Armenia 1995 Constitution (reviewed 2015)

CHAPTER 13. THE AUDIT CHAMBER

Article 198. Functions and Powers of the Audit Chamber

1. The Audit Chamber is an independent state body that shall audit the lawful and efficient utilization of state and municipal budget funds, loans and borrowings received, as well as the state- and community-owned property, in the field of public finance and public property. The Audit Chamber may conduct inspections of legal entities only in cases stipulated by law.
2. The Audit Chamber shall operate on the basis of a program of activities approved by it.
3. The Audit Chamber shall present to the National Assembly:
   1. An annual communication about its activities;
   2. A conclusion about the execution of the state budget; and
   3. Interim conclusions—in the cases stipulated by law.
4. The powers, procedure of operation, and safeguards of activities of the Audit Chamber shall be stipulated by law.

Article 199. Formation Procedure and Composition of the Audit Chamber

1. The Audit Chamber shall consist of seven members.
2. The Audit Chamber chairman and other members shall, upon nomination by the competent standing committee of the National Assembly, be elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term by at least a three-fifths majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians. The same person may not be elected as a member, including chairman, of the Audit Chamber for more than two consecutive terms.
3. Anyone who has higher education and meets the requirements prescribed for a parliamentarian may be elected as a member of the Audit Chamber. Additional requirements may be stipulated by law for members of the Audit Chamber.
4. The incompatibility requirements stipulated for parliamentarians shall apply to members of the Audit Chamber. Additional incompatibility requirements may be stipulated for them by law.
5. During their term in office, members of the Audit Chamber may not be members of any party or otherwise engage in political activities. In public speeches, they shall exercise political restraint.
6. In case of violating any requirement of Paragraphs 4 or 5 of this Article, the powers of a member of the Audit Chamber shall be terminated by the National Assembly by at least a three-fifths majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians.