Sec. X. The General Assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday in January, in every year, unless sooner convened by the Governor.

Sec. XI. Each house shall choose its speaker and other officers; and the senate shall also choose a speaker pro tempore, when the speaker shall exercise the office of governor.

See. XII. Each house shall judge of the qualifications of its members. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee to be selected, formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law. A majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorised by law to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as may be provided.

Sec. XIII. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and with the concurrence of twothirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause; and shall have all other powers necessary for a branch of the legislature of a free

state.

Sec. XIV. The Legislature shall not have power to enact laws annulling the contract of marriage in any case where, by law, the courts of this Commonwealth are or may hereafter be empowered to decree a divorce.

Sec. XV. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and publish them weekly, except such parts as require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at the

desire of any two of them, be entered on the journals.

Sec. XVI. The doors of each house, and of committees of the whole shall be open, unless, when the business shall be such as ought to be kept

secret.

Sec. XVII. Neither house 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.

Sec. XVIII. The senators and representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the Commonwealth. They shall in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same. And for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

Sec. XIX. No senator or representative shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under this Commonwealth which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased during such time and no member of Congress or other person holding any office (except of attorney at law and in the militia) under the United States or this Commonwealth, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in Congress or in office.

Sec. XX. When vacancies happen in either house, the speaker shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

Sec. XXI. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of representatives, but the senate may propose amendments as in other bills.

Sec. XXII. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.

Sec. XXIII. Every bill which shall have passed both houses shall be presented to the Governor. If he approve he shall sign it, but if he shall not approve, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large upon their journals, and proceed to re-consider it. If, after such re-consideration, two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent with the objections to the other house, by which likewise it shall be re-considered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall be a law. But in such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of persons voting for or against the bill shall be entered on the journals of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, it shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the General Assembly, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless sent back within three days after their next meeting.

Sec. XXIV. Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of both houses may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment) shall be presented to the Governor, and before it shall take effect, be approved by him, or being dis

approved, shall be repassed by two-thirds of both houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

Sec. XXV. No corporate body shall be hereaf ter created, renewed or extended, with banking or discounting privileges, without six months previous public notice of the intended application for the same, in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. Nor shall any charter for the purposes aforesaid be granted for a longer period than twenty years; and every such charter shall contain a clause reserving to the Legislature the power to alter, revoke or annul the same, whenever in their opinion it may be injurious to the citizens of the Commonwealth, in such manner, however, that no injustice shall be done to the corporators. No law hereafter enacted shall create, renew or extend the charter of more than one corporation.

ARTICLE II.

OF THE GOVERNOR.

Section I. The Supreme Executive Power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor. Sec. II. The Governor shall be chosen on the second Tuesday of October, by the citizens of the Commonwealth, at the places where they shall respectively vote for representatives. The returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the speaker of the senate, who shall open and publish them in the presence of the members of both houses of the Legislature. The person having the highest number of votes shall be Go

vernor. But if two or more shall be equal and highest in votes, one of them shall be chosen Governor by the joint vote of the members of both houses. Contested elections shall be determined by a committee to be selected from both houses of the Legislature, and formed and regulated in such manner as shall be directed by law.

Sec. III. The Governor shall hold his office during three years from the third Tuesday of January next ensuing his election, and shall not be capable of holding it longer than six in any term of nine years.

Sec. IV. He shall be at least thirty years of age, and have been a citizen and an inhabitant of this State seven years next before his election ; unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State.

Sec. V. No member of Congress or person holding any office under the United States or this State, shall exercise the office of Governor.

Sec. VI. The Governor shall at stated times receive for his services a compensation, which shall be neither increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected.

Sec. VII. He shall be commander-in-chief of the army and navy of this Commonwealth, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into the actual service of the United States.

Sec. VIII. He shall appoint a Secretary of the Commonwealth during pleasure, and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appoint all judicial officers of courts of record, unless otherwise provided for in this Constitution. He shall have power to fill all va