Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-04-30

Ao- UhOhioSho vi euS D6fOIe
they enter upon their duties, shall take and
subscribe the following oath. or affirmation
81 dossolemnly swear (or affrm) that L will
support the. Constitution of the United States,
and the Constitution of the State of West Vir>
ginia, and faithfully discharge the duties of
Senator Cor Delegate9 according to the best of
my ability and they shall also take this
further oath, to>wit: II will not accept or re-
ceive, directly or indirectly, any money or
other valuable thing, from any corporation,
company or person, for any vote or influence
1 may give OF withhold, as Senator Cor. Deles
gate) on any bill, resolution or appropriation,
or for any act:I may do orperform as Senator
-lor Delegate."1 Thess oaths shall be admin.
istered in the Hall,of the House to which the
member is elected by a Judge of The Supreme
Court of Appeals, or of Circuit Court, or by
~any other person. authorized by law to sad-
minister an oath.; and the Secretary of State
shall record and file said .oaths subscribed by
each member land no other oath or .declara-
tion shall be required as qualification. Any
member. who shall refuse to take the oath
herein prescribed shall forfeit, his seat, and
any member who shall be convicted of having
violated the oath last above required to be
taken shall forfeit his seat, and be disqualified
thereafter from holding any Office Of profit or
trust in this State.
| 1t.s-heMpefS- -oI tue Legislature snail,
all cases, except treason, felony, and breach of
the peace, be privileged from arrest during
tho session, aud for ten days before and after
the same and for words spoken in debate, or
any report, motion or proposition, made in
either House, member shall net be oues-
tionedan any other place.
| Is. The Legislature shall assemble at the
seat of government bi-ennially !, and not oftener,
unless convened by the Governor. The first
session of the Legislature, after the adoption
of this Constitution, shall commence on the
third Tuesday of November, 1872, and the
regular biennial session of the Legislature
shall commence on the second "Wednesday of
January, in 1875, and every two years there
after on the same day. :, .,....~
~. The Governor may convene7th Legisla-
ture by proclamation whenever, in his opinion,
the public safety or welfare shall require it,
1t shall be his duty to. convene it on aeplica>
| ton, in writing, of three ffths of the mem-
bers elected to each House.
| 70. The seat of government shall be at
Charleston, until otherwise provided by law.
Il. The Governor may convene the Legis-
lature at another place, when, in his opinion,
1T cannot safely assemble at the seat of gov
ernment; and the Legislature may, when in
its splnlon, the public safety or welfare, or
the safety of the members, or their health
shall require it.
22. No session of the Legislature, after
the first, shall continue longer than forty>five
days, without the concurrence of two thirds
of the members elected to each House.
23. Neither House shall, during the session
adjourn for more than three days, without the
consent of the other. Nor shall either, with-
out such consent adjourn to any other place
than that in which the Legislature is sitting
~. A majority of the members elected to
each house of the Legislature, shall constitute
"a quorum. But smaller number may ad-
journ from day to day, and shall be author
lied to compel the attendance Of absent mems
bers, as each. House may provide Each
House shall determine tho rules Of its pro-
ceedings, and be the judge of the elections,
returns and qualifications of its own mem bcrs
The Senate shall choose, from its own body, a
President, and the House of Delegates, from
its own body, Speaker. Each House shall
appoint its own officers, and remove them at
pleasure. The Oldest Delegate present shall
call the House: to order at the opening Of each
new House of Delegates, and preside over it,
until the Speaker thereof shall have been
chosen and have taken his seat. The Oldest
member OF the Senate present at tho COM
mencement of each regular session thereof
shall call the Senate to order and preside over
the same until President of the Senate shall
have been chosen and have taken his seat.
,25. Each House may, punish its own mem>
bers for disorderly behavior, and with the con-
currence of two>thirds of the members elect
ed thereto pei member, but not twice for
the same ofense.
26. Bach House shall have power to pro-
vide for its own safety, and the undisturbed
transaction of its business, and may punish,
Dy Imprisonment, any person not member,
for disrespectiul behavior in its presence for
obstructing any of its proceedings. or any of
its officers in the discharge of his duties, or
Tor any assault, threat, or abuse of a member.
for words: spoken in debate. But such i'm
prisonment shall not extend beyond the tsrmi>
nation OF the session, and shall not prevent
the punishment of any offense by the ordinary
course of law.
II. Laws shall be enacted and enforced by
suitable provisions and penalties, requiring
sheritfs and all other officers, whether State
county, district or municipal, who shall collect
or receive, or whose official duty it is, or shall
be, to collect, receive, hold or pay out any
money belonging to, or which is, or shall be,
Tor the uss of The State of any county, dis
trict, or municipal corporation, to make annual
account and settlement therefor Such settle
ment, when made, shall be subject to excep-
tlons, and take such direction, and have only
~ oi 0e suu enecs as may De provided by
law; but in all cases, such settlement shall be
recorded, aud be open to the examination of
the people at such convenient place or places as
may be appointed by law
2S' Bills and resolutions may originate in
either House, but may be passed, amended or
rejected by the other. ..
: 20. No bill shall become law until Il has
been fully and distinctly read, on three diff
terent days in each House, unless, in case of
urgency, by vote of four-fifths of the mem
bers present, taken by yeas and nays.-on each
bill, this rule be dispensed with: Propidea.