constituteproject.org PDF generated: 23 May 2016, 16:14 The duration of the session may not exceed twelve days. Nevertheless, a decree of closure intervenes when the National Assembly has exhausted the agenda for which it was convoked. • Public or private sessions • Publication of deliberations • Secrecy of legislative votes Article 77 The sittings of the National Assembly are public. A record is held and its publication is assured within the conditions specified by the law. The National Assembly sits in closed session at the demand of one-quarter of its members or of the Government. A record of the ordered decisions is written. • Legislative committees • Standing committees Article 78 The National Assembly meets of plain right in special session on the second Tuesday that follows the proclamation of the results of its election to proceed to the constitution of its Bureau and to the formation of the commissions. The opposition has the right to a position of vice-president and presides over at least one of the commissions. The session is closed after exhaustion of the agenda. Article 79 The rules relative to the functioning of the National Assembly are established in their general principles by an organic law and in their modalities by its internal regulations. The internal regulations are published in the Journal Officiel of the Republic. CHAPTER II: Of the Senate • Leader of second chamber • Term length of second chamber Article 80 The members of the Senate bear the title of « Senator of Madagascar ». Their mandate is of five years, except for that which concerns the President of the Senate, in application of Article 46 paragraph 2 of this Constitution. • Second chamber representation quotas • Eligibility for second chamber • Second chamber selection Article 81 The Senate represents the Decentralized Territorial Collectivities and the economic and social organizations. It includes, for two-thirds, members elected in equal number for each Province, and for one-third, members appointed by the President of the Republic, in part, by virtue of their particular competence. • Second chamber selection Article 82 The rules of functioning of the Senate, its composition as well as the modalities of election and of designation of its members are established by an organic law. Article 83 The Senate is consulted by the Government to give its opinion on economic, and social questions and questions of organization of the Decentralized Territorial Collectivities. Madagascar 2010 Page 20