Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/658

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JAPAN BY THE JAPANESE

Article XXVI.—Except in the cases provided for in the law, the secrecy of the letters of every Japanese subject shall remain inviolate.

Article XXVII.—The right of property of every Japanese subject shall remain inviolate. Measures necessary to be taken for the public benefit shall be provided for by law.

Article XXVIII.—Japanese subjects shall, within limits not prejudicial to peace and order, and not antagonistic to their duties as subjects, enjoy freedom of religious belief.

Article XXIX.—Japanese subjects shall within the limits of law enjoy liberty of speech, writing, publication, public meetings, and associations.

Article XXX.—Japanese subjects may present petitions, by observing the proper forms of respect and by complying with the rules specially provided for the same.

Article XXXI.—The provisions contained in the present chapter shall not affect the exercise of the powers appertaining to the Emperor, in times of war or in cases of a national emergency.

Article XXXII.—Each and every one of the provisions contained in the preceding articles of the present chapter that are not in conflict with the laws or the rules and discipline of the army and navy shall apply to the officers and men of the army and of the navy.

Chapter III.—The Imperial Diet.

Article XXXIII.—The Imperial Diet shall consist of two Houses—a House of Peers and a House of Representatives.

Article XXXIV.—The House of Peers shall, in accordance with the ordinance concerning the House of Peers, be composed of the members of the Imperial Family, of the orders of nobility, and of those persons who have been nominated thereto by the Emperor.

Article XXXV.—The House of Representatives shall be composed of members elected by the people, according to the provisions of the law of election.

Article XXXVI.—No one can at one and the same time be a member of both Houses.

Article XXXVII.—Every law requires the consent of the Imperial Diet.

Article XXXVIII.—Both Houses shall vote upon projects of law submitted to them by the Government, and may respectively initiate projects of law.

Article XXXIX.—A Bill which has been rejected by either the one or the other of the two Houses shall not be again brought in during the same session.

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