SECT. XII. Each House shall judge of the qualifications of its of the powers members. Contested elections shall be determined by a com- of each House. mittee 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. XIII. Each House may determine the rules of its pro- Of censure and ceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and with expulsion. the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second

time for the same cause; and shall have all other powers neces

sary for a branch of the Legislature of a free State.

SECT. XIV. The Legislature shall not have power to enact Divorce. 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.

SECT. XV. Each House shall keep a journal of its proceed- Of Journals. ings, and publish them weekly, except such parts as may require

secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members on any ques- Yeas and nays. tion, shall at the desire of any two of them, be entered on the

Journals.

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

SECT. XVII. Neither House shall, without the consent of Of adjournthe other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other ment. place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

bers.

SECT. XVIII. The Senators and Representatives shall re- Of the compenceive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by sation and prilaw, and paid out of the Treasury of the Commonwealth. They vileges of mem-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.

SECT. XIX. No Senator or Representative shall, during the of the disqualitime for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any fieations of civil office under this Commonwealth, which shall have been members. 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.

SECT. XX. When vacancies happen in either House, the of vacancies. Speaker shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

SECT. XXI. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the of revenue House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose amend- bills. ments as in other bills.

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

Of bills returnSECT. XXIII. Every bill which shall have passed both Houses, shall be presented to the Governor, if he approve, he ernor with obed by the Govshall sign it; but if he shall not approve, he shall return it with jections.

his objections, to the House in which it shall have originat ed who shall enter the objections at large upon their Journals, and proceed to re-consider it. If, after such re-consideration twothirds 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 the persons voting for or against the bill shall be entered on Of bills not re- 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, the same 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.

turned.

Of orders, resolutions and votes.

Bank incorporations, how obtained.

ed.

SECT. 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 disapproved, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of both Houses, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in case of a bill.

SECT. XXV. No corporate body shall be hereafter 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 Charters limit- 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 corpoNo law hereafter enacted shall create, renew, or extend the charter of more than one corporation.

Alteration or revocation of charter.

Executive.

Election of Gov

ernor.

rators.

SECT. XXVI. * The Legislature shall have the power to alter, revoke, or annul, any charter of incorporation hereafter conferred by or under any special or general law, 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.

ARTICLE II.

OF THE GOVERNOR.

SECT. I. The Supreme Executive power of this Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor.

SECT. 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

*Fourth amendment of 1857.

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 Governor; 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.

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

six, in any term of nine years.

SECT. 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.

Qualifications.

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

SECT. VI. The Governor shall, at stated times receive for Compensation. his services a compensation which shall be neither increased

nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been

elected.

SECT. VII. He shall be Commander-in-Chief of the army Military power. and navy of this Commonwealth, and of the militia, except when they shall be called into actual service of the United States.

SECT. VIII. He shall appoint a Secretary of the Common- General powers wealth during pleasure; and he shall nominate, and by and and duties. with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint all judicial officers of the courts of record, unless otherwise provided for in this Constitution. He shall have power to fill all vacancies that may happen in such judicial offices during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which shall expire at the end of their next session: Provided, That in acting on executive nominations the Senate shall sit with open doors; and in confirming or rejecting the nominations of the Governor, the vote shall be taken by yeas and nays.

SECT. IX. He shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, Pardons. and grant reprieves and pardons, except in cases of impeach

ment.

SECT. X. He may require information, in writing, from the Information from officers of officers of the Executive Department, upon any subject re- Executive delating to the duties of their respective offices.

partment.

SFOT. XI. He shall, from time to time, give to the General Information to Assembly information of the state of the Commonwealth, and the Legislature. recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge expedient.

SECT. XII. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene Convene and the General Assembly; and in case of disagreement between adjourn the the two Houses with respect to the time of adjournment, ad- Legislature. journ them to such time as he shall think proper, not exceeding

four months.

SECT. XIII. He shall take care that the laws be faithfully Execution of executed.

laws.

