Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/336

 the authorisation requested by the judge or court. If it is not refused within 20 regular meetings held, beginning from that notification, it shall be understood that authorisation is granted.

Every resolution granting or denying a request for authorisation to indict or arrest a member of Congress must be preceded by the reading of the facts that are to serve as a basis for the resolution that is adopted by the respective co-legislative body.

128. The Senate and House of Representatives shall open and close their sessions on the same day, shall sit in the same place, and cannot remove to another place, or suspend their sessions for more than 3 days, except by a joint resolution.

The session cannot be opened nor can meetings be held without the presence of one more than half of the total number of the members of each body. The presence of a quorum shall be determined by a roll call.

Parliamentary immunity shall not comprise or protect acts connected with the veracity and legitimacy of minutes or with the formalities prescribed for the approval of laws.

Bills must in every case be submitted to a prior roll-call vote on the bill as a whole.

No bill can be voted on in a co-legislative body without there first being a reasoned report thereon by at least one committee of that body.

129. Each co-legislative body shall decide regarding the validity of the election of its respective members and the resignations presented by them. No Senator or Representative can be expelled from the body to which he belongs except by virtue of a cause previously determined and by a resolution of at least two-thirds of the total number of its members.

Each legislative body shall draw up its own rules and shall elect from among its members its President, Vice-Presidents and Secretaries. The President of the Senate shall preside over meetings only when the Vice-President of the Republic is absent.

130. No Senator or Representative can hold property of the Nation under lease, directly or indirectly, or obtain contracts or concessions of any kind from the Nation.

Nor can he hold the position of counsel or director, or any office whatever involving jurisdiction, in a foreign enterprise or one the business of which is bound up in any manner with an entity having that status.