Sec. 12. Each house shall have the power to determine the rules of its proceedings; and punish its members or other persons for con tempt or disorderly behaviour in its presence; enforce obedience to its process; to protect its members against violence or offers of bribes or private solicitations; and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause. A member expelled for corruption shall not thereafter be eligible to either house; and punishment for contempt or disorderly behavior shall not bar an indictment for the same offense. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and from time to time publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy; and the yeas and nays on any question shall, at the desire of any five members, be entered on the journals.
Sec. 13. The sessions of each house and of committees of the whole shall be open, unless when the business is such as ought to be kept secret.
Sec. 14. Whenever an officer, civil or military, shall be appointed by the joint or concurrent vote of both houses, or by the separate vote of either house of the General Assembly, the vote shall be taken viva voce and entered on the journals.
Sec. 15. The members of the General Assembly shall, in all cases except treason, felony and 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.
Sec. 16. The members of the General Assembly shall receive such per diem pay and mileage for their services as shall be fixed by law. No member of either house shall, during the term for which he has been elected, receive any increase of pay for his services under any law passed during such term. The term of all members of the General Assembly shall begin on the day of their election.
Sec. 17. The regular biennial sessions shall not exceed sixty days in duration, unless by a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house of said General Assembly. Provided, that this section shall not apply to the first session of the General Assembly under this Constitution, or when impeachments are pending.
Sec. 18. Each house, at the beginning of every regular session of the General Assembly, and whenever a vacancy may occur, shall elect from its members a presiding officer to be styled, respectively, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and whenever, at the close of any session, it may appear that the term of the member elected President of the Senate will expire before the next regular session, the Senate shall elect another president from those members whose terms of office continue over, who shall qualify and remain President of the Senate until his successor may be elected and qualified; and who, in the case of a vacancy in the office of Governor, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of Governor, as elsewhere herein provided.
