Page:Japan by the Japanese (1904).djvu/665

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APPENDICES
625
Chapter IV.—Committees.

Article XX.—Committees shall be of three kinds: a Committee of the whole House, and Standing and Special Committees.

The Committee of the whole House is composed of the whole number of the members of the House.

The Standing Committee shall be divided into several branches, according to the requirements of business; and in order to engage in the examination of matters falling within its province, the several sections shall, from among the members of the House, respectively select an equal number of members to the Standing Committeeship. The term of the Standing Committee shall last during a single session only.

The Special Committee shall be chosen by the House, and specially entrusted with the examination of a certain particular matter.

Article XXI.—The Chairman of the Committee of the whole House shall be elected for each session at the beginning of the same.

The chairman of both the Standing and Special Committees shall be respectively elected at the meetings of the Committees, by and from among the members thereof.

Article XXII.—No debate can be opened, nor can any resolution be passed, by the Committee of the whole House, unless more than one-third of the entire number of the members of the House be present; or by either the Standing or by the Special Committee unless more than one half of the members of the same are present.

Article XXIII.—No stranger, other than members of the House, shall be admitted to the meetings of either the Standing or of the Special Committees. Members may also be excluded from such meetings by resolution of the respective Committees.

Article XXIV.—The chairman of each Committee shall report to the House concerning the proceedings and results of the Committee over which he presides.

Article XXV.—Each House may, at the request of or with the concurrence of the Government, cause a Committee to continue the examination of Bills during the interval when the Diet is not sitting.

Chapter V.—Sittings.

Article XXVI.—The President of each House shall determine the orders of the day, and report the same to the House over which he presides. In the orders of the day the Bills brought in by the Government shall have precedence, except when the concurrence of the Government has been obtained to the contrary, in case of urgent necessity for debates.

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