Page:The constitution of Japan - with the laws pertaining thereto, and the imperial oath and speech. Promulgated at the Imperial palace, February 11th, 1889 (IA cu31924023459880).pdf/20

14 —No debate can be opened nor can any resolution be passed by the Committee of the Whole House, unless more than one third of the entire number of the members of the House is present, or by either the Standing or by the Special Committees, unless more than one half of the members of the same is present.

—No stranger, other than Members of the House, shall be admitted to the meetings of either the Standing or of the Special Committees. Members may also be excluded from such meetings by resolution of the respective Committees.

—The Chairman of each Committee shall report to the House concerning the proceedings and results of the meetings of the Committee over which he presides.

—Each House may, at the request or with the concurrence of the Government, cause a Committees to continue the examination of Bills during the interval when the Diet is not sitting.

—The President of each House shall determine the orders of the day and report the same to the House over which he presides.

In the orders of the day, the Bills brought in by the Government shall have precedence, except when the concurrence of the Government has been obtained to the contrary, in case of urgent necessity for debates.

—A project of law shall be voted upon, after it has passed through three readings. But the process of three readings may be omitted, when such a course is demanded by the Government, or be not less than ten Members, and agreed to by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present in the House.

—Bills brought in by the Government shall never be voted upon without having been first submitted to the examination of a Committee. But it may happen otherwise, when it is so demanded by the Government in case of urgent necessity.

—When a Member moves to introduce a Bill or to make an amendment of a Bill, such motion shall not be made the subject of debate, unless it is supported by not less than twenty Members.

—The Government shall be at liberty at any time to either amend or withdraw any Bill which it has already brought in.

—All Bills shall, through the medium of a Minister of State, be presented to the Emperor by the President of that House in which the Bill has been last voted upon.

When, however, a Bill originating in either one of the Houses has been rejected in the other, the rule set forth in the second clause of Article LIV. shall be followed.

—Bills which, after having been passed by both Houses of the Diet and presented to the Emperor, may receive His sanction, shall be promulgated before the next session of the Diet.