Section 47. Power of each house of General Assembly to elect its presiding officer, makes its own rules, fill vacancies, and judge of the election and qualification of members and punish and expel members

Organization of General Assembly

The House of Delegates shall choose its own Speaker; and, in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor, or when he shall exercise the office of Governor, the Senate shall choose from its own body a president pro tempore. Each house shall select its officers and settle its rules of procedure. The houses may jointly provide for legislative continuity between sessions occurring during the term for which members of the House of Delegates are elected. Each house may direct writs of election for supplying vacancies which may occur during a session of the General Assembly. If vacancies exist while the General Assembly is not in session, such writs may be issued by the Governor under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each house shall judge of the election, qualification, and returns of its members, may punish them for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected membership, may expel a member.

The House of Delegates shall choose its own speaker; and, in the absence of the Lieutenant-Governor, or when he shall exercise the office of Governor, the Senate shall choose from their own body a president pro tempore. Each house shall select its officers, settle its rules of procedure, and direct writs of election for supplying vacancies which may occur during the session of the General Assembly; but, if vacancies occur during the recess, such writs may be issued by the Governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each house shall judge of the election, qualification, and returns of its members; may punish them for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.

The House of Delegates shall choose its own Speaker, and in the absence of the Lieutenant Governor, or when he shall exercise the office of Governor, the Senate shall choose, from their own body, a President Pro Tempore; and each House shall appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for supplying intermediate vacancies; but if vacancies shall occur during the recess of the General Assembly, such writs may be issued by the Governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each House shall judge of the election, qualification and returns of its members, may punish them for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds expel a member.

The House of Delegates shall choose its own speaker, and in the absence of the lieutenant governor, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall choose from their own officers, a president pro tempore, and each house shall appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for supplying intermediate vacancies, but if vacancies shall occur during the recess of the General Assembly, such writs may be issued by the governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.
Each house shall judge of the election, qualification and returns of its members, may punish them for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same offence.

The house of delegates shall choose its own speaker, and, in the absence of the lieutenant governor, or when he shall exercise the office of governor, the senate shall choose from their own body a president pro tempore; and each house shall appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for supplying intermediate vacancies; but if vacancies shall occur during the recess of the general assembly, such writs may be issued by the governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each house shall judge of the election, qualification and returns of its members, may punish them for disorderly behavior, and with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same offence.

The General Assembly shall meet once, or oftener, every year. Neither House, during the Session of the Legislature, shall without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and shall be authorised to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties, as each House may provide. And each House shall choose its own Speaker, appoint its own officers, settle its own rules of proceeding, and direct writs of election for supplying intermediate vacancies. But if vacancies shall occur, by death or resignation, during the recess of the General Assembly, such writs may be issued by the Governor, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. Each House shall judge of the election, qualification and returns of its members; may punish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concurrence of two thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same offence.