ARTICLE II. Sect. 1. The legislative authority of this state, shall be vested in a general assembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives, both to be elected by the people. Sect. 2. The first election for senators and representatives, shall commence on the third Thursday of September next, and continue for that and the two succeeding days; and the next election shall be held on the first Monday in August, one thousand eight hundred and twenty; and forever after, elections shall be held once in two years, on the first Monday of August, in each and every county, at such places therein as may be provided by law. Sect 3. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, and an inhabitant of this state: who shall not have resided within the limits of the county or district in which he shall be chosen, twelve months next preceding his election, if such county or district shall have been so long erected; but if not, then within the limits of the county or counties, district or districts out of which the same shall have been taken, unless he shall have been absenton the public business of the United States or of this state; and who moreover shall not have paid a state or county tax. Sect. The senators at their first session herein provided for, shall be divided by lot from their respective counties or districts, as near as can be, into two classes. The seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year; and those of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, so that one-half thereof, as near as possible, may be biennially chosen forever thereafter. Sect. 5. The number of senators and representatives, shall, at the first session of the general assembly, holden after the returns herein provided for are made, be fixed by the general assembly, and apportioned among the several counties or districts to be established by law, according to the number of white inhabitants. The number of representatives shall not be less than twenty-seven, nor more than thirty-six, until the number of inhabitants within this state shall amount to one hundred thousand; and the number of senators shall never be less than one-third nor more than one-half of the number of representatives. Sect. 6. No person shall be a senator who has not arrived at the age of twenty-five years, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, and who shall not have resided one year in the county or district in which he shall be chosen immediately preceding his election, if such county or district shall have been so long erected; but if not, then within the limits of the county or counties, district or districts, out of which the same shall have been taken; unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this state, and shall not moreover have paid a state or county tax. Sect. 7. The senate and house of representatives, when assembled, shall each choose a speaker and other officers, (the speaker of the senate excepted:) each house shall judge of the qualifications and elections of its members, and sit upon its own adjournments. Twothirds of each house shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members. Sect. 8. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and publish them: 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. 9. Any two members of either house, shall have liberty to dissent and protest against any act or resolution which they may think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have the reasons of their dissent entered on the journals. Sect. 10. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behaviour; and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause. Sect. 11. When vacancies happen in either house, the governor or the person exercising the powers of governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. Sect. 12. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases except treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during the session of the general assembly, 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. 13. Each house may punish, by imprisonment during its session, any person not a member, who shall be guilty of disrespect to the house, by any disorderly or contemptuous behaviour, in their presence; provided such imprisonment shall not at any one time exceed twenty four hours. Sect. 14. The doors of each house, and of committees of the whole, shall be kept open, except in such cases as in the opinion of the house require secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Sect. 15. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, amended, or rejected by the other. Sect. 16. Every bill shall be read on three different days in each house, unless, in case of urgency, three-fourths of the house where such bill is so depending shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule; and every bill having passed both houses shall be signed by the speakers of their respective houses. [1] Sect. 17. The style of the laws of this state shall be, "Be it enacted by the people of the state of Illinois, represented in the general assembly.' 1 Sect. 18. The general assembly of this state shall not allow the following officers of government greater or smaller annual salaries than as follows, until the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four: The governor one thousand dollars; and the secretary of state, six hundred dollars. Sect. 19. No senator or representative shall, during the time for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under this state, which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, during such time. Sect. 20. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law. Sect. 21. An accurate statement of the receipts and expenditures of the public money, shall be attached to and published with the laws at the rising of each session of the general assembly. Sect. 22. