ARTICLE 66
The National Cabinet, as well as every member of the National Council, is ent.i.tled to make proposals in the National Council.
The National Council regulates its order of business through rules of procedure.
The plenary sittings of the National Council are public. In accordance with the rules of procedure the public may be excluded during the discussion of particular subjects.
Decisions are taken by a majority of those present.
ARTICLE 67
The National Council shall be kept informed by the National Departments of the conduct of national business. At deliberations on important subjects the appropriate committees of the National Council shall be summoned by the National Departments.
_SECTION V_
NATIONAL LEGISLATION
ARTICLE 68
Bills are introduced by the National Cabinet or by members of the National a.s.sembly.
National laws are enacted by the National a.s.sembly.
ARTICLE 69
The introduction of bills by the National Cabinet requires the concurrence of the National Council. If an agreement between the National Cabinet and the National Council is not reached, the National Cabinet may nevertheless introduce the bill, but must state the dissent of the National Council.
If the National Council resolves upon a bill to which the National Cabinet does not a.s.sent, the latter must introduce the bill in the National a.s.sembly together with a statement of its att.i.tude.
ARTICLE 70
The National President shall compile the laws which have been const.i.tutionally enacted and within one month publish them in the National Bulletin of Laws.
ARTICLE 71
National laws go into effect, unless otherwise specified, on the fourteenth day following the date of their publication in the National Bulletin of Laws at the national capital.
ARTICLE 72
The promulgation of a national law may be deferred for two months, if one-third of the National a.s.sembly so demands. Laws which the National a.s.sembly and the National Council declare to be urgent may be promulgated by the National President regardless of this demand.
ARTICLE 73
A law enacted by the National a.s.sembly shall be referred to the People before its promulgation, if the National President so orders within a month.
A law whose promulgation is deferred at the demand of at least one-third of the National a.s.sembly shall be submitted to the People, if one-twentieth of the qualified voters so pet.i.tion.
A popular vote shall further be resorted to on a measure initiated by the People if one-tenth of the qualified voters so pet.i.tion. A fully elaborated bill must accompany such pet.i.tion. The National Cabinet shall lay the bill together with a statement of its att.i.tude before the National a.s.sembly. The popular vote does not take place if the desired bill is enacted without amendment by the National a.s.sembly.
A popular vote may be taken on the budget, tax laws, and laws relating to the cla.s.sification and payment of public officers only by authority of the National President.
The procedure in connection with the popular referendum and initiative will be regulated by national law.
ARTICLE 74
The National Council has the right to object to laws pa.s.sed by the National a.s.sembly.
The objection must be filed with the National Cabinet within two weeks after the final vote in the National a.s.sembly and must be supported by reasons within two more weeks at the latest.
In case of objection, the law is returned to the National a.s.sembly for reconsideration. If an agreement between the National a.s.sembly and the National Council is not reached, the National President may within three months refer the subject of the dispute to the People. If the President makes no use of this right, the law does not go into effect. If the National a.s.sembly disapproves by a two-thirds majority the objection of the National Council, the President shall promulgate the law in the form enacted by the National a.s.sembly within three months or refer it to the People.
ARTICLE 75
An act of the National a.s.sembly may be annulled by a popular vote, only if a majority of those qualified take part in the vote.
ARTICLE 76
The Const.i.tution may be amended by process of legislation. But acts of the National a.s.sembly relating to the amendment of the Const.i.tution are effective only if two-thirds of the legal membership are present, and at least two-thirds of those present give their a.s.sent. Acts of the National Council relating to the amendment of the Const.i.tution also require a two-thirds majority of all the votes cast. If an amendment to the Const.i.tution is to be adopted by the People by popular initiative, the a.s.sent of a majority of the qualified voters is required.
If the National a.s.sembly adopts an amendment to the Const.i.tution against the objection of the National Council, the President may not promulgate this law, if the National Council within two weeks demands a popular vote.
ARTICLE 77
The National Cabinet issues the general administrative regulations necessary for the execution of the national laws so far as the laws do not otherwise provide. It must secure the a.s.sent of the National Council if the execution of the national laws is a.s.signed to the State authorities.
_SECTION VI_
THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE 78
The conduct of relations with foreign countries is exclusively a function of the Commonwealth.
The States, in matters subject to their jurisdiction, may conclude treaties with foreign countries; such treaties require the a.s.sent of the Commonwealth.