Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/338

 134. The following are non-transferable functions of Congress:

(a) To draw up codes and laws of a general character; to determine the regimen of elections; to enact provisions relative to the national, the provincial and the municipal administrations, and to pass all other laws and resolutions that it deems advisable on any other matters of public interest or that are necessary for the effectiveness of this Constitution.

(b) To establish the taxes and imposts of a national character that are necessary for the needs of the Nation.

(c) To discuss and approve the budget of expenditures and revenues of the Nation.

(d) To resolve as to the annual reports presented by the Tribunal of Accounts, with respect to the liquidation of the budget, the state of the public debt and the national finances.

(e) To decide regarding loans, but with the obligation to vote at the same time the permanent revenues necessary for payment of interest and amortization.

(f) To resolve what is relevant with respect to the minting of money, determining its standard, fineness, value and denomination, and to resolve what it deems necessary as to the issuance of fiduciary symbols and as to the banking and financial régime.

(g) To regulate the system of weights and measures.

(h) To enact provisions for the administration and development of domestic and foreign trade; of agriculture and industry, insurance covering labour and old age. maternity and unemployment.

(i) To regulate the services of communications, take care of the management of railroads, roads, canals and ports, and land, air and water traffic, creating those which public convenience requires.

(j) To fix the rules and procedures for obtaining naturalisation and regulating the regimen of foreigners.

(k) To grant amnesties in accordance with this Constitution.

Amnesties of common crimes can be resolved upon only by a favourable vote of two-thirds of the total membership of each one of the co-legislative bodies, ratified by a like number of votes in the following session.

Amnesties of political crimes require a like special vote if homicide or murder was committed in connection with them.