Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/335

 Sections (a) and (b) of Article 122, when two-thirds of the total number of Representatives resolve on the accusation at a secret session.

(b) To have priority in the discussion and approval of the general budget of the nation.

(c) All other faculties granted it by this Constitution.

Section 4.—Provisions common to the Co-legislative Bodies

126. The offices of Senator and Representative are incompatible with any other that is compensated as a charge on the Nation, the Provinces or the Municipalities, or bodies maintained wholly or partly by public funds, excepting that of Minister of the Government and that of Professor in an official establishment, obtained prior to the election. Appointment as a member of the Cabinet can be given to members of the Legislative Branch, but in no case can the two positions be held by more than half of the members of the Cabinet.

Senators and Representatives shall receive compensation from the Nation, which shall be the same for both offices. The amount of this compensation can be changed at any time, but the change shall not be effective until the co-legislative bodies have been renewed.

127. Senators and Representatives shall be immune with respect to the opinions they express and the votes they cast in the exercise of their office.

Senators and Representatives can be arrested or indicted only by authorisation of the body to which they belong. If the Senate, or the House of Representatives, does not decide on an authorisation applied for, within 40 consecutive days when it is in session, and following receipt of the petition from the judge or court, the authorisation to institute the proceedings and to subject the Senator or Representative thereto shall be understood as granted. The cause shall not be prosecuted if the body to which the legislator belongs denies the authorisation to continue the proceedings.

A legislator can be arrested without the authorisation of the body to which he belongs if he is caught in the act of committing a crime. In this case, and if he is arrested or indicted when Congress is not in session, a report shall be made immediately to the presiding officer of the respective body, for the proper resolution, and he must immediately call a special session of the co-legislative body in question, to decide exclusively on