Page:The Federal and state constitutions v5.djvu/280

2806 ship any person convicted of an infamous crime, but shall have power to pass general laws regulating the same.

The general assembly shall not pass any private law, unless it shall be made to appear that thirty days' notice of application to pass such law shall have been given, under such direction and in such manner as shall be provided by law.

If vacancies shall occur in the general assembly by death, resignation, or otherwise, writs of election shall be issued by the governor under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

No law shall be passed to raise money on the credit of the State, or to pledge the faith of the State directly or indirectly for the payment of any debt, or to impose any tax upon the people of the State, or to allow the counties, cities, or towns to do so, unless the bill for the purpose shall have been read three several times in each house of the general assembly, and passed three several readings, which readings shall have been on three different days, and agreed to by each house respectively, and unless the yeas and nays on the second and third readings of the bill shall have been entered on the journal.

The general assembly shall regulate entails in such manner as to prevent perpetuities.

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, which shall be printed and made public immediately after the adjournment of the general assembly.

Any member of either house may dissent from, and protest against, any act or resolve which he may think injurious to the public or any individual, and have the reasons of his dissent entered on the journal.

The house of representatives shall choose their own speaker and other officers.

The lieutenant-governor shall preside in the senate, but shall have no vote, unless it may be equally divided.

The senate shall choose its own officers and also a speaker pro tempore in the absence of the lieutenant-governor, or when he shall exercise the office of governor.

The style of the acts shall be, "The general assembly of North Carolina do enact."

Each house shall be judge of the qualifications and elections of its own members, shall sit upon its own adjournment from day to day, prepare bills to be passed into laws, and the two houses may also jointly adjourn to any future day, or other place.

All bills and resolutions of a legislative nature shall be read three times in each house, before they pass into laws; and shall be signed by the presiding officers of both houses.

Each member of the general assembly, before taking his seat, shall take an oath or affirmation that he will support the Constitution and laws of the United States, and the constitution of the State of North Carolina, and will faithfully discharge his duty as a member of the senate or house of representatives.

The terms of office for senators and members of the house of representatives shall commence at the time of their election; and the term of office of those elected at the first election held under this constitution shall terminate at the same time as if they had been elected, at the first ensuing regular election.