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/22

16 —A Committee in meeting may, through the President, demand explanations from the Delegates of the Government.

—The Ministers of State and the Delegates of the Government, except such of them as are Members of the House, shall have no vote in the House.

—When a meeting of either a Standing or of a Special Committee is to be held, the Chairman thereof shall every time report the fact to the Ministers of State and to the Delegates of the Government concerned in the matter to be considered.

—The orders of the day and the notice relating to debates shall simultaneously with the distribution thereof among the Members, be transmitted to the Ministers of State and to the Delegates of the Government.

—When a Member in either House desires to put a question to the Government, he shall be required to obtain the support of not less than thirty Members.

In putting such question, the Member proposing it shall draw up a concise memorandum and present it to the President, after he shall have signed it conjointly with the supporters.

—The President shall transmit the memorandum on questions to the Government. A Minister of State shall then either immediately answer the questions, or fix the date for making such answer, and when he does not do so, he shell explicitly state his reasons therefor.

—When an answer has been or has not been obtained from a Minister of State, any Member may move a representation concerning the affairs of the questions.

—When either House desires to present an address to the Emperor, it shall be presented by it in writing; or the President may be directed, as the representative of the House, to ask an audience of the Emperor, and present the same to Him.

The representations of either House to the Government shall be presented in writing.

—No motion for such address and representation shall in either House be made the subject of debate, unless at least thirty Members support it.

—With the exception of the Budget, the Bills of the Government may be brought in either one of the Houses first, according to the convenience of the case.

—When a Government Bill has been passed in either House with or without amendment, it shall then be carried to the other House. When the second House either concurs in or dissents from the vote of the first House, it shall, simultaneously with addressing the Emperor, report to the first House.

In case a Bill introduced by either House is rejected by the other House, the second House shall report the fact to the first House.