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the Budget, or when the Budget has not been brought into actual existence, the Government shall carry out the Budget of the preceding year.

Article LXXII.—The final account of the expenditures and revenue of the State shall be verified and confirmed by the Board of Audit, and it shall be submitted by the Government to the Imperial Diet, together with the report of verification of the said Board.

The organization and competency of the Board of Audit shall be determined separately.

Article LXXIII.—When it has become necessary in future to amend the provisions of the present Constitution, a project to that effect shall be submitted to the Imperial Diet by the Imperial order.

In the above case, neither House can open the debate unless not less than two-thirds of the whole number of members are present; and no amendment can be passed unless a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present is obtained.

Article LXXIV.—No modifications of the House Law shall be required to be submitted to the deliberation of the Imperial Diet.

No provision of the present Constitution can be modified by the Imperial House Law.

Article LXXV.—No modifications can be introduced into the Constitution or into the Imperial House Law during the time of a Regency.

Article LXXVI.—Existing legal enactments—such as laws, regulations, ordinances, or by whatever names they may be called—shall, so far as they do not conflict with the present Constitution, remain in force.

All existing contracts or orders that entail obligations upon the Government and that are connected with expenditure shall come within the scope of Articles LXVI. and LXVII.

Article I.—An Imperial proclamation for the convocation of the Imperial Diet, fixing the date of its assembling, shall be issued at least forty days beforehand.