SEC. 17. No Senator or Delegate, after qualifying as
such, notwithstanding he may thereafter resign, shall dur-
ing the whole period of time for which he was elected be
eligible to any office which shall have been created, or the
salary or profits of which shall have been increased, during
such term..

SEC. 18. No Senator or Delegate shall be liable in any
civil action or criminal prosecution whatever for words
spoken in debate..

SEC. 19. Each House shall be judge of the qualifications
and elections of its members, as prescribed by the Consti-
tution and laws of the State; shall appoint its own officers,
determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish a mem-
ber 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..

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 mem-
bers 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 pro-
ceedings, 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 Sen-
ate, be entered on the Journal..

SEC. 23. Each House may punish by imprisonment dur-
ing the session of the General Assembly, any person not a
member, 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 one time exceed ten
days..

SEC. 24. The House of Delegates may inquire, on the
oath of witness, into all complaints, grievances and of-
ences, 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 by law. They may examine.