CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, 1790. WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ordain and establish this Constitution for its government. ARTICLE I. SECT. 1. The legislative power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a General Assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SECT. 2. The Representatives shall be chosen, annually, by the citizens of the city of Philadelphia, and of each county respectively, on the second Tuesday of October. SECT. 3. No person shall be a Represenative, who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State three years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof an inhabitant of the city or county in which he shall be chosen: unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this State. No person residing within any city, town or borough, which shall be entitled to a separate representation, shall be elected a member for any county; nor shall any person residing without the limits of any such city, town or borough, be elected a member thereof. SECT. 4. Within three years after the first meeting of the General Assembly and within every subsequent term of seven years, an enumeration of the taxable inhabitants shall be made, in such manner as shall be directed by law. The number of Representatives shall, at the several periods of making such enumeration, be fixed by the Legislature, and apportioned among the city of Philadelphia, and the several counties, according to the number of taxable inhabitants in each; and shall never be less than sixty, nor greater than one hundred. Each county shall have at least one Representative; but no county hereafter erected shall be entitled to a separate representation, until a sufficient number of taxable inhabitants shall be contained within it to entitle them to one Representative, agreeable to the ratio which shall then be established. SECT. 5. The Senators shall be chosen for four years by the citizens of Philadelphia and of the several counties, at the same time, in the same manner and at the same places where they shall vote for Representatives. SECT. 6. The number of Senators shall, at the several periods of making the enumeration before mentioned, be fixed by the Legislature, and apportioned among the districts, formed as hereinafter directed according to the number of taxable inhabitants in each; and shall never be less than onefourth, nor greater than one-third of the number of Representatives. SECT. 7. The Senators shall be chosen in districts to be formed by the Legislature, each district containing such a number of taxable inhabitants as shall be entitled to elect not more than four Senators; when a district shall be composed of two or more counties they shall be adjoining. Neither the city of Philadelphia, nor any county, shall be divided in forming a district. SECT. 8. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years and have been a citizen and inhabitant of the State four years next before his election, and the last year thereof an inhabitant of the district for which he shall be chosen, unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States or of this State. SECT. 9. Immediately after the Senators shall be assembled in consequence of the first election subsequent to the first enumeration, they shall be divided, by lot, as equally as may be, into four classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year; of the second class at the expiration of the second year; of the third class at the expiration of the third year; and of the fourth class at the expiration of the fourth year; so that one-fourth may be chosen every year. SECT. 10. The General Assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of December, in every year, unless sooner convened by the Governor. SECT. 11. 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. SECT. 12. Each House shall judge of the qualifications of its members. Contested elections shall be determind 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 authorized by law to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be provided. SECT. 13. Each House may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior; and with the concurrence of two-thirds, 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. SECT. 14. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and publish them weekly, except such parts as may 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. SECT. 15. 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. SECT. 16. 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. SECT. 17. 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 the respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech |