Section 1. The Legislative power of this State shall be vested in two distinct branches, the one to be styled the Senate, the other the House of Representatives, and both together, "The General Assembly of the State of Florida," and the style of all the laws shall be "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida in General Assembly convened."

Section 2. The members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified voters, and shall serve for the term of one year from the day of the commencement of the general election and no longer, and the sessions of the General Assembly shall be annual, and commence on the fourth Monday in November in each year, or at such other time, as may be prescribed by law.

Section 3. The Representatives shall be chosen every year, on the first Monday in the Month of October, until otherwise directed by law.

Section 4. No person shall be a representative, unless he be a white man, a citizen of the United States, and shall have been an inhabitant of the State, two years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the county for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-one years.

Section 5. The Senators shall be chosen by the qualified electors, for the term of two years, at the same time, in the same manner, and in the same places where they vote for members of the House of Representatives; and no man shall be a Senator, unless he be a white man, a citizen of the United States, and shall have been an inhabitant of this State, two years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof, a resident of the District or County for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-five years.

Section 6. The Senators after their first election, shall be divided by lot, into two classes, and the seats of the Senators of the first class, shall be vacated at the expiration of the first year, and of the second class, shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, so that one half thereof, as near as possible, may be chosen for ever thereafter, annually, for the term of two years.

Section 7. The House of Representatives, when assembled, shall choose a Speaker and its other officers, and the Senate a President and its other officers, and each House shall be judge of the qualifications, elections, and returns of its members; but a contested election shall be determined in such manner as shall be directed by law.

Section 8. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each House may prescribe.

Section 9. Each House may determine the rules of its own proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and with the consent of two-thirds, expel a member, but not a second time for the same cause.

Section 10. Each House, during the session, may punish by imprisonment any person, not a member, for disrespectful or disorderly behavior in its presence, or for obstructing any of its proceedings, provided such imprisonment shall not extend beyond the end of the session.

Section 11. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and cause the same to be published immediately after its adjournment, and the yeas and nays of the members of each House shall be taken and entered upon the journals upon the final passage of every bill, and may, by any two members, be required upon any other question, and any member of either House shall have liberty to dissent from or protest against any act or resolution which he may think injurious to the public or an individual, and have the reasons of his dissent entered on the journal.

Section 12. Senators and Representatives shall in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during the session of the General Assembly, and in going to or returning from the same, allowing one day for every twenty miles such member may reside from the place at which the General Assembly is convened, and for any speech or debate in either House they shall not be questioned in any other place.

Section 13. The General Assembly shall make provision by law for filling vacancies that may occur in either House by the death, resignation, (or otherwise,) of any of its members.

Section 14. The doors of each House shall be open, except on such occasions as, in the opinion of the House, the public safety may imperiously require secrecy.

Section 15. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which they may be sitting.

Section 16. Bills may originate in either House of the General Assembly, and all bills passed by one House may be discussed, amended, or rejected by the other, but no bill shall have the force of law until on three several days it be read in each House, and free discussion be allowed thereon, unless in cases of urgency four-fifths of the House in which the same shall be depending may deem it expedient to dispense with the rule; and every bill having passed both Houses shall be signed by the Speaker and President of their respective Houses.

Section 17. Each member of the General Assembly shall receive from the public Treasury such compensation for his services as may be fixed by law, but no increase of compensation shall take effect during the term for which the Representatives were elected when such law passed.

Section 18. The number of members of the House of Representatives shall never exceed sixty.