62 CONSTITUTION OF MARYLAND. [ART. III

Sec, 16. No book, or other printed matter, not appertaining to the
business of the session, shall be purchased or subscribed for, for the
use of the members of the General Assembly, or be distributed among
them, at the public expense.

Sec. 17. No Senator or Delegate, after qualifying as such, notwith-
standing he may thereafter resign, shall during 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 elec-
tions of its members, as prescribed by the Constitution and Laws of
the State; shall appoint its own officers, determine 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.

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 disre-
spectful 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
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 for persons whom they may judge neces-
sary, in the course of their inquires, 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