SEC. 2.

TERM OF OFFICE OF MEMBERS.

The term of office of a senator is four years; of a member of the Assembly, two years. (Political Code, sec. 226.)

SEC. 3.

SESSIONS OF THE LEGISLATURE.

The sessions of the Legislature shall be biennial, unless the Governor shall, in the interim, convene the Legislature, by proclamation, in extraordinary session. All sessions, other than extraordinary, shall commence at twelve o'clock m., on the first Monday after the first day of January next succeeding the election of its members, and shall continue in session for a period not exceeding thirty days thereafter; whereupon a recess of both Houses must be taken for not less than thirty days. On the reassembling of the Legislature, no bill shall be introduced in either House without the consent of three-fourths of the members thereof, nor shall more than two bills be introduced by any one member after such reassembling. (Constitution, art. IV, sec. 2.)

SEC. 4.

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING OF LEGISLATURE.

The Legislature shall assemble at the seat of government at twelve o'clock m., on the first Monday after the first day of January, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, and on the first Monday after the first day of January every two years thereafter. (Political Code, sec. 235.)

SEC. 5.

TRANSMISSION AND PUBLICATION OF ELECTION RETURNS.

The returns of every election for Governor shall be sealed up and transmitted to the seat of government, directed to the Speaker of the Assembly, who shall, during the first week of the session, open and publish them in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature. The person having the highest number of votes shall be Governor; but in case any two or more have an equal and the highest number of votes, the Legislature shall, by joint vote of both Houses, choose one of such persons so having an equal and the highest number of votes for Governor. (Constitution, art. V, sec. 4.)

SEC. 6.

CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION EVIDENCE OF RIGHT TO SEAT.

The certificate of election is prima facie evidence of the right to membership. (Political Code, sec. 236.)

SEC. 7.

ORGANIZATION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Each house shall choose its officers and judge of the qualifications, elections and returns of its members. (Constitution, art. IV, sec. 7.)

SEC. 8.

TEMPORARY OFFICERS OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY.

The Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the Assembly, the Minute Clerks and Sergeant-at-Arms of each House, for any session, must, at the next succeeding session of the body, perform the duties. of their offices until their successors are elected and qualified. Said officers, and no others, shall be allowed mileage. The Secretary of the Senate may appoint a postmaster, three gatekeepers, and three pages. The Chief Clerk of the Assembly may appoint a postmaster, three gatekeepers, and three pages. The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate and of the Assembly may each appoint an Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms. There shall be no other officers or employees of either House until the permanent organization is completed. Such officers shall serve only until said permanent organization is completed. (Political Code, sec. 237.)

SEC. 9.

ORGANIZATION OF SENATE.

At the hour of twelve o'clock m., on the day appointed for the meeting of any regular session of the Legislature, the President of the Senate, or in case of his absence or inability, then the senior member present, must take the chair, call the members and members-elect to order, and then cause the Secretary to call over the senatorial districts, in their order, from which members have been elected at the preceding election, and as the same are called the members-elect must present their certificates, take the constitutional oath of office, and assume their seats. The Senate may thereupon, if a quorum is present, proceed to elect its officers. (Political Code, sec. 238.)

SEC. 10.

ORGANIZATION OF ASSEMBLY.

At the time specified in section two hundred and thirty-eight the Clerk of the Assembly, or in case of his absence or inability, then the senior member-elect present, must take the chair, call the members-elect to order, and then call over the roll of counties in alphabetical order, and as the same are called the members-elect must present their certificates, take the constitutional oath of office, and assume their seats. The Assembly may thereupon, if a quorum is present, proceed to elect its officers. (Political Code, sec. 239.)

SEC. 11.

OATH OF OFFICE.

Members of the Legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath of office:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of

the State of California, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of_____ ---according to the best of my ability." And no other oath, declaration, or test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust. (Constitution, art. XX, sec. 3, and Political Code, sec. 904.)

SEC. 12.

OATH OF GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor must take the official oath in the presence of both Houses of the Legislature, in convention assembled, and an entry of the fact must be made upon the journals of each House. (Political Code, sec. 905.)

SEC. 13.

OATH OF MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE.

Members of the Legislature may take the oath of office at any time during the term for which they were elected. (Political Code, sec. 906.)

SEC. 14.

OATH TO BE ENTERED ON JOURNALS.

An entry of the oath taken by members of the Legislature must be made on the journals of the proper House. (Political Code, sec. 240.)

SEC. 15.

OFFICERS OF THE SENATE.

