Section 7. No Senator may hold another public office or public employment, nor may he for one year succeeding the term for which he was elected or appointed, be elected or appointed to any public office or employment which was created, or which had its emoluments increased, by legislative act during such term.
Section 8. No Senator may be held to answer before any other tribunal for any statement made or action taken in the exercise of his legislative functions, and Senators are, in all cases except felony or breach of the peace, privileged from arrest during their attendance at sessions or committee meetings of the Legislature, and in going to and returning from the same.
Section 9. Senators receive compensation as prescribed by law. No law increasing compensation may take effect until the end of the term of office for which the Senators voting thereon were elected.
Section 10. The Legislature shall organize and determine the qualifications of its members on the second Monday of January following the general election, shall convene its meetings on the following day, and may meet regularly for four years. A regular session shall not exceed thirty calendar days, excluding Sundays, provided that the number of regular sessions may be prescribed by law. A special session may be convened at the call of the Governor, or by the Speaker at the written request of two-thirds of the Senators.
(Amended by 1995 Con. Con.)
Section 11. The Legislature is the judge of the qualifications of Senators and may, for misconduct, disorderly behavior, or neglect of duty by a Senator, punish the Senator by censure or upon a vote of three-fourths of the Senators, by suspension or expulsion of the Senator.
Section 12. The Legislature shall choose its own officers, including a Speaker, Vice-Speaker and Floor Leader, determine its rules of procedure, and keep a journal. The Legislature has and may exercise all the authority and attributes inherent in legislative bodies, including the power to institute and conduct investigations, issue subpoenas to witnesses and other concerned parties, and administer oaths.
Section 13. Three-fourths of the Senators constitute a quorum for the conduct of ordinary business, for which a majority vote of the quorum suffices. The final passage of a bill or resolution requires the vote of two-thirds of the Senators taken by a roll call vote and entered in the journal. A smaller number than a quorum may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent Senators in a manner and subject to such penalties as the Legislature may prescribe.
Section 14. No law may be passed except by bill. A law may embrace but one subject, which is expressed in its title. The enacting clause of each law is, “Be it enacted by the Kosrae State Legislature.”
