THE PRESENT CONSTITL'TIOX. 12;-{ 



cording to the number of taxable inhabitants in each; and sliall never be 

 less than one-fourth, nor greater than one-third, of the number of repre- 

 sentatives. 



Sect. YII. The senators shall be chosen in districts to be formed by 

 the legislature ; but no district shall be so formed as to entitle it to elect 

 more than two senators, unless the number of taxable inhabitants in any 

 city or county shall, at any time be such as to entitle it to elect more 

 than two, but no city or county shall be entitled to elect more than four 

 senators; when a district shall be composed of two or more counties, they 

 shall be adjoining * * * and no county shall be divided in forming 

 a district: The city of Philadelphia shall be divided into single senatorial 

 districts of contiguous territory as nearly equal in taxable population as 

 possible ; but no ward shall be divided in the formation thereof. 



Sect. VIII. 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; and no person elected as aforesaid shall hold said office after he 

 shall have removed from such district. 



Sect. IX. The senators who may be elected at the first general elec- 

 tion after the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution, shall be 

 divided by lot into three 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 ; and of the third class at the 

 expiration of the third year; so that, thereafter, one-third of the whole 

 number of senators may be chosen every year. The senators elected 

 "before the amendments to the Constitution shall be adopted, shall hold 

 their offices during the terms for which they shall respectively have been 

 elected. 



Sect. X. The General Assembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of 

 January, in every year, unless sooner convened by the Governor. 



Sect. XI. 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. XII. Each house shall judge of the qualifications of its members. 

 Contested elections shall be determined 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. XIII. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, 



