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JAPAN BY THE JAPANESE

Article XXVII.—A project of law shall be noted upon after it has passed through three readings. But the process of three readings may be omitted when such a course is demanded by the Government, or by not less than two-thirds of the members present in the House.

Article XXVIII.—Bills brought in by the Government shall never be voted upon without having been first submitted to the examination of a Committee. But it may happen otherwise when it is so demanded by the Government in case of urgent necessity.

Article XXIX.—When a member moves to introduce a Bill or to make an amendment of a Bill, such motion shall not be made the subject of debate, unless it is supported by not less than twenty members.

Article XXX.—The Government shall be at liberty at any time to either amend or withdraw a Bill which it has already brought in.

Article XXXI.—All Bills shall, through the medium of a Minister of State, be presented to the Emperor by the President of that House in which the Bill has been voted upon.

When, however, a Bill originating in either one of the Houses has been rejected in the other, the rule set forth in the second clause of Article LIV. shall be followed.

Article XXXII.—Bills which, having been passed by both Houses of the Diet and presented to the Emperor, may receive his sanction, shall be promulgated before the next session of the Diet.

Chapter VI.—Prorogation and Closing.

Article XXXIII.—The Government at any time may order the prorogation of either House for a period of not more than fifteen days. When either House again meets after the termination of the prorogation, the debates of the last meeting shall be continued.

Article XXXIV.—In case the House of Peers is ordered to prorogue on account of the dissolution of the House of Representatives, the rule set forth in the second clause of the preceding article shall not apply.

Article XXXV.—Bills, representations, and petitions that have not been voted upon up to the time of the closing of the Imperial Diet shall not be continued in the next session. It is, however, otherwise in the case mentioned in Article XXXV.

Article XXXVI.—The closing of the Diet shall be effected as joint meeting of both Houses, in accordance with Imperial order.

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