Section 3.14. Immunity.

Words used by a member of the General Assembly in any of
its proceedings, including the proceedings of any committees and
subcommittees, shall be absolutely privileged, and a member shall
not be liable therefor in any civil action or criminal prosecution.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Section 3.15. Sessions.

The General Assembly may provide by law for an organiza-
tional session prior to the convening of the regular session. The
General Assembly shall convene in regular session on the third
Wednesday of January of each year, unless otherwise prescribed
by law, and may continue in session for a period not longer than
ninety days; provided that by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the members of each house a regular session may be extended
for a period not longer than thirty days, and that by the affirma-
tive vote of three-fifths of the members of each house a regular
session may be extended a second time for a period not longer
than thirty days. The governor may convene a special session of
the General Assembly at any time and shall convene a special
session upon the written request of three-fifths of all the members
of each house. The governor may, on extraordinary occasions, con-
vene the Senate by proclamation, stating the purpose for which
he has convened it. The presiding officer of the Senate and the
presiding officer of the House of Delegates, acting concurrently,
may convene a special session of the General Assembly at any
time.

Section 3.16. Organization.

Each house shall be the judge of the qualifications and selec-
tion of its members, as prescribed by this Constitution and the
laws of this State. Each house shall elect its officers and determine
its rules of procedure, and may permit its committees and sub-
committees to meet between sessions of the General Assembly.
Each house, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all its mem-
bers, may compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and
the production of records and papers either before the house
as a whole or before any of its committees and subcommittees,

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