Page:Spanish Constitution.djvu/16

Constitució Espanyola   privileges.

Section 68


 * 1. The Congress shall consist of a minimum of three hundred and a maximum of four hundred Members, elected by universal, free, equal, direct and secret suffrage, under the terms to be laid down by the law.


 * 2. The electoral constituency is the province. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla shall be represented by one Member each. The total number of Members shall be distributed in accordance with the law, each constituency being allotted a minimum initial representation and the remainder being distributed in proportion to the population.


 * 3. The election in each constituency shall be conducted on the basis of proportional representation.


 * 4. The Congress is elected for four years. The term of office of Members thereof ends four years after their election or on the day on which the Congress is dissolved.


 * 5. All Spaniards entitled to the full exercise of their political rights shall be electors and may be elected. The law shall recognize and the State shall facilitate the exercise of the right of vote by Spaniards who are outside Spanish territory.


 * 6. Elections shall take place between thirty and sixty days after the end of the previous term of office. The Congress so elected must be convened within twenty-five days following the holding of elections.

Section 69


 * 1. The Senate is the House of territorial representation.


 * 2. In each province, four Senators shall be elected by the voters thereof by universal, free, equal, direct and secret suffrage, under the terms to be laid down by an organic act.


 * 3. In the insular provinces, each island or group of islands with a Cabildo or insular Council shall be a constituency for the purpose of electing Senators; there shall be three Senators for each of the major islands --Gran Canaria, Mallorca and Tenerife-- and one for each of the following islands or groups of islands: Ibiza Formentera, Menorca, Fuerteventura, Gomera, Hierro, Lanzarote and La Palma.


 * 4. The cities of Ceuta and Melilla shall elect two Senators each.


 * 5. The Self governing Communities shall, in addition, appoint one Senator and a further Senator for every million inhabitants in their respective territories. The appointment shall be incumbent upon the Legislative Assembly or, in default thereof, upon the Self governing Community's highest corporate body as provided for by its Statute which shall, in any case, guarantee adequate proportional representation.


 * 6. The Senate is elected for four years. The Senators' term of office shall end four years after their election or on the day on which the House is dissolved.

Section 70


 * 1. The Electoral Act shall establish grounds for ineligibility and incompatibility for Members of Congress and Senators, which shall in any case include those who are:


 * a) Members of the Constitutional Court.


 * b) High officers of the State Administration as laid down by law, with the exception of the members of the Government.


 * c) The Defender of the People.


 * d) Magistrates, Judges and Public Prosecutors when in office.


 * e) Professional soldiers and members of the Security and Police Forces and Corps in active service.


 * f) Members of the Electoral Commissions.


 * 2. The validity of the certificates of election and credentials of members of each House shall be subject to judicial control, under the terms to be laid down in the Electoral Act.

Section 71


 * 1. Members of Congress and Senators shall enjoy freedom of speech for opinions expressed in the exercise of their functions.

2. During their term of office, Members of Congress and Senators shall likewise enjoy freedom from  Página 13 de 38