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Absence of Speaker. 36. Before or during any absence of the Speaker, the House of Eepresentatives may choose a member to perform his duties in his absence. Resignation of Member. 37. A member may by writing addressed to the Speaker, or to the Governor-General if there is no Speaker or if the Speaker is absent from the Commonwealth, resign his place, which thereupon shall become vacant. Vacancy by absence. 38. The place of a member shall become vacant if for two consecutive months of any of the Parliament he, without the permission of the House, fails to attend the House. Quorum. 39. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, the presence of at least one-third of the whole number of the members of the House of Eepresentatives shall be necessary to constitute a meeting of the House for the exercise of its powers. Voting in House of Representatives. 40. Questions arising in the House of Eepresentatives shall be determined by a majority of votes other than that of the Speaker. The Speaker shall not vote unless the numbers are equal; and then he shall have a casting vote. Pabt IV. —Both Houses op the Pabliament. Right of eleotors of States. 41. No adult person who has or acquires a right to vote at elections for the more numerous House of the Parliament of a State shall, while the right continues, be prevented by any law of the Commonwealth from voting at elections for either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Oath or affirmation of allegiance. Sohedule. 42. Every senator and every member of the House of Eepresentatives shall, before taking his sßat, make and subscribe before the Governor-General, or some person authorised by him, an oath or affirmation of allegiance in the form set forth in the Schedule. Member of one House ineligible for other. 43. A member of either House of the Parliament shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a member of the other House. Disqualification. 44. Any person who— (1.) Is under any acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign Power, or is a subject or a citizen, or entitled to the rights or privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power : or (2.) Is attainted of treason, or has been convicted, and is under sentence, or subject to be sentenced, for any offence punishable under the law of the Commonwealth or of a State by imprisonment for one year or longer : or (3.) Is an undischarged bankrupt or insolvent: or (4.) Holds any office of profit under the Crown, or any pension payable during the pleasure of the Crown out of any of the revenues of the Commonwealth: or (5.) Has any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in any agreement with the Public Service of the Commonweath other than as a member and in common with the other members of an incorporated company consisting of more than twentyfive persons : shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or as a member of the House of Eepresentatives. But subsection (4) does not apply to the office of any of the Queen's Ministers of State for the Commonwealth, or of any of the Queen's Ministers for a State, or to the receipt of pay, half-pay, or a pension by any person as an officer or member of the Queen's navy or army, or to the receipt of pay as an officer or member of the naval or military forces of the Commonwealth by any person whose services are not wholly employed by the Commonwealth. Vacancy on happening of disqualification. 45. If a senator or member of the House of Eepresentatives— (1.) Becomes subject to any of the disabilities mentioned in the last preceding section: or (2.) Takes the benefit, whether by assignment, composition, or otherwise, of any law relating to bankrupt or insolvent debtors : or (3.) Directly or indirectly takes or agrees to take any fee or honorarium for services rendered to the Commonwealth, or for services rendered in the Parliament to any person or State : his place shall thereupon become vacant. Penalty for Sitting when Disqualified. 46. Until the Parliament otherwise provides, any person declared by this Constitution to be incapable of sitting as a senator or as a member of the House of Eepresentatives shall, for every day on which he so sits, be liable to pay the sum of one hundred pounds to any person who sues for it in any Court of competent jurisdiction, . : ;