If the General Assembly adjourn for more than three days, it is in effect an adjournment sine die.

Either House, without the consent of the other, may adjourn for two days, or less.

Legislation In general legislation the Houses have equal rights and privileges.

Journal—Each House is required to keep and publish a journal of the proceedings.

Whenever a vote by yeas and nays is taken, it must be entered in full upon the journal.

Elections-All elections held by either House, or by both Houses in joint session, are viva voce. The roll is called, and each member announces his choice.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS

Provisions relating to Both Houses.
I. JUDGE OF MEMBERSHIP.

II. MAKE RULES OF PROCEDURE.

III. MAINTAIN DIGNITY.

a. By punishment.

b. Expulsion.

IV. QUORUM.

a. For business.

b. To compel attendance.

V. SESSIONS.

a. General.

b. Special.
c. Secret.

d. Open.
e. Joint.

VI. ADJOURNMENTS.

a. Three days or less.
b. More than three days.
c. For two days.

VII. AUTHORITY OVER LEGISLATION.

VIII. JOURNAL.

a. Keep.

b. Publish.

c. Yeas and nays entered.

IX. ELECTIONS VIVA VOCE.

CHAPTER XX

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Law-making

Laws All statutory laws are framed and passed by the General Assembly. Every law must have an enacting clause, thus:

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:"

Every law must have its origin in a bill. This prevents the passage of laws in the guise of concurrent resolutions and orders.

Bills In the introduction and passage of bills the action taken may be thus summarized:

Originate Where-Bills may originate in either House. Thus the two Houses are on an equality as to the initiative in legislation. This differs somewhat from the authority given the Houses of Congress.

*

Concurrent Action-Bills are subject to the action of both Houses. Either may amend or reject at pleasure. Three Readings-Every bill must be read in each House on three different days.

* Young's Government Class-book, p. 139.

Title-Every bill must be limited to one subject, which must be clearly expressed in the title, thus: "The Conveyances of real estate."

"The Costs in civil cases," etc.

Reported by Committee-Before final passage, every bill must be referred to a committee, and printed with all the amendments thereto.

Final Vote-When the bill comes to the final test, the vote must be by yeas and nays. A majority of all the members elected to a House is necessary to pass a bill. Concurrence-There must be a concurrence of both Houses in every word of the completed bill.

Amendments-If it be proposed to change a law by an amendment, the latter must be woven into the text in the exact relationship in which it is to be in the amended law.

Become Effective When-Laws, except the general appropriation act, go into effect ninety days after the adjournment of the session of the General Assembly at which they are passed. a law may

However, in case of an "emergency take effect immediately upon passage if two thirds in each House so order it.

Signed-Upon passage, bills are signed by the presiding officer of each House in open session thereof.

Presented to Governor-After passing both Houses according to law, a bill is presented to the governor, who takes one of the three following courses:

1. He may approve it. In that case he signs and returns it to the House in which it originated. It is now a law.

2. He may disapprove of it, and return it with his objections thereto. This is called a veto.

A vetoed bill may become a law if, upon reconsidera

tion, two thirds of the membership of each House so order it.

3. The governor may ignore a bill presented to him. If he do so, retaining it in his possession, the Assembly in the meantime remaining in session, the bill will become a law after the lapse of ten days should the two Houses by joint resolution so direct. If the Assembly adjourn before the expiration of ten days, the governor may have thirty days in which to approve or reject a bill. Resolutions With certain exceptions, joint and concurrent resolutions of the General Assembly must receive the approval of the governor.

Law-making.

I. STATE LAWS.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS

a. Framed by General Assembly.
b. Must have inception by bills.

II. BILLS.

a. Originate in either house.
b. Subject to action of other.

c. Must have three readings.

d. Subject to be expressed in title.
e. Before passage—

1. Must be reported by committee.
2. Printed with amendments.

f. Final vote by yeas and nays.
1. Majority required.

g. Concurrence in amendments.
h. Amendment in text.

i. Go into effect.

1. Ninety days after passage.
2. Exception.

j. Signed in open session.

k. Presented to governor.
1. All bills.

2. Joint and concurrent resolutions.

7. Attitude of governor.

1. May approve.

2. Disapprove.

3. Ignore.

III. RESOLUTIONS TAKE SIMILAR COURSE.

CHAPTER XXI

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT

Powers and Duties

General Assembly-The General Assembly, within constitutional limits, has a comprehensive power of general legislation for the welfare of the State and the prosperity of its people. The more important powers, duties, and prohibitions enumerated by the Constitution are those which follow:

1. It possesses the legislative authority for the whole State (36).

2. Appropriations must be in the order prescribed by the Constitution (78).

3. Every tenth year the Assembly must revise the statute laws (76).

4. It must canvass the vote for executive officers

(94).

5. Decide contested elections for office of governor and of lieutenant-governor (116).

6. Establish courts as authorized (117).