The officers and employees of the Senate shall consist of a president, a president pro tem., a secretary, three assistant secretaries (who shall be appointed by the secretary, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate), one assistant at the desk, one sergeant-at-arms, one assistant sergeant-at-arms, one assistant sergeant-at-arms for the finance committee, one assistant sergeant-at-arms for the judiciary committee, one assistant sergeant-at-arms to be assigned by the sergeantat-arms to any committee requiring the same, one bookkeeper for the sergeant-at-arms (who shall be appointed by the sergeant-at-arms by and with the advice and consent of the Senate), one minute clerk, three assistant minute clerks, one journal clerk, two assistant journal clerks, one engrossing and enrolling clerk, three assistant engrossing and enrolling clerks, two assistant engrossing and enrolling clerks (said two to be elected on the thirtieth day of the session), one history clerk, one assistant history clerk, three bill filers, four bill clerks, a chaplain, one postmaster, one assistant postmaster, two mail carriers. (who shall be mailing and folding clerks), one page to the president of the Senate, four pages, three gatekeepers, one doorkeeper, one gallery doorkeeper, two messengers to state printer, one cloakroom clerk, five skilled stenographers (who shall be typewriters, and who shall be at the service of the Senate, its members and committees, and under the supervision of the secretary of the senate,* one stenographer

for the finance committee, one stenographer for the judiciary committee, six porters, one rear porter, three watchmen, one janitress for ladies' cloakroom, two press mailing clerks; and only such other officers or employees as the Senate by a three-fifths vote of all the memberselect shall deem necessary. Any officer or employee appointed or elected under the provisions of this section may at any time be removed by the Senate. (Political Code, sec. 245.)

SEC. 16.

OFFICERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.

The officers and employees of the Assembly shall consist of a speaker, a speaker pro tem., one chief clerk, four assistant clerks (who shall be appointed by the chief clerk, by and with the advice and consent of the Assembly), one sergeant-at-arms, one assistant sergeant-at-arms, one clerk for the sergeant-at-arms, one bookkeeper to the sergeant-atarms (said bookkeeper to be appointed by the sergeant-at-arms, by and with the advice and consent of the Assembly), one minute clerk, two assistant minute clerks, one journal clerk, one assistant journal clerk, one engrossing and enrolling clerk, two assistant engrossing and enrolling clerks, and two additional assistant engrossing and enrolling clerks (said last two to be elected on the thirtieth day of the session), one file clerk to keep the files, four bill filers, one chaplain, one postmaster, one assistant postmaster, one mail carrier (who shall be mailing and folding clerk), one page to speaker, six pages, three gatekeepers, one doorkeeper, one gallery doorkeeper, one messenger to printer, one history clerk, one bill clerk, four assistant bill clerks, thirty committee clerks (to be assigned to committees actually requiring the use of a clerk), six skilled stenographers (who shall be typewriters, and who shall be at the service of the Assembly, its members and its committees, under the supervision of the Chief Clerk), five porters, three watchmen, one fireman, one sergeant-at-arms for the ways and means committee, one sergeant-at-arms for the judiciary committee, one engineer, one electrician, one janitress, and one elevator attendant; and only such other officers or employees as the Assembly by a three-fifths vote of all the members-elect shall deem necessary. Any officer or employee appointed or elected under the provisions of this section may at any time be removed by the Assembly. (Political Code, sec. 246.)

SEC. 17.

ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS BY THE LEGISLATURE.

All officers and employees of the Legislature, except the President of the Senate, porters and pages, must be elected by the House to which such officers and employees are attached. The porters and pages shall be appointed by the presiding officers of their respective Houses. (Political Code, sec. 247.)

SEC. 18.

WHAT OFFICERS OF LEGISLATURE MAY ADMINISTER OATHS.

The President and President pro tem. of the Senate, and the Speaker and Speaker pro tem. of the Assembly, may administer the oath of office to any Senator or Assemblyman, and to the officers of their respective bodies. The members of any committee may administer oaths to witnesses in any matter under examination. (Political Code, sec. 252.)

SEC. 19.

WHAT NUMBER CONSTITUTES A QUORUM.

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 shall provide. (Constitution, art. IV, sec. 8.)

SEC. 20.

RULES FOR GOVERNMENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

Each House shall determine the rules for its proceedings and may, with the concurrence of two thirds of all the members elected, expel a member. (Constitution, art. IV, sec. 9.)

SEC. 21.

ADJOURNMENT FROM DAY TO DAY.

Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any place other than that in which they may be sitting. Nor shall the members of either House draw pay for any recess or adjournment for a longer time than three days. (Constitution, art. IV, sec. 14.)

SEC. 22.

ADJOURNMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RECESS AND SINE DIE.

Adjournment for the constitutional recess and adjournment sine die shall be made only by concurrent resolution. (Joint Rule No. 36.)

SEC. 23.

HOUR OF MEETING OF LEGISLATURE.

The sessions of the House shall be daily (Sundays excepted) beginning at nine o'clock and thirty minutes a.m. After the constitutional recess, a recess shall be taken daily at the hour of twelve o'clock noon until the hour of one o'clock and thirty minutes p.m., unless otherwise ordered by a vote of the House. (Assembly Rule No. 1.) The Senate rule is identical except that the hour of convening is fixed at ten o'clock and the noon recess is from twelve thirty to two o'clock p.m. (Senate Rule No. 1.)