Page:Constitution of the Bolivarian republic of Venezuela.djvu/72

74 and Assembly Management. They shall render in an annual accounting of its management to the constituents* in the jurisdiction from which they were elected, and shall be subject to recall by referendum as provided for under this Constitution and the applicable law.

Article 198: A Deputy of the National Assembly who is recalled shall not be eligible for any public elective office during the following term of office.

Article 199: Deputies of the National Assembly are not liable for votes and opinions expressed in the performance of their official functions. They shall be answerable to voters and to the legislative entity only as provided for under the Constitution and Regulations.

Article 200: Deputies of the National Assembly shall enjoy immunity in the exercise of their functions from the time of their installation until the end of their term or resignation. Only the Supreme Tribunal of Justice shall have competence over any crimes may be charged as committed by members of the National Assembly, and only the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, subject to authorization in advance from the National Assembly, shall have the power to order their arrest and prosecution. In the case of a flagrant offense committed by a legislator, the competent authority shall place such legislator under house arrest and immediately notify the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of such event.

Public officials who violate the immunity of members of the National Assembly shall incur criminal liability and shall be punished in accordance with law.

Article 201: Deputies are representatives of the people and of the States taken together, they are not subject to mandates or instructions, but only to their own consciences. Their vote in the National Assembly is personal.