Organic Law of the Legislative Branch Decree 363-2013

The loan funds granted for the construction of the Municipal Stadium of Cane in the department of La Paz, whose construction area is two hundred square meters (2000) of one thousand (2,000) persons, shall have lighting, irrigation system, perimeter fence, vendor area, sanitary services, among others, and modern facilities; said funds may not be used for any purpose other than the one for which they are intended, any deviation or misuse of these shall incur Administrative, Civil and Penal liability.

This Decree shall enter into force as of the day of its publication in the Official Journal La Gaceta. Given in the city of Tegucigalpa, municipality of the Central District, in the Session Chamber of the National Congress, on the sixteenth day of the month of December of two thousand thirteen. MAURICIO OLIVA HERRERA PRESIDENT, BY LAW RIGOBERTO CHANG CASTILLO SECRETARY GLADIS AURORA LOPEZ CALDERÓN SECRETARY To the Executive Branch. Therefore, Be It Executed Tegucigalpa, M.D.C., December 26, 2013. PORFIRIO LOBO SOSA PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN THE OFFICE OF FINANCE. WILFRÊDO CERRATO RODRIGUEZ Legislative Branch DECREE No. 363-2013 THE NATIONAL CONGRESS: WHEREAS: Honduras is a State of Law, sovereign, constituted as a free, democratic and independent republic to assure its inhabitants the enjoyment of justice, freedom, culture and economic and social well-being. WHEREAS: Sovereignty belongs to the people from which all powers of the State emanate and are exercised by representation. WHEREAS: The form of government is republican, democratic and representative, and is exercised by three powers: Legislative, Executive and Judicial, complementary and independent and without relations of subordination. WHEREAS: The Legislative Power is exercised by a Congress of Deputies elected by direct suffrage by the people. WHEREAS: According to the Constitution of the Republic, the National Congress has the authority to create, decree, interpret, reform and repeal laws. WHEREAS: It corresponds to the National Congress the authority to issue its Organic Law of the Legislative Power and to apply the sanctions established therein for those who violate it. THEREFORE. IT DECREES: THE FOLLOWING: ORGANIC LAW OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

The purpose of this Law is to regulate the organization, functioning, legislative procedures, duties and rights, prohibitions and the exercise of the powers that, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic, correspond to the Legislative Power.

The Legislative Power is exercised by a National Congress, composed of one hundred twenty-eight (128) Principal Deputies and their respective alternates who are elected for a period of four (4) years, by direct suffrage by the people.

The National Congress has its seat in the Capital of the Republic, however, it may move its seat or hold sessions in another place of the Republic, following the procedures established in this Law or in the case of the circumstances provided for in Article 191 of the Constitution of the Republic.

For the installation of the National Congress, the Deputies shall meet in preparatory sessions on January twenty-first of the year immediately following the general elections in which they were elected.

The first preparatory session is presided over by the Secretary of State in the Office of Interior and Population.

In the first preparatory session the Deputies, with the attendance of at least five (5) of them, shall organize the Provisional Directive Board, whose members must take the oath of law before the Secretary of State in the Office of Interior and Population, or in the absence of the latter, before the legal substitute.

In the last preparatory session on January twenty-third of the year immediately following the general elections, the Deputies shall elect the Directive Board in office.

The President of the National Congress shall exercise his functions for a period of four (4) years, the rest of the Directive Board shall last two (2) years and may be re-elected.

The organs of the National Congress are:

• 1)

  The Plenary of Deputies;

• 2)

  The Directive Board;

• 3)

  The Permanent Commission;

• 4)

  The Legislative Blocs;

• 5)

  The Legislative Commissions;

• 6)

  The Legislative Management;

• 7)

  The Special Payroll of the Legislative Power; and, 8. Any other that is created by provision of the Directive Board.

The Plenary of the National Congress is the highest authority and decision-making body of the Legislative Power, and is composed of all the Principal Deputies and the Alternate Deputies who are incorporated by the President of the National Congress.

The Plenary for its installation and functioning requires the attendance of more than half of the Deputies that compose it.

The exercise of the powers established in the Constitution of the Republic and in the laws corresponds to the Plenary.

