Constitution of the State of Illinois, 1818, Page 4

been absent on the public business of th e United States, or of this state, and shall not, moreover, have paid a state or county tax.

The senate and house of representatives, when assembled, shall each choose a speaker and other officers, the speaker of the senate excepted; -- each house shall judge of the qualifications and elections of its members and sit upon its own adjournments. Two thirds of each house shall constiute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members.

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 desire of any two of them be entered on the journals.

Any two members of either house shall have liberty to dissent and protest against any act or resolution which they may think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have the reasons of their dissent entered on the journals.

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.

When vacancies happen in either house, the Governor, or the person exercising the powers of Governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies.

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 and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house, they shall not be questioned in any other place.