have said in its sessions or which they may have presented to

it in writing.

ART. 98. Each house shall examine the credentials of its newly elected members and settle any contests that may arise concerning such credentials or concerning the election. itself.

ART. 99. Each house shall appoint its clerk.

Such clerk shall not at the same time be a member of either house.

ART. 100.

each year.

The States-General shall meet at least once

Its regular session shall commence on the third Tuesday in September.

The King may call an extraordinary session as often as he thinks proper.

ART. IOI. The separate sessions of the two houses, as well as their joint sessions, shall be held publicly.

The doors shall be closed whenever one-tenth of the members present so demand or when the president considers it

necessary.

The assembly shall decide whether the deliberations are to take place with closed doors.

Matters considered in secret session may also be decided therein.

ART. 102. In case the King dies or abdicates the throne when the States-General is not in session, that body shall assemble without being called.

Such extraordinary session shall meet on the fifth day after the King's death or abdication. If the houses are dissolved, this period shall begin at the

elections.

conclusion of the new

ART. 103. The session of the States-General shall be opened, in a joint meeting of the two houses, by the King or by a committee acting on his behalf. It shall be closed in the same manner whenever he thinks that the interests of the state no longer require its continuance.

r

The regular annual session shall last at least twenty days, unless the King makes use of the right mentioned in Art. 73.

ART. 104. Upon the dissolution of one or both of the houses, the King shall also close the session of the StatesGeneral.

ART. 105. The houses shall not deliberate or take any action, either separately or in joint session, unless more than Half their members are present.

ART. 106. All final action upon matters shall be taken by an absolute majority of the voting members.

In case of a tie in the votes, the decision shall be postponed to a subsequent meeting.

If there is an equality of votes at such meeting or at any meeting in which all members are present, the proposition is considered as rejected.

The vote shall be taken by the calling of names, whenever one of the members so demands, and in such a case shall be viva voce.

ART. 107. The voting on persons for the appointments or presentations mentioned in the constitution shall be done by means of secret unsigned ballots.

An absolute majority of the voting members shall decide; in case of a tie the decision shall be reached by lot.

ART. 108. In a joint session the two houses shall be regarded as one, and their members shall sit where they please. The president of the Upper House shall preside over the meeting.

SECTION 5. THE LEGISLATIVE POWER

ART. 109. The legislative power shall be exercised jointly by the King and the States-General.

ART. IIO. The King shall send his recommendations, whether of laws or of other matters, to the Lower House in a written message or by a committee.

He may instruct special commissioners, designated by him, to support the ministers during the consideration of such measures in the meetings of the States-General.

ART. III. Any measure recommended by the King shall always first be examined before being submitted to a public discussion.

The House shall determine in its Rules of Order in what' manner this examination shall be made.

ART. 112.

The Lower House, as well as a joint session of the States-General, shall have the right to amend a measure proposed by the King.

ART. 113. Whenever the Lower House decides to adopt a proposition, either unchanged or amended, it shall send it to the Upper House with the following message:

"The Lower House of the States-General sends to the Upper House the inclosed measure recommended by the King, and is of the opinion that it should be adopted by the StatesGeneral as it stands."

When the Lower House decides not to adopt a proposition, it shall make the fact known to the King in the following words:

"The Lower House of the States-General expresses its thanks to the King for his zeal in promoting the interests of the state, and respectfully requests him to take his proposition under further consideration."

ART. 114. The Upper House, in accordance with Art. III, shall consider the proposition as it is adopted by the Lower House.

When it decides to adopt the proposition, it shall make the fact known to the King and to the Lower House in the following terms:

"To the King:

"The States-General expresses its thanks to the King for his zeal in promoting the interests of the state, and agrees to the proposition as it stands.”

"To the Lower House:

"The Upper House of the States-General makes known to

the Lower House that it has agreed to the proposition regard

When the Upper House decides not to adopt the proposition, it shall make known the fact to the King and to the Lower House in the following terms:

"To the King:

"The Upper House of the States-General expresses its thanks to the King for his zeal in promoting the interests of the state, and respectfully requests him to take his proposition under further consideration."

"To the Lower House:

"The Upper House of the States-General makes known to the Lower House that it has respectfully requested the King to take under further consideration the proposition regarding sent to it by the Lower House on

ART. 115. Until the Upper House takes action upon it, the King shall have the power to withdraw the proposition made by him.

ART. 116. The States-General shall have the power to present projects of law to the King.

ART. 117. The initiative in this regard shall belong exclusively to the Lower House, which shall consider the proposed measure in the same manner as prescribed for measures proposed by the King, sending it, after adoption, to the Upper House with the following message:

"The Lower House of the States-General sends the following proposed measure to the Upper House, and is of the opinion that the States-General ought to request the King's consent thereto."

It is authorized to intrust one or more of its members with the written or oral defense of its measure in the Upper House.

ART. 118. When the Upper House, after having deliberated on the measure in the usual manner, shall have approved it, it shall send the measure to the King with the following statement:

"The States-General, believing that the accompanying measure will tend to promote the interests of the state, respectfully requests the King's consent thereto."

It shall also notify the Lower House of its action, in the following manner:

"The Upper House of the States-General makes known to the Lower House that it has agreed to the measure received by it on. . . . concerning . . . . and has requested the King's consent thereto in the name of the States-General."

When the Upper House does not approve the measure, it shall make the fact known to the Lower House in the following

manner:

"The Upper House of the States-General has not thought proper to request the King's consent to the proposed measure returned herewith."

ART. 119. Other recommendations than projects of laws may be presented to the King by either of the houses separately.

ART. 120. The King shall make known to the StatesGeneral as soon as possible whether or not he approves a project of law adopted by that body. The notification shall be given in the following manner:

"The King consents to the proposed measure" or, "The King is taking the proposed measure under consideration."

ART. 121. All bills adopted by the States-General and approved by the King shall acquire the force of law and shall be promulgated by the King.

The laws are inviolable.

ART. 122. The laws shall be binding only for the kingdom unless it is expressed therein that they are binding for the colonies and possessions in other parts of the world.

SECTION 6. THE BUDGET

ART. 123. The estimates of all the expenses of the kingdom shall be fixed and the means of meeting such expenses provided by law.