Freedom of
debate. |
SEC. 18. No Senator or Delegate shall be liable in any civil
action or criminal prosecution whatever tor words spoken in
debate.
SEC. 19. Each House shall be judge of the qualifications |
Powers of
each House. |
and elections of its members, as prescribed by the Constitu-
tion and laws of the State; shall appoint its own officers, de-
termine the rules of its own proceedings, punish a member
for disorderly or disrespectful behavior, and with the consent
of two-thirds of its whole number of members elected, expel a
member; but no member shall be expelled a second time for
the same offence.
Covington vs. Buffett, 90 Md., 560. |
|
Quorum |
SEC. 20. A majority of the whole number of members
elected to each House shall constitute a quorum for the trans-
action of business; but a smaller number may adjourn from
day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members in
such manner and under such penalties as each House may
prescribe, |
Sessions to be
open |
SEC. 21. The doors of each House and of the Committee of
the Whole shall be open, except when the business is such as
ought to be kept secret. |
Journals to be
published |
SEC. 22. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceed-
ings, and cause the same to be published. The yeas and nays' |
Yeas and
nays |
of members on any question shall, at the call of any five of
them in the House of Delegates, or one in the Senate, be en-
tered on the Journal. |
Disorderly
persons. |
SEC. 21!. Each House may punish by imprisonment during
the session of the General Assembly, any person not a mem-
ber, for disrespectful or disorderly behavior in its presence,
or for obstructing any of its proceedings, or any of its officers
in the execution of their duties; provided, such imprisonment
shall not at any time exceed ten days. |
Powers of
House. |
SEC. 24. The House of Delegates may inquire, on the oath
of witness, into the complaints, grievances and offences, as |
Grand
inquest. |
the grand inquest of the State, and may commit any person
for any crime to the public jail, there to remain until dis-
charged by due course of law. They may examine and pass
all accounts of the State, relating either to the collection or
expenditure of the revenue, and appoint auditors to state and
adjust the same. They may call for all public or official pa- |
May call for
persons and
papers. |
pers and records, and send for persons whom they may judge
necessary, in the course of their inquiries, concerning affairs
relating to the public interest, and may direct all office bonds
which shall be made payable to the State to be sued for any
breach thereof; and with the view to the more certain pre- |
