"and recommend that it be referred to the delegation from "to a select committee." Or, if the committee report by bill: "The committee on by bill No., A., a bill to to whom was referred -, respectfully report "And recommend its passage." AN ENACTING CLAUSE must precede the body of the bill It must invariably be in the following form: The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:-Const,, Art. IV., Sec. 17. Investigations. When an investigation is required into any matter. the person most interested in having the inquiry made, should move the appointment of a committee to take the subject in charge. This is done by resolution. The resolution should be so drawn as to state the precise subject to be investigated, and to give the committee all the power which the mover may deem necessary to a thorough examination into the subject matter to be laid before them; this should be done to prevent any misapprehension as to the intention and extent of the inquiry to be made. In case of the adoption of the resolution, the mover, together with other members, will be appointed a committee They have power to send for persons and papers. The form of a subpoena is as follows: "THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, "To ――: You are hereby commanded, that, laying aside all business and excuse, you personally appear and attend before Messrs. on the part of the Senate, and Messrs. ——. on the part of the Assembly, a joint committee appointed under a resolution of the Senate and Assem bly, to investigate - at the room of said committee day of 1 in the city of -, A. D. one thou—, at the hour of in the noon, then Madison, the capital of the State, on the sand eight hundred and and there, and from time to time, as required by said committee, to testify "Given at the Assembly Chamber, in the city of Madison aforesaid, this "Attest: 66 Chief Clerk of the Assembly." Speaker of the Assembly. In case of a refusal to appear, or a refusal to testify, the following form of certificate may be used: "To Hon. Speaker of the Assembly: chairman of the joint committee appointed to investigate 7 certify that has been duly subpoenaed to aid committee, as will fully appear by the writ served, and 1 afidavit of service accompanying the same, on file with the Chief Clerk of the Assembly. "I further certify that said has failed to appear before said committee according to the exigency or mandate of said writ or subpoena. "Dated Madison, -, 18-, at o'clock Upon which a warrant, in the following form may be used: "The State of Wisconsin, to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly: command on the "It appearing that a writ of subpoena, directed to ing him to personally appear and attend before Messrs. part of the Senate, and Messrs. ——, on the part of the Assembly, a joint committee appointed under a resolution of the Senate and Assembly, to investigate at the room of said committee, in the city of Madison, the capital of the State, the day of , A. D. 18-, at the hour of in the noon, then and there, and from time to time, as required by said committee, to testify and give evidence upon the matter of inquiry before said committee, has been issued, and that the said writ of subpoena was duly personally served upon the said- ———————, on the 1 day of, A. D. 18-, aud returned as provided in section one of an act entitled 'an act concerning evidence and witnesses,' approved February 3, 1857; and it further appearing by the certificate of the chairman of the said joint committee, that the said has failed or neglected to appear before the said committee in obedience to the mandate of the said subpœna: therefore, you are hereby commanded, in the name of the State of Wisconsin, to take the body of him, the said and bring him before the Assembly, so that he may testify and give evidence before the said committee, and answer for his contempt of the Assembly in not obeying the mandate of said subpoena. Hereof fail not. "Given at the Assembly Chamber, in the city of Madison aforesaid, this day of -, A. D. 18-. the body of and the said "By virtue of the within process, I did, on the- day of, 18—, arrest and took him before the committee within named, having refused to answer interrogatories propounded by said committee, I have him, by direction of said committee, now before the Assembly. "Assembly Chamber, 18-. 66 Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly." A resolution, declaring the defaulter to be in contempt, is the next proceeding. The following form for such resolution was used at the session of 1858: "Resolved, That the neglect or failure of to appear before the Joint investigating committee, composed of Messrs. of the Sonate, and Messrs. ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ of the Assembly, in compliance with the mandate of the writ of subpoena of this Assembly, served upon him on the instant, as fully appears by the said writ and the affidavit of the service thereof endorsed thereon, now on file with the Chief Clerk of this House, De and the said neglect and failure is hereby declared a contempt of this House." This is followed by an interrogatory, as follows "Int. 1.-Why did you not appear before the joint investigating committee, as required by the mandate of the subpoena served upon you the inst?" To which the defaulter pleads before judgment is inflicted. Another form is as follows: "Resolved, That the refusal of to answer the questions put to him by a member of the joint investigating committec, on the instant, and which questions were certifled to the House by Chairman of said committee; and are now in writing, on file with the Chief Clerk of the House, be, and the same is hereby declared a contempt of this House." Followed by the corresponding interrogatory: "Why did you not answer the question put or propounded to you on the - instant, by a member of the joint investigating committee, of which is Chairman ?" In case the answer is satisfactory, the offender is discharged; if otherwise, he is punished by reprimand, fine or imprisonment, or both; but such imprisonment cannot extend beyond the session of the Legislature. The report of a Committee on Investigation should consist of three parts: 1. The testimony taken; 2. A statement of the facts proven thereby, or conclusions derived therefrom; 3. Resolutions, or a bill providing for the action which the committee deem proper to be taken in the premises. Quorums. Whole number electable. "Not less than 54 nor more than one hundred. Const., Art. IV., Sec. 2. "One from each Assenbly District." Chapter 343, Laws 1876-(which prorides for 100 Assembly Districts.) To expel a member-67. "Two-thirds of all the members elected." Const., Art. IV., Sec. 8. To do any business except to adjourn from day to day, and to compel the attendance of absent members-51. majority." Const., Art. IV., Sec. 7. To cause the ayes and nays on any question to be entered on the journal"One-sixth of those present." Const., Art. IV., Sec. 20. (See table on next page.) To pass any bill which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or renews any appropriation of public trust money, or releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand from the State A majority of three-fifths."- (31), three-fifths (60), being present. Const., Art. VIII., Sec. 8. To adjourn from day to day "A smaller number " (than a majority). Const., Art. IV., Scc. 7. To compel the attendance of absent members “A smaller number" (than a majority). Const., Art. IV., Sec. 7. To agree to an amendment of the Constitution - 51. "A majority of the members elected." Const., Art. XII., Sec. 1. To recommend a Constitutional Convention →→ "A majority" (present). Const., Art. XII., Sec. 2. (See table on next page.) To contract a public debt-51 affirmative votes. "A majority of all the members elected." Const., Art. VIII., Sec. 6. To pass any bill, resolution or motion "A majority" (at least 26), of a quorum of 51. To suspend the rules - at least 31. "Two-thirds of the members present." Rule 94, A. (See table on next page.) To change the order of business- (at least 34.) "Two-thirds of the members present." Rule 94, A. 9 |