Article 18. All legislative and budgetary bills and matters pertaining to contracts other than budgets entailing obligations upon the National Treasury shall require the approval of the Legislative Council.
Article 19. The Legislative Council may present proposals relating to the affairs of the State to the State Council.
Article 20. The Legislative Council may receive petitions presented by the people.
Article 21. The Legislative Council shall be convoked annually by the Emperor. The duration of the ordinary session shall be one month, which may, however, be prolonged by the Emperor in the case of necessity.
Article 22. No session of the Legislative Council can be opened unless more than one-third of the total number of its members are present.
Article 23. The proceedings at a session of the Legislative Council shall be decided by a majority vote. In the case of a tie-vote, the chairman shall have the casting vote.
Article 24. The deliberations of the Legislative Council shall be held in public. Closed sessions may, however, be held upon demand by the State Council or by a resolution of the Legislative Council.
Article 25. All legislative and budgetary bills and matters pertaining to contracts other than budgets which entail obligations upon the National Treasury, which are decided to be passed, shall be sanctioned, promulgated, and put into force by the Emperor.
In the event of the legislative and budgetary bills and matters other than budget pertaining to contracts which entail obligations upon the National Treasury being rejected by the Legislative Council, they shall be referred to for reconsideration with reasons indicated therefor. When further rejected, the Privy Council shall be consulted for a decision thereon.
Article 26. No member of the Legislative Council shall be held responsible outside the Council for his options uttered or for any vote given within the Council.
Chapter IV. The State Council
Article 27. The State Council shall take charge of all administrative affairs.
Article 28. The State Council shall be composed of the Department of Civil Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, Industry, Communication, Justice and Education.
