"ARTICLE II.-Concerning the legislative department.

"SEC. 1. The legislative power of this commonwealth shall be vested in two distinct branches; the one to be styled the house of representatives, the other the senate, and both together, the general assembly of the commonwealth of Kentucky.

"2. The members of the house of representatives shall continue in service for the term of one year from the day of the commencement of the general election, and no longer.

"3. Representatives shall be chosen on the first Monday in the month of August in every year; but the presiding officers of the several elections shall continue the same for three days, at the request of any one of the candidates.

"4. No person shall be a representative, who at the time of his election is not a citizen of the United States, and hath not attained the age of twenty-four years, and resided in this state two years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the county or town for which he may be chosen.

"5. Elections for representatives for the several counties entitled to representation, shall be held at the places of holding their respective courts, or in the several election precincts into which the legislature may think proper, from time to time, to divide any or all of those counties: Provided, that when it shall appear to the legislature that any town hath a number of qualified voters equal to the ratio then fixed, such town shall be invested with the privilege of a separate representation, which shall be retained so long as such town shall contain a number of qualified voters equal to the ratio which may from time to time be fixed by law; and thereafter elections for the county in which such town is situated, shall not be held therein.

"6. Representation shall be equal and uniform in this commonwealth; and shall be forever regulated and ascertained by the number of qualified electors therein. In the year eighteen hundred and three, and every fourth year thereafter, an enumeration of all the free male inhabitants of the state, above twenty-one years of age, shall be made in such manner

as shall be directed by law. The number of representatives shall, in the several years of making these enumerations, be so fixed, as not to be less than fifty-eight, nor more than one hundred, and they shall be apportioned for the four years next following, as near as may be, among the several counties and towns in proportion to the number of qualified electors; but, when a county may not have a sufficient number of qualified electors to entitle it to one representative, and when the adjacent county or counties may not have a residuum or residuums, which, when added to the small county would entitle it to a separate representation, it shall then be in the power of the legislature to join two or more together for the purpose of sending a representative: Provided, that when there are two or more counties adjoining which have residuums over and above the ratio then fixed by law; if said residuums when added together, will amount to such ratio, in that case one representative shall be added to that county having the largest residuum.

“7. The house of representatives shall choose its speaker and other officers.

"8. In all elections for representatives, every free male citizen (negrocs, mulattoes and Indians excepted) who at the time being, hath attained to the age of twenty-one years, and resided in the state two years, or the county or town in which he offers to vote one year next preceding the election, shall enjoy the right of an elector; but no person shall be entitled to vote, except in the county or town in which he may actually reside at the time of the election, except as is herein otherwise provided. Electors shall in all cases, except treason, felony, breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at, going to, and returning from elections.

"9. The members of the senate shall be chosen for the term of four years; and when assembled shall have the power to choose its officers annually.

"10. At the first session of the general assembly after this constitution takes effect, the senators shall be divided by lot, as equally as may be, into four classes. The seats of the sena

tors 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 shall be chosen every year, and a rotation thereby kept up perpetually.

"11. The senate shall consist of twenty-four members at least, and for every three members above fifty-eight which shall be added to the house of representatives, one member shall be added to the senate.

"12. The same number of senatorial districts shall, from time to time, be established by the legislature, as there may then be senators allotted to the state; which shall be so formed, as to contain, as near as may be, an equal number of free male inhabitants in each above the age of twenty-one years, and so that no county shall be divided, or form more than one district; and where two or more counties compose a district, they shall be adjoining.

“13. When an additional senator may be added to the senate, he shall be annexed by lot to one of the four classes, so as to keep them as nearly equal in numbers as possible.

"14. One senator for each district shall be elected by those qualified to vote for representatives therein, who shall give their votes at the several places in the counties or towns where elections are by law directed to be held.

"15. No person shall be a senator, who, at the time of his election is not a citizen of the United States, and who hath not attained to the age of thirty-five years, and resided in this state six years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof in the district for which he may be chosen.

"16. The first election for senators shall be general throughout the state, and at the same time that the general election for representatives is held; and thereafter, there shall, in like manner, be an annual election for senators to fill the places of those whose time of service may have expired.

"17. The general assembly shall convene on the first Monday in the month of November in every year, unless a differ

ent day be appointed by law, and their sessions shall be held at the seat of government.

"18. Not less than a majority of the members of each house of the general assembly shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and shall be authorized by law to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as may be prescribed thereby.

"19. Each house of the general assembly shall judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its members; but a contested election shall be determined in such manner as shall be directed by law.

"20. Each house of the general assembly may determine the rules of its proceedings; punish a member for disorderly behaviour; and with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause.

"21. Each house of the general assembly shall keep and publish weekly a journal of its proceedings; and the yeas and nays of the members on any question shall, at the desire of any two of them, be entered on their journal.

"22. Neither house, during the session of the general assembly, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which they may be sitting.

23. The members of the general assembly shall severally receive from the public treasury, a compensation for their services, which shall be one dollar and a half a day, during their attendance on, going to, and returning from the sessions of their respective houses: Provided, that the same may be increased or diminished by law; but no alteration shall take effect during the session, at which such alteration shall be made.

"24. The members of the general assembly shall in all cases, except treason, felony, breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during their attendance at the sessions 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.

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25. No senator or representative shall, during the term for which he was elected, nor for one year thereafter, be appoin ted or elected to any civil office of profit under this commonwealth, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during the time such senator or representative was in office, except to such offices or appointments as may be made or filled by the elections of the people.

"26. No person white he continues to exercise the functions of a clergyman, priest, or teacher of any religious persuasion, society, or sect; nor whilst he holds or exercises any oflice of profit under this commonwealth, shall be eligible to the general assembly; except attornies at law, justices of the peace, and militia officers: Provided, that justices of the courts of quarter sessions shall be ineligible, so long as any compensation may be allowed them for their services: Provided, also, that attornies for the commonwealth, who receive a fixed annual salary from the public treasury, shall be ineligible.

"27. No person, who at any time, may have been a collector of taxes for the state, or the assistant or deputy of such collector, shall be eligible to the general assembly until he shall have obtained a quietus for the amount of such collection, and for all public monies for which he may be responsible.

"28. No bill shall have the force of a law, until on three several days, it be read over in each house of the general assembly, and free discussion allowed thereon; unless in cases of urgency four-fifths of the house where the bill shall be depending may deem it expedient to dispense with this rule.

"29. All bills for raising revenue, shall originate in the house of representatives; but the senate may propose amendments, as in other bills: Provided, that they shall not introduce any new matter, under the colour of an amendment, which does not relate to raising a revenue.

"30. The general assembly shall regulate by law, by whom, and in what manner, writs of election shall be issued to fill the vacancies which may happen in either branch thereof.