expelled a second time for the same
offence.
Sec. 20. A majority of the whole
number of members elected to each
House shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction 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.
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.
Sec. 22. Each House shall keep a
Journal of its proceedings, and cause
the same to be published. The 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 entered on the Journal.
Sec. 23. Each House may punish by
imprisonment, during the session of the
General Assembly, any person, not a
member, for disrespectful, or disorderly
behaviour in its presence, or for obstruct-
ing any of its proceedings, or any of its
officers in the execution of their duties;
provided, such imprisonment shall not,
at any one time, exceed ten days.
Sec. 24. The House of Delegates may
inquire, on the oath of witnesses, into
all complaints, grievances and offences,
as the Grand Inquest of the State, and
may commit any person, for any crime,
to the public jail, there to remain, until
discharged 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 papers and records, and send
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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-
vention, or correction of the abuses in
the expenditures of the money of the
State, the General Assembly shall create,
at every session thereof, a joint Standing
Committee of the Senate and House of
Delegates, who shall have power to send
for persons, and examine them on oath,
and call for Public, or official Papers
and Records, and whose duty it shall
be to examine and report upon all con-
tracts made for printing stationery, and
purchases for the Public offices, and the
Library, and all expenditures therein,
and upon all matters of alleged abuse in
expenditures, to which their attention
may be called by Resolution of either
House of the General Assembly.
Sec. 25. Neither House shall, with-
out the consent of the other, adjourn
for more than three days, at any one
time, nor adjourn to any other place,
than that in which the House shall be
sitting, without the concurrent vote of
two-thirds of the members present.
Sec. 26. The House of Delegates shall
have the sole power of impeachment in
all cases; but a majority of all the mem-
bers elected must concur in the impeach-
ment. All impeachments shall be tried
by the Senate, and when sitting for that
purpose, the Senators shall be on oath,
or affirmation, to do justice according
to the law and the evidence; but no
person shall be convicted without the
concurrence of two-thirds of all the
Senators elected.
Sec. 27. Any bill may originate in
either House of the General Assembly,
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