It is usual for the Speaker elect to be conducted to the chair by two members. The oath of office is then administered by a judge learned in the law.(See Art. III, Con.) When the oath has been administered to and signed by the Speaker in a book prepared for the purpose, he directs the Clerk to call over the names of the members, who have administered to them, by a judge learned in the law, the oath of office, which they also sign. It is usual for those who swear by holding in their hands the Bible to be sworn first; then those who swear by the uplifted hand; and lastly, those who affirm.

After commencement of the session, and on the day of the final adjournment of the Legislature of each session, the Senate proceeds to the election of President pro tem.

In all other respects the organization of the Senate is the same as that of the House of Representatives.

Of the General Powers and Duties of the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.

There are certain duties pertaining to the office of Speaker, which are not necessary to be specified by rule, being so obviously proper and right as to be indisputable.

1. The Speaker puts all questions, and declares the determination of the body.

2. He communicates its resolutions to others, conveys its thanks, and expresses its censures, its reprimands or its admonitions.

3. He is the representative of the body itself, in its powers, its proceedings and its dignity.

4. He announces the business before the Assembly, in the order in which it is to be acted upon.

5. To restrain the members when engaged in debate, within the rules of order.

6. To receive messages and other communications from other branches of the government, and announce them to the Assembly.

7. When a legislative body is engaged in its judicial functions, it is the duty of the presiding officer to conduct the proceedings, to put questions to parties and witnesses, and to pronounce the sentence or judgment.

8. When the Assembly is engaged in any of its high administrative functions, or in matters of State or ceremony, as, for example, when a member or other person is to be reprimanded or thanked, the presiding officer is the mouth-piece and organ of the body.

9. He is always a member, and may present petitions, memorials and remonstrances sent to him. In this State he possesses the right to vote as other members, on all questions before the body, and may leave the chair and address the body on any question.

Of Letters, Petitions, etc.

If a letter, petition, bill, memorial or remonstrance be sent to a member to be by him presented to the House or Senate, his first duty is to fold it up in a neat form, (about three and a-half inches by eight and a-half inches,) and endorse on the back of it, in brief, the subject on which it treats,) and immediately above this statement he signs his name and county, and endorses the date. For example, a member has a petition for the passage of a bill, &c., he endorses it in this way: "The petition of inhabitants of praying," "' &c.

In presenting it, he rises in his place, when the name of the county which he represents is called, and says: "Mr. Speaker, I present the petition of inhabitants of —, praying," &c. He then delivers it to one of the pages, to be handed to the Speaker, who also reads the endorsement, by way of information to the House or Senate, and then refers it to the appropriate committee. The same course is pursued in regard to letters, memorials, &c. Form of Petition. Form of Bill.

Of Resolutions.

In general, the parliamentary meaning of "resolution" is the expression of the will of the House in regard to any subject before it, public or private; as, for example, that the use of the Hall be granted for a particular purpose; that the House will adjourn at a particular time; that certain companies be required to furnish statements, &c. If information is desired from any of the departments, or from the Executive, the resolution assumes the form of a request, as for example: "Resolved, That the Auditor General be requested to furnish the House or Senate with a statement of the amount of money paid by the several banks of this Commonwealth, into the State Treasury, as tax on dividends for the year-." This, however, is indeed but an expression of will; the House, by the resolution, doing nothing more than declaring it to be their will that the Auditor General be requested to furnish the statement.

When a member is desirous of bringing before the House any proposition for its determination, he writes it out in the form of a resolution, in a plain, legible hand, and as soon as the Speaker announces that "Original resolutions are now in order," he rises in his place and says: "Mr. Speaker, I offer. the following resolution." The Speaker then says: "The gentleman from offers the following resolution; the resolution will be read." As soon as the Clerk has read it, the Speaker says: "What order will the House take upon the resolution?" Generally the response is, "Second reading." The Speaker then puts the question, "Will the House or Senate proceed to the second reading and consid

eration of the resolution?" If this is decided in the affirmative, the Clerk is directed to read the resolution again, when it is regularly before the House for amendment, adoption or rejection. But no amendment can be offered to the resolution, or any motion made in regard to it, until it is in possession of the House, which is when the House has agreed to proceed to its second reading. Before that time, it is always in the power of the mover to withdraw it. If the House refuses to proceed to the second reading, the resolution is then considered as rejected for that time, although the mover is not thereby precluded from moving, on the next day, that the House do now proceed to its second reading.

As soon as the House has agreed to proceed to the second reading of the resolution, and it has been read by the Clerk, it is then subject to amendment, and the amendment while under consideration is also subject to amendment; but there can be no amendment of an amendment to an amendment, because this would be an amendment in the third degree, and would tend rather to embarrass than facilitate business. If the resolution contain two or more distant propositions, it may be divided, and a vote had on each division separately.

Joint resolutions being in the nature of bills, cannot be submitted to the House under the head of original resolutions. The proper time to offer them is under the head of "Bills in place."

Concurrent resolutions are those on which the action of both Senate and House are required, but not required to be sent to the Governor for approval; calling on Heads of Departments, or to alter rules, lie over one day.