Legislative Department

Section 1 The legislative power shall be vested in a senate and house of representatives, which shall be designated "The legislature of the State of Wyoming"

Sec 2. Senators shall be elected for the term of four years and representatives for the term of two years, except as is otherwise provided in this constitution. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty five years, or a representatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty one years, and who shall not be a citizen of the United States and of this state and who shall not, for at least twelve months next preceeding his election have resided within the county or district in which he shall be elected.

Sec 3. Each county shall constitute a senatorial district which shall be numbered from one consecutively according to the number of counties now existing or hereafter created, and one senator only shall be elected from each district

Section 4. The senators shall be divided into two classes. Those elected from districts numbered odd numbers shall constitute one class and those elected from districts numbered the even numbers shall constitute the other class; and when any additional senator shall be required by the creation of a new county, his class shall be determined by the numbers of his district as above provided; one class of the senators elected to the first legislature shall hold office for two years and the other class for four years and it shall be determined by lot immediately after the first assembling of the senate under this constitution whether the senators from the odd or even numbered districts shall hold for two years or four years.

Section 5. The house of representatives shall be composed of members elected by the legal voters of the counties respectively every two years, who shall be apportioned among the said counties as nearly as may be according to the number of their inhabitants. The house of representatives first elected in pursuance of this constitution shall consist of 30 members which number may be increased from time to time as provided by law; Provided that each county shall at all times be entitled to one member and the whole number of members shall never exceed fifty.

Section 6. When vacancies shall occur in either house by death resignation or otherwise which vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by special election to be called in such manner as may be prescribed by law.

Section 7. Members of the senate and house of representatives shall be elected on the day provided by law for the general election of a member of Congress, state and county officers and their term of office shall begin on the first Monday of January thereafter

Section 8. Each member of the first Legislature, as a compensation for his service shall receive five dollars for each day's attendance, and fifteen cents for each mile traveled in going to and returning from the seat of government to his residence by the usually traveled route, and shall receive no other compensation, perquisite or allowance whatsoever. No session of the Legislature, after the first, which may be one hundred and twenty days, shall exceed sixty days. After the first session, the compensation of the members of the Legislature shall be as provided by law; Provided, that no Legislature shall fix its own compensation.

Section 9. The Legislature, shall meet at the seat of government at twelve o’clock, noon, on the second Tuesday of January, next succeeding the general election provided by law, and at twelve, o'clock, noon, on the second Tuesday of January, of each alternate year thereafter, and at other times when convened by the Governor.

SEC. 10. No Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any civil office under the State; and no member of Congress, or other person holding an office (except Notary Public, or in the militia) under the United States or this State, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. 

SEC. 11. No member of either house, shall, during the term for which, he shall have been elected, receive any increase of salary or mileage under any law passed during such term.

SEC. 12. The Senate shall, at the beginning and close of each regular session, and. at such other times as may be necessary, elect one of its members President, pro tempore. The House of Representatives shall elect one of its members Speaker. Each house shall choose its other officers, and shall judge of the elections, returns, and qualifications of its members.

SEC. 13. A majority of each house shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller

number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may prescribe.

SEC. 14. Each house shall have power to determine the rules of its proceedings, and punish its members or other persons for contempt or disorderly behavior in its presence; to protect its members against violence or offers of bribe or private solicitation, and with the concurrence of two- thirds, to expel a member, and shall have all other powers necessary for the Legislature of a free State. A member expelled for corruption shall not thereafter be eligible to either house of the Legislature; and punishment for contempt or disorderly behavior shall not bar a criminal prosecution for the same offense.

SEC. 15. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings and may, in its discretion, from, time to time, publish the same, except such parts as require secrecy, and the ayes and noes on any question, shall, at the request of any two members, be entered on the journal.

SEC. 16. The sessions of each house and of the committees of the whole shall be open unless the business is such as requires secrecy.

SEC. 17. Neither house shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting.

SEC. 18. The members of the Legislature shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, violation of their oath of office and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place.

SEC. 19. The sole power of impeachment shall vest in the House of Representatives; the concurrence of a majority of all the members being necessary to the exercise thereof. Impeachment shall be tried by the Senate sitting for that purpose and the Senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. When the Governor or Lieutenant Governor is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. No person shall be convicted without a concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators elected.

