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Mode of Revising the Constitution.
Section 1. When experience shall point out the necessity of amending this Constitution, and when a majority of all the members elected to each House of the General Assembly shall, within the first twenty days of any regular session, concur in passing a law for taking the cense of the good people of this Commonwealth, as to the necessity and expediency of calling a convention, it shall be the duty of the several sheriffs and other officers of elections, at the next general election which shall be held for Representatives to the General Assembly-, after the passage of such law, to open a poll for, and make return to the Secretary of State, for the time being, of the names of all those entitled to vote for Representatives who have voted for calling a convention; and if, thereupon, it shall appear that a majority of all the citizens of this State, entitled to vote for Representatives, have voted for calling a convention, the General Assembly shall, at their next regular session, direct that a similar poll shall be opened, and return made for the newt election for Representatives; and if, thereupon, it shall appear that a majority of all the citizens of this State entitled to vote for Representatives, have voted for calling a convention, the General Assembly shall, at their next session, pass a law calling a convention, to consist of as many members as there shall be in the House of Representatives, and no more, to be chosen on the first Monday in August thereafter, in the same manner and proportion, and at the same places, and possessed of the same qualifications of a qualified elector, by citizens entitled to vote for Representatives, and to meet within three months after their election for the purpose of re-adopting, amending, or changing this Constitution; but if it shall appear by the vote of either year, as aforesaid, that a majority of all the citizens entitled to vote for Representatives did not vote for calling a convention,-a convention shall not then be called. And for the purpose of ascertaining whether a majority of the citizens, entitled to vote for Representatives, did or did not vote for calling a convention, as above, the General Assembly passing the law authorizing such vote shall provide for ascertaining the number of citizens entitled to vote for Representatives within the State.
Section 2. The convention, when assembled, shall judge of the election of its members, and decide contested elections, but the General Assembly shall, in calling a convention, provide for taking testimony in such cases, and for issuing a writ of election in ease of a tie.
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