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1368 Should no decision have been taken within the periods mentioned above, the officials concerned shall be reinstated in their posts.

In the event of the respective authority being a court of

penal justice, the suspension of the officials shall be maintained until a definite verdict is given absolving or condemning them or until a stay of proceedings is ordered. Any sentence con- demning an official shall involve the dismissal of the official from his post.

Until the tribunal has been established by law, all disputes or differences referred to in this article shall be settled by the Supreme Court of Justice.

274. The competence of the tribunal may be extended by law, by three-fifths of the votes of the total number of members of each Chamber, in the sense of granting it full jurisdiction over all claims against the administration. In this case the tribunal itself shall deal with the matter referred to in paragraph 2 of article 272.

Section XVIII.—Electoral Justice

Sole Chapter

275. There shall be an Electoral Court which shall possess the following powers, in addition to those laid down in section III and those which may be prescribed by law:—

(a) To take cognisance of all matters relating to electoral acts and procedure.

(b) To exercise directive, corrective, consultative and economic superintendence over all electoral authorities.

(c) To decide, in final instance, all appeals and claims which may be made, and to be the judge in elections to all posts of an elective nature, except in regard to the provisions of articles 95 and 152.

276. In regard to budgetary and financial matters, the provisions of section XIII shall be followed.

277. The Electoral Court shall be composed of five titular members and two substitute members for each of these, all of whom must be citizens whose position in politics is a guarantee of their impartiality. The number of members of the Electoral Court may be increased by law to nine, this number being completed by the inclusion of four representatives of the parties, with the right to speak and vote.