Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/353

 and supervise, when it deems this necessary, all censuses, elections and other electoral acts, the formation and organisation of new parties, reorganisation of the existing ones, nomination of candidates and proclamation of those elected. It shall also:

(a) Decide electoral claims subjected by law to its jurisdiction and competency.

(b) Issue the general and special instructions necessary for fulfilment of electoral legislation.

(c) Resolve, on appeal, proceedings with reference to the validity or nullity of an election and the proclamation of candidates.

(d) Issue to the armed forces and police compulsory instructions and orders, for the maintenance of order and electoral freedom during the period of preparation of the census, that of organisation and reorganisation of the parties, and that comprised between the calling of elections and the completing of the count of ballots.

In case of a serious public disturbance, or when the Court deems that sufficient guarantees do not exist, it can suspend or declare null all electoral acts and operations in the affected territory, even though the constitutional guarantees are not suspended.

186. Electoral courts shall be organised by law. To form them, officers of the judiciary can be utilised.

Hearing of electoral claims is reserved to the electoral jurisdiction. Nevertheless, the matters in which, as an exception, appeals from resolutions of the Superior Electoral Court can be taken to the Court of Constitutional and Social Guarantees, shall be determined by law.

187. An administrative career is created for electoral employees and officers, subordinated to the supreme jurisdiction of the Superior Electoral Court: and the permanent employees of electoral boards are declared non-removable.

The compensation fixed by the Electoral Code, for these permanent officers and employees, can be changed only under the conditions and circumstances established for judicial Officers and employees. Different compensations cannot be allotted by law for positions of like grade, category and functions.