In the event of a vacancy in the Legislature caused by death, resignation, expulsion
or otherwise, the presiding officer shall within 30 days notify the Elections
Commission thereof. The Elections Commission shall not later than 90 days
thereafter cause a by-election to be held; provided that where such vacancy occurs
within 90 days prior to the holding of general elections, the filling of the vacancy
shall await the holding of such general elections.
Article 38
Each House shall adopt its own rules of procedure, enforce order and with the
concurrence of two-thirds of the entire membership, may expel a member for
cause. Each House shall establish its own committees and sub-committees;
provided, however, that the committees on revenues and appropriations shall
consist of one member from each County. All rules adopted by the Legislature shall
conform to the requirements of due process of law laid down in this Constitution.
Article 39
The Legislature shall cause a census of the Republic to be undertaken every ten
years.
Article 40
Neither House shall adjourn for more than rive days without the consent of the
other and both Houses shall always sit in the same city.
Article 41
The business of the Legislature shall be concluded in the English language or, when
adequate preparations shall have been made, in one more of the languages of the
Republic as the Legislature may by resolution approve.
Article 42
No member of the Senate or House of Representatives shall be arrested, detained,
prosecuted or tried as a result of opinions expressed or votes cast in the exercise of
the functions of his office. Members shall be privileged from arrest while
attending, going to or returning from sessions of the Legislature, except for
treason, felony or breach of the peace. All official acts done or performed and all
statement made in the Chambers of the Legislature shall be privileged, and no
Legislator shall be held accountable or punished therefor.
Article 43
The power to prepare a bill of impeachment is vested solely in the House of
Representatives, and the power to try all impeachments is vested solely in the
Senate. When the President, Vice President or an Associate Justice is to be tried,
the Chief Justice shall preside; when the Chief Justice or a judge of a subordinate
court of record is to be tried, the President of the Senate shall preside. No person
shall be impeached but by the concurrence of two-thirds of the total membership