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• Leader of first chamber
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Article 117: Speaker, deputy speakers
The House of Representatives elects, in the first meeting of its regular annual
session, a speaker and two deputy speakers for the full legislative term. If either seat
becomes vacant, the House elects a replacement. The House’s rules of procedure set
out the rules and procedures of election. If any of them violate the commitments of
his post, one-third of the members of the House may make a request to relieve him
of his post. The decision is issued by a two-thirds majority of members.
In all cases, neither the speaker nor any of the two deputies may be elected for more
than two consecutive legislative terms.
Article 118: Rules of procedure
The House of Representatives establishes its own rules of procedure regulating its
work, the manner of practicing its functions, and maintaining order therein. The rules
of procedure are issued by virtue of a law.
Article 119: Internal order
The House of Representatives maintains its internal order, a responsibility that is
assumed by the Speaker of the House.
• Public or private sessions
Article 120: Public sessions
The sessions of the House of Representatives are held in public.
The House may hold a closed session based on a request by the President of the
Republic, the Speaker of the House, or at least 20 of its members. The House will
decide by majority whether the debate in question takes place in a public or a closed
session.
Article 121: Quorum and voting
• Quorum for legislative sessions
The meetings of the House and the resolutions it passes are not considered valid
unless attended by the majority of its members.
In cases other than those requiring a special majority, resolutions are adopted based
on an absolute majority of the members present. In case of a tie of vote, the matter in
deliberation is considered rejected.
Laws are approved by an absolute majority of the attendees, provided that they
constitute no less than one third of the members of the House.
• Supermajority required for legislation
• Initiation of general legislation
Laws complementing the Constitution are issued based on the approval of two thirds
of the members of the House. Laws regulating the presidential, parliamentary, and
local elections, political parties, the judiciary, and judicial bodies, and those
organizing the rights and duties stipulated in the Constitution are deemed
complementary to it.
Article 122: Proposing bills
The President of the Republic, the Cabinet, and every member of the House of
Representatives has the right to propose laws.
Every bill presented by the government or by one-tenth of the members of the
House is referred to a specialized committee of the House to study and submit a
report about it to the House. The committee may seek the opinion of experts on the
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