Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 155 (1958).djvu/676

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(g) Decide questions concerning the declaration of war and the conclusion of peace;

(h) Exercise amnesty and pardon.

11.—(1) The National Assembly is elected for a period of four years,

(2) No deputy may be arrested or have criminal proceedings instituted against him without the consent of the National Assembly, except when caught in flagrante delicto.

(3) Every political, economic or other activity or attitude which is opposed to the interests of the workers is incompatible with membership of the National Assembly.

12.—(1) The National Assembly will meet at least twice a year in full session.

(2) The National Assembly wili be convened. if this is requested in writing by one-third of the deputies or by the decision of the Presidium of the People’s Republic.

(3) The National Assembly will elect from among its own members a president, two deputy-presidents and six recorders,

(4) The National Assembly meetings are convened by the Presidium of the People’s Republic.

(5) The National Assembly, within its fixed rules of procedure, decides upon its own conduct of routine business.

13. The meetings of the National Assembly are, in general, held in public. In extraordinary cases the National Assembly may decide to hold a closed session.

14.—(1) Constitutional rights are vested in the National Assembly.

(2) Bills may be initiated by the Presidium, the Council of Ministers or by any member of the National Assembly.

15.—(1) The National Assembly may function if at Jeast half of its members are present as a quorum.

(2) The National Assembly decides by a majority vote.

(3) The votes of two-thirds of the members are, however, needed for any change in the Constitution.

16. Bills passed by the National Assembly are signed by the President and the Secretary of the Presidium of the People’s Republic. The President of the Presidium is responsible for the promulgation of the law. The law must be published in the Official Gazette.