Section XVII. Of the compensation and privileges of members

Of the compensation and privileges of members

The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the commonwealth. They shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, and breach or surety of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, 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.

The city of Philadelphia and each County of this Common Wealth respectively shall on the first Tuesday of November in this present year, and on the Second Tuesday in October Annually for the two next succeeding Years to wit. The year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Seven and the year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Eight choose six persons to represent them in General Assembly. But as Representation in proportion to the Number of Taxable Inhabitants is the only principle which can at all times Secure Liberty and make the Voice of a Majority of the people the Law of the Land; Therefore the General Assembly shall cause compleat Lists of the Taxable Inhabitants in the City and each County in the Common Wealth respectively to be taken and returned to them on or before the last meeting of the Assembly elected in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Eight, Who shall appoint a Representation to each in proportion to the number of Taxables in such returns, Which Representation shall continue for the next seven years afterwards, at the End of which a new return of the Taxable Inhabitants shall be made, and a Representation agreeable thereto appointed by the said Assembly and so on Septennially for ever, The Wages of the Representatives in General Assembly and all other State Charges shall be paid out of the State Treasury.