F O R the well governing of this Province and Territories, there shall
be an Assembly yearly chosen, by the Freemen thereof, to consist of
_four_ Persons out of each County, of most Note for Virtue, Wisdom and
Ability, (or of a greater Number at any Time, as the Governor and
Assembly shall agree) upon the _first_ Day of _October_ for ever; and
shall sit on the _fourteenth_ Day of the same Month, at _Philadelphia_,
unless the Governor and Council for the Time being, shall see Cause to
appoint another Place within the said Province or Territories: Which
Assembly shall have Power to chuse a Speaker and their other Officers;
and shall be Judges of the Qualifications and Elections of their own
Members; sit upon their own Adjournments; appoint Committees; prepare
Bills in order to pass into Laws; impeach Criminals, and redress
Grievances; and shall have all other Powers and Privileges of an
Assembly, according to the Rights of the free-born Subjects of
_England_, and as is usual in any of the King's Plantations in
_America_.
A N D if any County or Counties, shall refuse or neglect to chuse their
respective Representatives as aforesaid, or if chosen, do not meet to
serve in Assembly, those who are so chosen and met, shall have the full
Power of an Assembly, in as ample Manner as if all the Representatives
had been chosen and met, provided they are not less than _two Thirds_ of
the whole Number that ought to meet.
A N D that the Qualifications of Electors and Elected, and all other
Matters and Things relating to Elections of Representatives to serve in
Assemblies, though not herein particularly expressed, shall be and
remain as by a Law of this Government, made at _New-Castle_ in the Year
_one Thousand seven Hundred_, entitled, _An Act to ascertain the Number
of Members of Assembly, and to regulate the Elections_.