Court Opinion

ID: 9568417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:03:25.07994+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:24:43.922685
License: Public Domain

Order, on Petition for Rehearing
Following our decision in this case, in which it was held that the Constitution of South Carolina limited the numerical composition of the Senate to 46, a petition for rehearing has been filed seeking a decision as to whether the present General Assembly, notwithstanding a 50 member Senate, may validly perform legislative functions.
Although not originally presented, because of the immediate importance of the question and the vital public interest involved, we think it not only proper, but our duty, to nevertheless decide the question without further procedural formalities or delay.
The situation in which South Carolina finds itself as a result of the pronouncement of the United States Supreme Court in Reynolds v. Sims, 377 U. S. 533, 84 S. Ct. 1362, 12 L. Ed. (2d) 506, and the compelled effort of the previous General Assembly of this State to comply therewith is, as far as we can ascertain, without any precedent. We reject, however, the idea that our prior decision in this matter in effect dissolved the legislative body of this State and rendered its acts null and void. The adoption of such a contention would result in untold chaos and confusion, which must be avoided.
The South Carolina Legislature is a body created by the State Constitution, under which all political power is vested in and derived from the people. The members of the present Senate were elected by the people in compliance with a statute providing for a 50 member senate. This statute was adopted by the General Assembly *249in good faith prior to our decision. Unless the members thus elected are authorized to serve until the next general election, the people will be deprived for a time of the benefit of representative government to which they are constitutionally entitled.
We, therefore, hold that the present Senate may validily perform the legislative functions of that body until, but only until, the next general election. By this ruling we set at rest all questions under state law, arising out of our previously announced decision, as to the powers, both past and prospective, of the present General Assembly to perform all legislative functions devolved upon that body under the Constitution and laws of this State.