ARTICLE XXXI—OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

 

§774.  The House of Representatives shall be composed of not less than twenty-four, nor more than forty members, who shall be elected biennially.

 

PROVIDING FOR THE TENURE OF OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

 

The term of office of the Representatives of the People chosen for the Legislature shall commence with the date of the general election, and shall continue for two years; provided, nevertheless, that Representatives not chosen at the general election, but chosen to fill unexpired terms, shall hold office only for the balance of such unexpired term.

 

§775.  The members of the House of Representatives are chosen by the people; and shall receive for their services, a compensation of three dollars for every day’s attendance in the Legislature, and five cents per mile, calculating by the most direct route, in going to and returning from the Legislature:  provided that no representative shall be entitled to receive pay for any day on which he is absent from the Legislature, unless such absence be occasioned by his illness.

 

“Section 1.  The compensation of the representatives of the people is hereby established at five hundred dollars for each session.”

 

§776.  All bills, or resolves, for raising the revenue, or calling for any expenditure of the public money, shall originate in the House of Representatives. 

 

§777.  The sessions of the House of Representatives shall be open to the public; provided, always, that any person creating a noise or disturbance, shall be considered guilty of a high contempt, and shall be immediately committed to prison, there to remain during the pleasure of the House; and further provided, that the presiding officer may, at any time, order all persons not members, to withdraw from the House, when he or the House shall deem it proper or necessary.

 

§778.  The following persons shall be eligible for representatives of the people, namely:  Every male subject, or denizen of the Kingdom, who shall have arrived at the full age of twenty-five years, who shall know how to read and write:  who shall understand accounts, and who shall have resided in the Kingdom for at least one year immediately preceding his election; provided, always, that no person who is insane, or an idiot, or who shall at any time have been convicted of theft, bribery, perjury, forgery, embezzlement, polygamy, or other high crime or misdemeanor, shall ever hold a seat as Representative of the people. 

 

§779.  Every member of the House of Representatives before being admitted to take his seat, shall take and subscribe the following oath:

 

I most solemnly swear, in the presence of Almighty God, that I will faithfully support the Constitution and laws of the Hawaiian Islands, and conscientiously and impartially discharge my duties as a Representative of the people.

 

Which oath, after being subscribed, shall be filed by the clerk of the House.

 

 

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