ARTICLE XVI.
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Any amendment or amendments to this Constitution may be proposed in either branch of the General Assembly; and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two Houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall, with the yeas and nays thereon, be entered on their journals and referred to the General Assembly to be chosen at the next general election; and, if in the General Assembly so next chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all members elected to each House, then it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to submit such amendment or amendments to the electors of the State, and if a majority of said electors shall ratify the same, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the Constitution.
Sec. 2. If two or more amendments shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be submitted in such manner that the electors shall vote for or against each of such amendments separately; and while such an amendment or amendments which shall have been agreed upon by one General Assembly shall be awaiting the action of a succeding General Assembly, or of the electors, no additional amendment or amendments shall be proposed.
No one will contend but that the first section is mandatory. It is a command to the General Assembly: "And if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two Houses, such proposed amendment or amendments shall (a direct command), with the yeas and nays thereon, be entered on their journals and referred to the General Assembly to be chosen at the next general election." Both the House and Senate journals are mere blanks, so far as the amendments proposed is concerned, nor is there any reference of such proposed amendment to the next General Assembly. But this immediately raises the question of allowing the journals of each House to be used as evidence.
