Page:A history of Chile.djvu/488

 438 A HISTORY OF CHILE Art. 69 In case no person shall have received an absolute majority, Congress shall choose between the two persons who shall have received the greater number of votes. Art. 70 If the first majority shall have been divided between more than two persons, the Congress shall choose among them all. Art. 71 If the first majority of- votes shall have been given to one person, and the second to two or more, the Congress shall choose among all the persons who shall have obtained such first and second majorities. Art. 72 This choice shall be made by an absolute plurality of votes, and by secret ballot. If the first ballot shall not give an absolute majority, a second shall be taken in which the voting shall be confined to the two. persons who in the first ballot shall have received the greater number of votes. In case the number of votes obtained by each is equal, the balloting shall be repeated, and if again equal, the Presi- dent of the Senate shall give the deciding vote. Art. 73 Neither the balloting nor counting of the votes in these elections shall take place, unless three-fourths of the total number of the members of each chamber be present. Art. 74 When the President of the Republic shall have command in person of the armed forces of the Nation, or when, by reason of sickness, absence from the country or other grave cause, he shall not be able to discharge the duties of his office, the Minister of the Interior shall re- place him under the title of "Vice-President of the Republic." If the disability of the President shall be temporary, the said Minister shall continue to replace him until the President shall be able to resume the duties of his office. In case of the death of the President, accepted resignation, or other cause of absolute disability, which can not be removed before the expiration of the five years of his terra of office, the Minister acting as Vice-President, within a few days after assum- ing the office, shall issue the necessary orders for holding a new election for President, in the form prescribed by the constitution.