Vacancy by SECT. XIV. In case of the death or resignation of the Govdeath, &c., how ernor, or his removal from office, the Speaker of the Senate shall supplied. exercise the office of Governor, until another Governor shall be duly qualified; but in such case another Governor shall be chosen at the next annual election of Representatives, unless such death, resignation or removal shall occur within three calendar months immediately preceding such next annuul election, in which case a Governor shall be chosen at the second sucContested elec- ceeding annual election of Representatives. And if the trial of a contested election shall continue longer than until the third Monday of January next ensuing the election of Governor, the Governor of the last year, or the Speaker of the Senate, who may be in the exercise of the Executive authority, shall continue therein until the determination of such contested election, and until a Governor shall be duly qualified as aforesaid.

tion.

Secretary of the
Commonwealth

His duties.

Elective franchise.

How exercised.

OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

SECT. XV. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall keep a fair register of all the official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall when required, lay the same, and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before either branch of the Legislature, and shall perform such other duties as shall be enjoined him by law.

ARTICLE III.

OF ELECTIONS.

SECT. I. In elections by the citizens, every white freeman of the age of twenty-one years, having resided in this State one year, and in the election district where he offers to vote, ten days immediately preceding such election, and within two years paid a State or county tax, which shall have been assessed at least ten days before the election, shall enjoy the rights of an elector; but a citizen of the United States who had previously been a qualified voter of this State, and removed therefrom, and returned, and who shall have resided in the election district, and paid taxes as aforesaid, shall be entitled to vote, after residing in the State six months: Provided, That white freeman, citizens of the United States, between the ages of twenty-one and twenty-two years, and having resided in the State one year, and in the election district ten days, as aforesaid, shall be entitled to vote, although they shall not have paid taxes.

SECT. II. All elections shall be by ballot, except those by persons in their representative capacities, who shall vote viva voce. SECT. III. Electors shall, in all cases, except treason, felony Electors' privi- and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest durlege. ing their attendance on elections, and in going to and returning from them.

ARTICLE IV.

OF IMPEACHMENT.

SECT. I. The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching.

SECT. II. All impeachments shall be tried by the Senate. Impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators shall be upon oath or affirmation. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.

SECT. III. The Governor and all other civil officers under this Commonwealth, shall be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office; but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, or profit, under this Commonwealth; the party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.

ARTICLE V.

OF THE JUDICIARY.

SECT. I. The judicial power of this Commonwealth shall be Judiciary. vested in the Supreme Court, in courts of oyer and terminer and general jail delivery, in a court of common pleas, orphans' court, register's court, and a court of quarter sessions of the peace for each county; in justices of the peace, and in such other courts as the Legislature may from time to time establish.

SECT. II. The judges of the Supreme Court, of the several Election of courts of common pleas, and of such other courts of record as judges. are or shall be established by law, shall be elected by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth in the manner following, to wit: The judges of the Supreme Court, by the qualified electors of the Commonwealth at large: The president judges of the several courts of common pleas, and of such other courts of record as are or shall be established by law, and all other judges required to be learned in the law, by the qualified electors of the respective districts over which they are to preside or act as judges: And the associate judges of the courts of common pleas by the qualified electors of the counties respectively. The judges of the Supreme Court shall hold their offices for the Their tenure. term of fifteen years, if they shall so long behave themselves well, (subject to the allotment hereinafter provided for, subsequent to the first election.) The president judges of the several courts of common pleas, and of such other courts of record as are or shall be established by law, and all other judges required to be learned in the law, shall hold their offices for the term of ten years, if they shall so long behave themselves well. The associate judges of the courts of common pleas shall hold their offices for the term of five years, if they shall so long behave themselves well: all of whom shall be commissioned by the Governor, but for any reasonable cause which shall not be suffi- How commiscient grounds of impeachment, the Governor shall remove any sioned and reof them on the address of two-thirds of each branch of the Legis- moved. lature. The first election shall take place at the general elec- First election. tion of this Commonwealth next after the adoption of this amendment, and the commissions of all the judges who may be then in office shall expire on the first Monday of December following, when the terms of the new judges shall commence.

*Amendment of 1850.

The per