Contests—­that is, disputes or differences—­may occur in the election of governor and lieutenant-governor.  There may be contests as to counting of votes or as to the qualifications of candidates.  Such contests are decided by the General Assembly.

Membership.  Each house settles its own rules of proceeding; is judge of the election, qualification, and returns of its members.  Members are not subject to arrest under any civil process during the session of the General Assembly, nor for fifteen days next before the convening, and after the termination of each session; are privileged from arrest in all cases during the session, except for treason, felony, perjury, breach of the peace, or a contempt of court of a criminal nature.

What is meant by each house being judge of the election, qualification, and returns of its members is, that it can decide whether the members are legally elected and qualified.  Returns are the particulars as to names of candidates and the number of votes cast for each, which the election judges are required to make up after the close of the poll on election day.  The qualifications necessary for a member of either house are as follows:  he must be twenty-one years of age or over, and a voter of the State of Virginia, and he must reside in the district for which he is elected.

Civil process is a law-proceeding in a case where no crime is charged, but such as for the recovering of a debt or for the settlement of a difference relating to business matters.  Perjury is the crime of wilfully making a false oath.  When a person appears as a witness in a court of law he has to take an oath that he will tell the truth.  If after taking such oath he tells what he knows to be untrue, he is guilty of perjury.

A breach of the peace is any act of violence which causes public disturbance, such as one person assaulting another and thereby causing a quarrel or riot.

Contempt of court is disobedience to the orders or decrees or rules of a court of law.  Insult or violence to a judge in court would he criminal contempt.

Salaries.  The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates, each, $400; and the other members, each, $240 for attendance and service at each regular session; at all extra sessions, the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Delegates shall receive, each, $240, and the other members, each, $120.  Members are entitled to mileage.

In addition to his salary each member of the Assembly receives ten cents per mile for expenses of traveling to and from the sessions of the Assembly.  This allowance is called mileage.

Bills may originate in either of the two houses.  No bill shall become a law until it has been read on three different days in each house except by a vote of four-fifths of the members voting in each house.