Sect. 1. The Legislative authority of this state, shall be vested in a general assembly, which shall consist of a Senate, and house of Representatives, both to be elected by the people.
Sect. 2. The General Assembly may, within two years after their first meeting, and shall, in the year eighteen hundred and twenty, and every subsequent term of five years, cause an enumeration to be made, of all the white male inhabitants above the age of twenty-one years. The number of Representatives shall, at the several periods of making such enumeration, be fixed by the General Assembly, and apportioned among the several counties, according to the number of white male inhabitants, above twenty-one years of age in each; and shall enver be less than twenty-five nor greater than thirty-six, until the number of white male inhabitants above twenty-one years of age, shall be twenty-two thousand; and after that event, at such ratio, that the whole number of Representatives shall never be less than thirty-six, nor exceed one hundred.
Sect. 3. The Representatives shall be chosen annually, by the qualified electors of each County respectively on the first Monday of August.
Sect. 4. No person shall be a Representative, unless he shall have attained the age of twenty-one years, and shall be a Citizen of the united States, and an inhabitant of this state, and shall also have resided within the limits of the County, in which he shall be chosen, one year next proceeding his election; if the County shall have been so long erected, but if not, then within the limits of the County, in which he shall be chosen, one year next proceeding his election; if the County shall have been so long erected, but if not, then within the limits of the County or Counties out of which it shall have been taken; unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the united States, or of this state, and shall have paid a State or County tax.
Sect. 5. The Senators shall be chosen for three years, on the first Monday in August, by the qualified voters for Representatives; and on their being convened, in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided by lot, from their respective Counties, or districts, as near as can be, into three classes; the seats of the senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year; & the second class, at the expiration of the second year; and of the third class, at the expiration of the third year; so that one third thereof, as near as possible, may be annually chosen forever thereafter.
Sect. 6. The number of senators shall, at the several periods of making the enumeration before mentioned, be fixed by the General Assembly, and apportioned among the several Counties or districts, to be established by law, according to the number of white male inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years in each, and shall never be less than one third, nor more than one half of the number of Representatives.
Sect. 7. No person shall be a senator, unless he shall have attained the age of twenty-five years, and shall be a Citizen of the united States, and shall, next proceeding the election, have resided two years in the state, the last twelve months of which, in the County or district in which he may be elected; if the county or district shall have been so long erected, but if not, then within the limits of the County, or Counties, district or districts, out of which the same shall have been taken; unless he shall have been absent on the public business of the united States, or of this state, and shall moreover, have paid a State or County tax.
Sect. 8. The house of Representatives, when assembled, shall choose a Speaker, and its other officers, and the Senate shall choose its officers, except the president; and each shall be judges of the qualifications and elections of its members; and sit upon its own adjournments. Two thirds of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members.
Sect. 9. Each house shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and publish them: The yeas and nays of the members, on any question, shall, at the request of any two of them. be entered on the Journals.
Sect. 10. Any one member of either house, shall have liberty to dissent from, and protest against any act or resolution, which he may think injurious to the public, or any individual or individuals, and have the reason of his dissent entered on the Journals.
Sect. 11. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause; and shall have all other powers necessary for a branch of the Legislature of a free and independent State.
Sect. 12. When vacancies happen in either branch of the General Assembly, the Governor, or the person exercising the power of Governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.
Sect. 13. Senators and Representatives shall, in all cases except treason, felony, or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest, during the Session of the General Assembly, and in going to, or returning from the same; and for any Speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place.
Sect. 14. Each house may punish, by imprisonment, during their Session, any person, not a member, who shall be guilty of any disrespect to the house, by any disorderly, or contemptuous behaviour in their presence; provided such imprisonment shall not, at any one time, exceed twenty-four hours.
Sect. 15. The doors of each house, and of committees of the whole, shall be kept open, excepting such cases as, in the opinion of the House, may require secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than two days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.
Sect. 16. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, amended or rejected by the other.
Sect. 17. Every bill shall be read on three different days in each house, unless, in case of urgency, two-thirds of the house, when such bill may be depending, shall deem it expedient to dispense with this rule: And every bill having passed both houses, shall be signed by the president and speaker of their respective houses.
Sect. 18. The style of the laws of this State shall be, "Be it enacted by the General assembly of the State of Indiana."
Sect. 19. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the house of Representatives, but the senate may amend or reject, as in other bills.
Sect. 20. No person, holding any office under the authority of the President of the United States, or of this State, Militia officers excepted, shall be eligible to a seat in either branch of the General Assembly; unless he resign his office, previous to his election; nor shall any member of either branch of the General Assembly, during the time for which he is elected, be eligible to any office, the appointment of which is vested in the General Assembly: Provided That nothing, in this constitution, shall be so construed, as to prevent any member of the first Session of the first General Assembly from accepting any office, that is created by this constitution, or the Constitution of the united States, and the salaries of which are established.
Sect. 21. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of appropriations made by law.
Sect. 22. An accurate Statement of the receipts and expenditures of the public money shall be attached to, and published with the laws, at every annual session of the General Assembly.
Sect. 23. The house of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeaching; but a majority of all the members elected must concur in such impeachment. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate, and when sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of a majority of all the senators elected.
Sect. 24. The Governor, and all civil officers of the State, shall be removed from office, on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors; but Judgment in such cases, shall not extend further than removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honour, profit, or trust, under this State. The party, whether convicted or acquitted shall, nevertheless, be liable to indictment trial, judgment, and punishment, according to law.
Sect. 25. The first session of the General Assembly shall commence on the first Monday of November next, and forever after, the General Assembly shall meet on the first Monday in December, in every year, and at no other period, unless directed by law, or provided for by this Constitution.
Sect. 26. No person, who hereafter may be a collector, or holder of public money, shall have a seat in either house of the General Assembly, until such person shall have accounted for, and paid into the Treasury all sums for which he may be accountable.