SEC. 20. The Governor and other State and Judicial officers, except Justices of the Peace, shall be liable to impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors, or malfeasance in office, but judgment in such cases shall only extend to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust or profit under the laws of the State. The party whether convicted or acquitted shall, nevertheless, be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

SEC. 21. All officers not liable to impeachment shall be subject to removal for misconduct or malfeasance in office, in such manner as may be provided by law.

SEC. 22. No law shall be passed except by bill, and no bill shall be so altered or amended on its passage through either house as to change its original purpose.

SEC. 23. The enacting clause of every law shall be as follows: “Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming.”

SEC. 24. No bill for the appropriation of money, except for the expenses of the government, shall be introduced within ten days of the close of the session, except by unanimous consent of the house in which it is sought to be introduced.

SEC. 25. No bill shall be considered or become a law unless referred to a committee, returned therefrom and printed tor the use of the members.

SEC. 26. No bill, except general appropriation bills, and bills for the codification and general revision of the laws, shall be passed containing more than one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title: but if any subject shall be embraced in any act which shall not be expressed in. the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be so expressed.

SEC. 27. No bill shall become a law except by a vote of a majority of all the members present in each house, nor unless on its final passage, the vote be taken by ayes and noes, and the names of those voting be entered on the journal.

SEC. 28. No law shall be revised or amended, or the provisions thereof extended by reference to its title only, but so much thereof as is revised, amended or extended shall be re-enacted and published at length.

SEC. 29. The Legislature shall not pass local or special laws in any of the following enumerated cases, that is to say: For granting divorces; laying out, opening, altering or working roads or highways; vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys or public grounds; locating or changing county seats; regulating county or township affairs; regulating the practice in courts of justice; regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, police magistrates or constables; changing the rules of evidence in any trial or inquiry; providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal cases; declaring any person of age; for limitation of civil actions, or giving effect to informal or invalid deeds; summoning or impaneling grand or petit juries; providing for the management of common schools: regulating the rate of interest on money; the opening or conducting of any election or designating the place of voting; the sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to minors or others under disability; chartering or licensing terries or bridges or toll roads; chartering banks, insurance companies and loan and trust companies; remitting fines, penalties or forfeitures; creating, increasing or decreasing fees, per centages or allowances of public officers; changing the law of descent: granting to any corporation, association or individual the right to lay down railroad tracks, or any special or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever; for the punishment of crimes; changing the names of persons or places: for the assessment or collection of taxes; affecting estates of deceased persons, minors or others under legal disabilities: extending the time for the collection of taxes; refunding money paid into the State treasury; relinquishing or extinguishing-in whole or in part the indebtedness, liability or obligation of any corporation or person to this State, or to any municipal corporation therein: exempting property from taxation; restoring to citizenship persons convicted of infamous crimes; authorizing the creation, extension or impairing of liens; creating offices, or prescribing the powers or duties of officers in counties, cities, township or school districts; or authorizing the adoption or legitimation of children. In all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, no special law shall be enacted.

SEC. 30. The presiding officer of each house shall, in the presence of the house over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions passed by the Legislature immediately after their titles have been publicly read, and the fact of signing shall be at once entered upon the journal.

SEC. 31. The Legislature shall prescribe by law, the number, duties and compensation of the officers and employes of each house; and no payment shall be made from the State treasury, or be in any way authorized to any such person, except to an acting officer or employe elected or appointed in pursuance of law.

SEC. 32. No bill shall be passed giving any extra compensation to any public officer, servant or employe, agent or contractor, after services shall have been rendered or contract made, nor providing for the payment of any claim made against the State without previous authority of law, except as may be otherwise provided herein.

SEC. 33. All stationery, printing, paper, fuel and lights used in the Legislative and other departments of government, shall be furnished, and the printing, and binding of the laws, journals, and department reports and other printing and binding, and the repairing and furnishing the halls and rooms used for the meeting of the Legislature, and its committees shall be performed under contract, to be given to the lowest responsible bidder, below such maximum price and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. No member or officer of the government shall be in any way interested in any such contract; arid all such contracts shall be subject to the approval of the Governor and State Treasurer.

SEC. 34. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, no law shall extend the term of

any public officer, or increase or diminish his salary or emolument after his election or appointment; Provided, That this shall not be construed to forbid the Legislature from fixing the salaries or emoluments of those officers first elected or appointed under this Constitution, where such salaries or emoluments are not fixed by this Constitution.

SEC. 35. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose amendments, as in the case of other bills.

SEC. 36. The general appropriation bills shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the ordinary expenses of the Legislative, Executive and judicial departments of the State, interest on the public debt and for public schools. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.

SEC. 37. No money shall be paid out of the treasury except upon appropriations made by law, and on warrant drawn by the proper officer in pursuance thereof, except interest on the public debt.

SEC. 38. No appropriation shall be made for charitable, industrial, educational or benevolent purposes to any person, corporation or community not under the absolute control of the State, nor to any denominational or sectarian institution or association.

SEC. 39. The Legislature shall not delegate to any special commission, private corporation or association, any power to make, supervise or interfere with any municipal improvements, money, property or effects, whether held in trust or otherwise, or to levy taxes, or to perform any municipal functions whatever.

SEC. 40. No act of the Legislature shall authorize the investment of trust funds by executors, administrators, guardians or trustees in the bonds or stock of any private corporation.

SEC. 41. The Legislature shall have no power to pass any law authorizing the State, or any county in the State, to contract any debt or obligation in the construction of any railroad, nor give or loan its credit to or in aid of the construction of the same.

SEC. 42. No obligation or liability of any person, association or corporation, held or owned by the State, or any municipal corporation therein, shall ever be exchanged, transferred, remitted, released or postponed, or in any wav diminished by the Legislature; nor shall such liability or obligation be extinguished, except by the payment thereof into the proper treasury.

SEC. 43. Every order, resolution, or vote, in which the concurrence of both houses may be necessary, except on the question of adjournment, or relating solely to the transaction of the business of the two houses, shall be presented to the Governor, and before it shall take effect be approved by him, or, being disapproved, be repassed by two- thirds of both houses, as prescribed in the case of a bill.

SEC. 44. If any person elected to either house of the Legislature shall offer or promise to give his vote of influence in favor of or against any measure or proposition, pending or proposed to be introduced into the Legislature, in consideration or upon condition that any other person elected to the same Legislature will give, or will promise or assent to give, his vote or influence, in favor of or against any other measure or proposition pending or proposed to be introduced into such Legislature, the person making such offer or promise shall be deemed guilty of solicitation of bribery. If any member of the Legislature shall give his vote or influence for or against any measure or proposition pending or proposed to be introduced in such Legislature, or offer, promise or assent so to, upon condition that any other member will give, or will promise or assent to give his vote or influence in favor of or against any other measure or proposition pending or proposed to be introduced in such Legislature, or in consideration that any other member hath given his vote or influence for or against any other measure or proposition in such Legislature, he shall be deemed guilty of bribery, and any member of the Legislature, or person elected thereto, who shall be guilty of either such offenses, shall be expelled and shall not thereafter be eligible to the Legislature, and on the conviction thereof in the civil courts, shall be liable to such further penalty as may be prescribed by law.

SEC. 45. Any person who shall directly or indirectly offer, give or promise any money or thing of value, testimonial, privilege or personal advantage, to any executive or judicial officer or member of the Legislature, to influence him in the performance of any of his official or public duties, shall be deemed guilty of bribery, and be punished in such manner as shall be provided by law.

Sec. 46 Any person may be compelled to testify in any lawful investigation or judicial proceeding against any person who may be charged with having committed the offence of bribery or corrupt solicitation, or practices of solicitation, and shall not be permitted to withhold his testimony upon the ground that it may criminate himself or subject him to public infamy; but such testimony shall not afterward be used against him in any judicial proceeding, except for perjury in giving such testimony, and any person convicted of either of the offences aforesaid shall, as part of the punishment therefor, be disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit in this state

SEC. 47. The offense of corrupt solicitation of members of the Legislature, or of public officers of the State, or of any municipal division thereof, and the occupation or practice of solicitation of such members or officers, to influence their official action, shall be defined by law, and shall be punishable by fine and imprisonment.

SEC. 48. A member who has a personal or private interest in any measure or bill proposed or pending before the Legislature shall disclose the fact to the house of which he is a member, and shall not vote thereon.

• Concerning Apportionment and Legislative Department [File No. 76, Committee on Legislative Department] (introduced on 1889-09-13 00:00:00 - CREATE - e676244) [This document] [view current proposal at this moment]
  • None (introduced on 1889-09-13 00:00:00 - REPORT_PROPOSAL - e676245) [view current proposal at this moment]