PART III
A. Election of the President of the Republic
Article 73
One month at least and two months at most, before the expiration of the office term of the President of the Republic, the Chamber is convened by a summons of its President, to elect the new President of the Republic. If the Chamber is not summoned for this purpose, it convenes legally on the tenth day preceding the expiration date of the President’s term in office.
Article 74
If the presidency becomes vacant because of the death of the President, or his resignation, or any other reason, the Chamber convenes immediately by law to elect the successor, and if the presidency happened to be vacant, while the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved, the electoral bodies are summoned to convene without delay, and the Chamber is legally convened, immediately as soon as the elections have taken place.
Article 75
The Chamber convened to elect the President of the Republic, is considered an electoral body, not a legislative body, and must proceed immediately for the election of the Head of State without any discussion, or any other matter.
B. Amendment of the Constitution
Article 76
The Constitution may be revised based upon an initiative by the President of the Republic, and so, the Government introduces a bill to the Chamber of Deputies.
Article 77
The Constitution, also, may be revised based upon the initiative of the Chamber of Deputies. In this case, the process is as follows:
In the course of an ordinary session, the Chamber of Deputies has the right, based upon the initiative of at least ten of its members, to introduce a proposal to revise the Constitution by a two-thirds majority of all the members legally constituting the Chamber.
However, the matters and issues included in the proposal must be clearly defined and enumerated. The President of the Chamber, then, communicates this proposal to the Government, requesting that it drafts a bill for this purpose. If the Government approves the proposal of the Chamber by a two-thirds majority, it must prepare a draft law, and introduce it to the Chamber within four months. If it does not approve, it must return the decision to the Chamber for a further study. If the Chamber insists on it by a three-fourths majority of all the members constituting the Chamber legally, then the President of the Republic may either respond to the wish of the Chamber, or may ask the Council of Ministers to dissolve it and conduct new elections within three months. If the new Chamber insists upon the necessity of the amendment, then the Government must acquiesce and introduce the amendment proposal in the period of four months.
C. Procedures of the Chamber of Representatives
Article 78
If an amendment proposal of the Constitution is introduced to the Chamber, it must confine to the debate, until it is voted upon before any other action. However, it cannot debate or vote except on matters and issues specifically and clearly determined in the proposal which had been introduced to it.
Article 79
When an amendment proposal of the Constitution is introduced to the Chamber, it cannot discuss it or vote upon it, unless a two-thirds majority of the members legally constituting the Chamber are present. Voting must be in the same majority.
The President of the Republic must promulgate the Law relating to the Constitutional amendment in the same manner and conditions required for the promulgation and publication of the ordinary laws. He has the right to ask the Chamber to reconsider the proposal another time, during the time limit for the promulgation, and after notifying the Council of Ministers. Voting upon it is, also, by a two-thirds majority.
