2. Such a joint session shall be summoned by the Prime Minister, and its presiding officer shall be the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies.
3. The Chairman of the Senate shall act as Vice-chairman of the National Assembly.
§ 39.
The Ministers shall have the right to participate at any time in the meetings of either Chamber or of Committees. They shall be allowed to speak whenever they demand to be heard.
§ 40.
1. At the request of either Chamber or of a Committee a Minister shall appear before that body.
2. Otherwise he may be represented by an official of his department authorised by him.
§ 41.
1. Proposals for legislation may originate either with the Government or in either Chamber.
2. Every proposal made by members of either Chamber shall be accompanied by an estimate of the financial issue involved and by a proposal for the defraying of the necessary cost.
3. Proposals of the Government for Budget and Army Bills must first be presented to the Chamber of Deputies.
§ 42.
A Constitutional Law shall be valid only with the consent of both Chambers. This applies also to other laws, unless otherwise provided by §§ 43, 44 and 48.
§ 43.
1. The Senate shall act on a Bill proposed and passed by the Chamber of Deputies within six weeks, and on the Budget and Army Bills within one month. The Chamber of Deputies shall act on a Bill proposed and passed by the Senate within three months.
2. These periods are counted from the day of presentation of printed Bills by one Chamber to the other, and may be altered by mutual consent; the Senate must act in all cases of Budget and Army Bills within one month as set forth in the preceding paragraph.
3. If during such a period, the term of the Chamber which is to take action on the Bill of the other expires, or if the chamber be prorogued or dissolved, the date is reckoned from the first day of its next sitting.
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