly belonging
to eitherO the Others: nor shall any person ex-
4 ercise the powers of mote than one OF them at
the same time, except that justices Of G6e peace
ishall be eligible TO either house of assembly.
ARTICLE 2.
s3s Ss 'ftfs fPs he d
fitw6sdfstHet branches, which together SHALL be q
complete Legislature, and shall be called the Gen.
eral Assembly OF Virginia.
9 One of these shall be called the House OF
| Delegates, and shall consist of
! members TO be chosen biennially, whose term OF
service shall be two years, TO commence on the
day Of the first election under this Constitution.
2. The other House of the General Assembly
shall be called the Senate, and shall consist OF
| members whose term of service shall
| be four wears TO commence on the day OF The
Grst election uude: this Constitution. lmmedi'
ately after they shall be assembled, in conse.
quence Of the first election, they shall be divided
as equally as may be into two classes. The seats
ofthe Senators OF the first class shall be vacated
at the expiration of the second year, and the Sc
cOnd class at the expiration of the fourth year
A. For the election of Senators the counties,
cities and towns shall be divided into
districts.
S. ANY person may be elected Senator who
shall have attained to the age Of thirty live years.
and shall be actually resident within the dis
! Irict, and qualified % vote for members OF the
! General Assembly according to this Constitution.
And any person may te elected a member OF the
House Of Delegates, wIo shall have attained 10
the age Of twenty-five yesrs, and shall be actual
" resident within the county, city, town, or
election district, qualified to vote for members OF
| the General Assembly according to this COnstitu
ton ,aPrOuidrd, that all persons holding lucrative
Offices and ministers Of the gospel and priests Of
every denomination, shall be incapable of being
| elected members of either House OF Assembly
| 6. The General Assembly shall meet once in
| eyerv two wears, and not otener unless convened
| bv the acting Governor OF the Commonwealth on
application, in recess, of majority OF the nem-
hers of each House Of Assembly, or when, Ii his
opinion, the interest Of the Commonwealth my
require it, Neither House, during the session.
of the Legislature shall, without the consent OF
the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor
TO any other place than that IN which the two
Houses shall be sitting majority OF each
| House shall constitute quorum to do business,
| but a smaller number may adjnurn from day TO
| day, and shall be authorized TO compel the at
! tendance of absent members in such man
ncr and under such penalties as each House
| NAV provide. And each House shall choose
|
settle its own rules of proceeding and direct writs
of election for supplying Intermediate vacancies.
Dur If-vuUancias shalt oCcnrI by death orTsstgna-
ton, during the recess of the general assembly,
such writs may be issued by the governor, under
such regulations as may be prescribed by law
Each house shall Judge Of the election, qualitica
tiun and return of its members, may. punish its
members for disorderly behavior, and, with the
concurrence of two.thrd', cXPel member, but
not second time for the sBme offence.
! Nbo assembly shall
ceiye for their services compensation to be
ascertained by law and ,aid out OF ihe public
treasury but no law increasing such cOmpen-
| satioo Shall take effect u1il the end Of the term
| FOR which the members OF NE House OF DeiegaIes
were elected And no senator or delegate shall,
duripir Ihe term for which he shall have been
elected, be appointed to any civil Office of profit
under the commonwealth which shall have been
created or the endowmens OF which have been
increased during such tern, except sucn "thces
as may be filled by elections by The people
| g. All bills for raising revenue shall originate
in the House of Delegates, but the Senate may
propose or concur with amendments, as on other
bills.
8. Each house Of the general assembly shall
keep journal Of its proceedings, which shall be
! published from time 10 time
10, The whole number ofmemhers to the State
NAV at apy time be enlitedin the House OF Re-
representatives. Of the United States, shall be ap-
/ portoned as nearly as may lie amongst the seve'
raj counties, cities and towns OF the State, &C
| cording to their respective Numbers, which shall
be determined by adding to the whole number OF
free persons including those bound to service Tor
a term OF years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three fifths of all nher persons. And IN the aP-
portonment the State shall be divided into dlS-
tricts corresponding in number with the repre-
seutatjves to which it may be entitled in the house
of representatives Of the United States.
H. The districts to embrace respectively con-
tiguous counties, cities and towns, to be compact
and 10 include as nearly as may be, an eqnaI
! number oil the population, upo1 which is based
representation 10 the House Of Representatives
fthe United States.
-. The privilege OF the writ OF AGbsas corpus,
| shall not, in any case, be SUSPENDED The Le-
gslature snail not pass any bill OF attander; or
| any erpoSt tGct0 lawHj+oFany law imPairing the
obIigation Of contracts; !; or any law whereby prl-
yate property shall be taken for public use, with
| out lust compensation; or any law abridging the
freedom of speech or fthe press. No man
shall be compelled TO frequent or support any re-
| ligious worship, place or ministry whatsoever;
nor shall any man be enforced restrained, molest-
I'd or burthened in his body or goods, or other.
wise suffer on account of his religious opinions or
belief: but all men shall be free to profess and by
! argument TO maintain their opinions IN matters
! of religion and the. same shall in no wise affect,
diminish or enlarge their civil capacities. And
the Legislature shall not prescribe any religious
test whatever; nor confer any peculiar privileges
| or advantages on any sect or denomination; nor
pass any law requiring or authorizing any Ieii-
Gus society,-or the people oi any district within
this commonwealth, 10 levyon themselves or others
l any tax for the erection or repair of any house
4 of public worship, or for the support OF any
church or ministry. but it shall be left free TO
4 eyeryperson 10 selecthis religious instructor, and
1 to make for his support such private contract as
70 10. s. The general assembly may by law confer
on the courts or other tribunals the power to
srani divorces, change the names Of persons and
direct the sale Of estates belonging to infant, or
not not ~ special Legislation, giant relief in such
case, nor in any other case which the laws may
have conferred Jurisdiction on the courts or other
sl.tribunals. s.as.s ,Sss,
ii. No new county shall be formed With "a an
4 .aa Iesa-iIan six hundred SQUARE miles. In the