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching, but a majority of all the members present must concur in animpeachment; all impeachments shall be tried by the senate; and when sitting for the purpose, the senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the senators present. Sect. 23. The governor and all other civil officers under this state 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, profit, or trust, under this state. The party, whether convicted or acquitted, shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law. Sect. 24. The first session of the general assembly shall commence on the first Monday of October next, and forever after, the general assembly shall meet on the first Monday in December next, ensuing the election of the members thereof, and at no other period, unless as provided by this constitution. Sect. 25. No judge of any court of law or equity, secretary of state, attorney general, attorney for the state, register, clerk of any court of record, sheriff or collector, member of either house of Congress, or person holding any lucrative office under the United States or this state, (provided that appointments in the militia, postmasters or justices of the peace shall not be considered lucrative offices,) shall have a seat in the general assembly: nor shall any person holding an office of honor or profit under the government of the United States, hold any office of honor or profit under the authority of this state. [1] Sect. 26. Every person who shall be chosen or appointed to any office of trust or profit shall, before entering upon the duties thereof, take an oath to support the constitution of the United States, and of this state, and also an oath of office. Sect. 27. In all elections, all white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years, having resided in the state six months next preceding the election, shall enjoy the right of an elector: but no per son shall be entitled to vote except in the county or district in which he shall actually reside at the time of the election. Sect. 28. All votes shall be given, viva voce, until altered by the general assembly. Sect. 29. Electors shall in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections and in going to and returning from the same. Sect. 30. The general assembly shall have full power to exclude from the privilege of electing or being elected any person convicted of bribery, perjury, or any other infamous crime. Sect. 31. In the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty, and every fifth year thereafter, an enumeration of all the white inbabitants of the state shall be made, in such manner as shall be directed by law. Sect. 32. All bills for raising a revenue shall originate in the house of representatives, subject however to amendment or rejection as in other cases. ARTICLE III. Sect. 1. The executive power of this state shall be vested in a governor. Sect. 2. The first election of governor shall commence on the third Thursday of September next, and continue for that and the two succeeding days; and the next election shall be held on the first Monday of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two. And forever after, elections for governor shall be held once in four years, on the first Monday of August. The governor shall be chosen by the electors of the members of the general assembly, at the same places and in the same manner that they shall respectively vote for members thereof. The returns for every election of governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, by the returning officers, directed to the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall open and publish them in the presence of a majority of the members of each house of the general assembly. The person having the highest number of votes shall be governor; but if two or more be equal and highest in votes, then one of them shall be chosen governor by joint ballot of both houses of 2 the general assembly. Contested elections shall be determined by both houses of the general assembly in such manner as shall be prescribed by law. Sect. 3. The first governor shall hold his office until the first Monday of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-two and until another governor shall be elected and qualified to office: and forever after the governor shall hold his of fice for the term of four years, and until another governor shall be elected and qualified; but he shall not be eligible for more than four years in any term of eight years. He shall be at least thirty years of age and have been a citizen of the United States thirty years; two years of which next preceding his election he shall have resided within the limits of this state. Sect. 4. He shall from time to time give the general assembly information of the state of the goverment, and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient. Sect. 5. He shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons after conviction, except in cases of impeachment. Sect. 6. The governor shall, at stated times, receive a salary for his services, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected. Sect. 7. He may require information in writing from the offi cers in the executive department upon any subject relating to the dụ, ties of their respective offices, and shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Sect. 8. When any officer, the right of whose appointment is by this constitution vested in the general assembly, or in the governor and senate, shall, during the recess, die, or his office by any means become vacant, the governor shall have power to fill such vacancy, by granting a commission which shall expire at the end of the next session of the general assembly. Sect. 9. He may on extraordinary occasions convene the general assembly by proclamation, and shall state to them when assembled the purpose for which they shall have been convened. Sect. 10. He shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of this state and of the militia, except when they shall be called into the service of the United States. Sect. 11. There shall be elected in each and every county in the said state, by those who are qualified to vote for members of the gen. eral assembly, and at the same times and places where the election for such members shall be held, one sheriff and one coroner, whose election shall be subject to such rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by law. The said sheriffs and coroners respectively, when elected, shall continue in office two years, be subject to removal and |