Chap. 40.—JOINT RESOLUTION proposing amendment to section 50 of arti-
cle four of the Constitution of Virginia.

Signed February 16, 1910.

Whereas, the proposed amendment to section fifty of article four of
the Constitution, hereinafter fully set forth, was agreed to by a majority
of the members elected to the two houses of the general assembly at its
session of nineteen hundred and eight, and referred to this, the next gen-
eral assembly, and published for three months as required by the Consti-
tution and as shown by report of such publication by the clerk of the
house of delegates ; now, therefore,

Resolved, by the house of delegates, the senate concurring (a major-
ity of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto), That the fol-
lowing amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same is,
hereby proposed in conformity with the provisions of section fifty of
article four of said Constitution, namely:

Strike out from the Constitution of Virginia, section fifty, article
four, which is in the following words:

§50. No law shall be enacted except by bill. A bill may originate in
either house, to be approved or rejected by the other, or may be amended
by either, with the concurrence of the other.

No bill shall beome a law unless prior to its passage it has been—

(a) Referred to a committee of each house, considered by such com-
mittee in session, and reported ;
th (b) Printed by the house in which it originated, prior to its passage

herein ;

(c) Read at length on three different calendar days in each house;
and unless

(d) A yea and nay vote has been taken in each house upon its final
passage, the names of the members voting for and against entered on the
journal, and a majority of those voting, which shall include at least two-
fifths of the members elected to each house, recorded in the affirmative.

And only in the manner required in subdivision (d) of this section
shall an amendment to a bill by one house be concurred in by the other,
or a conference report be adopted by either house, or either house dis-
charge a committee from the consideration of a bill and consider the
same as if reported: provided, that the printing and reading, or either,
required in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section, may be dispensed
with in a bill to codify the laws of the State, and in any case of emer-
gency by a vote of four-fifths of the members voting in each house taken
by the yeas and nays, the names of the members voting for and against,
entered on the journal: provided further, that no bill which creates or
establishes a new office, or which creates, continues or revives a debt or
charge, or makes, continues or revives any appropriation of public or
trust money or property, or releases, or discharges, or commutes any
claim or demand of the State, or which imposes, continues or revives a
tax, shall be passed except by the affirmative vote of the majority of all
the members elected to each house, the vote to be by the yeas and nays,
and the names of the members voting for and against entered on the
journal. Every law imposing, continuing or reviving a tax shall specifi-
cally state such tax, and no law shall be construed as so stating such tax
which requires a reference to any other law or any other tax. The pre-
siding officer of each house shall, in the presence of the house over which
he presides, sign every bill which has been passed by both houses and duly
enrolled. Immediately before this is done, all other business being sus-
pended, the title of the bill shall be publicly read. The fact of the signing
shall be entered on the journal.

And insert in lieu thereof the following:

§50. No law shall be enacted except by bill. A bill may originate in
either house, to be approved or rejected by the other, or may be amended
by either, with the concurrence of the other.

No bill shall become a law unless prior to its passage it has been—

(a) Referred to a committee of each house, considered by such con-
mitte in session, and reported ;

(b) Printed by the house in which it originated, prior to its passage
therein;

(c) Read by title on three different calendar days in each house and
read at length at least once in each house; and unless

(d) A yea and nay vote has been taken in each house upon its final
passage, the names of the members voting for and against entered on the
journal, and a majority of those voting, which shall include at least two-
fifths of the members elected to each house, recorded in the affirmative.

And only in the manner required in subdivision (d) of this section
shall an amendment to a bill by one house be concurred in by the other,
or a conference report be adopted by either house, or either house dis
charge a committee from the consideration of a bill and consider the same
as if reported : provided, that the printing and reading, or either, required
in subdivisions (b) and (c) of this section, may be dispensed with in 4
bill to codify the laws of the State, and in any case of emergency by 3
vote of four-fifths of the members voting in each house taken by the veas
and nays, the names of the members voting for and against, entered on
the journal: provided further, that no bill which creates or establishes 2
new office, or which creates, continues or revives a debt or charge or
makes, continues or revives any appropriation of public or trust money
or property, or releascs, or discharges, or commutes any claim or demand
of the State, or which imposes, continues or revives a tax, shall be passed
except by the affirmative vote of the majority of all the members elected
to each house, the vote to be by the yeas and nays, and the nams of the
members voting for and against, entered on the journal. Everv law
imposing, continuing or reviving a tax shall specifically state such tas,
and no law shall be construed as so stating such tax which requires 4
reference to any other Jaw or any other tax. The presiding officer of each
house shall, in the presence of the house over which he presides, sign
every bill which has been passed by both houses and duly enrolled. Im-
mediately before this is done, all other business heing suspended, the
title of the bill shall be publicly read. The fact of the signing shall le
entered on the journal.