Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/348

 The fact that a motion of confidence raised by the Government has previously been decided, does not prevent or restrict Congress from freely exercising its right to raise questions of confidence.

168. In any case in which confidence is refused to the Government or to any of its members, the full Government or the members thereof affected by the refusal of confidence shall resign within 48 hours following the parliamentary resolution, and if they do not do so they shall be deemed to be removed, and the President of the Republic shall so declare.

The outgoing Minister shall temporarily continue in charge following his resignation, until delivery to his successor.

169. A refusal of confidence to the full Cabinet or to any of its members means only the non-conformity of the co-legislative body that raised the question, with the policy of the Minister or of the Government as a whole.

A refusal of confidence implies that in the Cabinet that is formed or reorganised immediately after the crisis, the Ministers whose policy was the subject of the refusal of confidence cannot be named for the same portfolios.

Section 1.—General provisions

170. Justice is administered in the name of the people, and its dispensation shall be gratis throughout the national territory.

Judges and Public Prosecutors are independent in the exercise of their functions, and owe obedience only to the law.

Justice can be administered only by those who belong permanently to the judiciary. No member of this branch can exercise any other profession.

Civil Registers shall be in charge of members of the judiciary.

171. The judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court, the Superior Electoral Court, and the other tribunals and judges established by law. The organisation of the tribunals, their functions, the method of exercising them, and the qualifications of the officers composing them, shall be regulated by law.