§ 3-3-124 — Legislative powers unabridged

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as inconsistent with the continued reservation by each house of the general assembly of the right and purpose at all times directly to exercise, in all proper cases, all other powers necessary for a branch of the general assembly as expressly declared in article II, § 12 of the Constitution of Tennessee. (b) Nor shall anything in this chapter be construed as inconsistent with the continued power and purpose of each house of the general assembly directly to deal with any matter of contempt intrinsic to the right of either house to preserve the means of discharging its legislative duties, when any person willfully fails and refuses to appear and testify regarding any matter under inquiry or investigation as provided and authorized by the direct action of either or both houses of the general assembly. (c) Nor shall anything in this chapter be construed as providing that any person who commits any contempt of either house of the general assembly, which, under the law, can be directly dealt with by either house for the purpose of enabling the house to perform its legislative duties, shall be imprisoned, as the result of the action of either house, or any committee of either or both houses of the general assembly, without indictment and court trial, for any term of imprisonment which shall extend beyond the session of the general assembly during which such imprisonment shall have been ordered.

Legislative History

Acts 1931, ch. 3, § 18; C. Supp. 1950, § 172.18; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 3-324.