Request the attendance at the Plenary of any public official to express himself on any matter of national interest. Said attendance is mandatory in nature.

The Board of Directors is the highest body of Executive Direction of the National Congress.

There are two classes of Boards of Directors: 1. Provisional Board of Directors; and, 2. Board of Directors in Full Authority.

The Provisional Board of Directors is the one constituted in the first preparatory session of the National Congress and is composed of a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary.

The Provisional Board of Directors is elected in the first preparatory session, with the opening of said session being presided over by the Secretary of State in the Ministerial Offices of Interior and Population, who must administer the oath to the Provisional Board.

Once elected, the Provisional Board of Directors is responsible for presiding over the preparatory sessions for the installation of the National Congress.

The Board of Directors in Full Authority is elected by simple majority vote of the Deputies in the last preparatory session of January twenty-third. For the purposes of this Law, Board of Directors means the Board of Directors in Full Authority, unless the class is specified in the text thereof.

The Board of Directors in Full Authority is composed of a President, by at least six Vice Presidents, the Secretaries, two Pro-Secretaries, and the alternate members that may be necessary.

The powers of the Board of Directors are:

• 1)

  To comply with and enforce the Constitution and the Laws;

• 2)

  To appoint the members of the Permanent Commission, as well as the positions that each of them must hold;

• 3)

  To appoint the Special Paymaster of the Legislative Branch;

• 4)

  To coordinate legislative activities with the Leadership of Parliamentary Groups; and, 5. To establish its schedule of meetings to address and resolve matters that in accordance with this law fall within its responsibility.

The powers of the President of the National Congress are:

• 1)

  To comply with and enforce the Constitution and the Laws;

• 2)

  To open, suspend, and adjourn the sessions of the Plenary;

• 3)

  To maintain order in the sessions of the Plenary;

• 4)

  To grant the floor in successive order to the Deputies who request it, as well as to suspend its use;

• 5)

  To call to order the Deputies who deviate from the matter under discussion;

• 6)

  To decide, with his casting vote, the ties that result from voting in the Plenary or in the Board of Directors;

• 7)

  To exercise the legal and judicial representation of the National Congress;

• 8)

  To exercise the administration of the National Congress;

• 9)

  To approve the organizational structure for the adequate functioning of the National Congress and its respective manuals;

• 10)

  To appoint, remove, transfer, and grant leaves of absence to the officials and employees of the National Congress, except as this law or the Constitution of the Republic may provide regarding other employees or officials;

• 11)

  To authorize salary increases, promotions, advancements, or sanctions of the employees or officials of the National Congress;

• 12)

  To appoint and replace the members of the Legislative Commissions;

• 13)

  To appoint and replace the Legislative Manager;

• 14)

  To create Special Legislative Commissions;

• 15)

  To establish the agenda for the sessions of the plenary, being able to modify it when convenient;

• 16)

  To refer bills to the corresponding Commissions or special Commissions in their case, to return them from Commission;

• 17)

  To establish for the Commissions, in qualified or urgent cases, periods for the issuance of reports;

• 18)

  To authorize expenditures charged to the budget of the National Congress;

• 19)

  To grant leaves of absence to the Deputies who must be absent for more than eight (8) days from their duties;

• 20)

  To incorporate the Alternate Deputy, in case of temporary or permanent absence of the Principal Deputy;

• 21)

  To sign the records, decrees, and other resolutions of the National Congress;

• 22)

  To take, in representation of the National Congress, the oath of law from the President of the Republic and his Designates, from the Magistrates of the Supreme Court of Justice as well as from the other elected officials appointed by the Legislative Branch;

• 23)

  To appoint in the absence of any Secretary or Pro-Secretary the Alternate Secretary that he deems convenient; and, 24. To order that a matter be submitted to a vote considering that it has been sufficiently discussed.

In case of temporary absence of the President of the National Congress, he must be replaced by the Vice President designated by the President. In case of permanent absence of any member of the Board of Directors, he must be elected by the Plenary.

The powers of the Secretaries are:

• 1)

  To receive and send Official Communications;

• 2)

  To read the record of the previous session and correspondence received;

• 3)

  To draft the records of the sessions, setting forth in them clearly and concisely all that was discussed and resolved;

• 4)

  To authorize, together with the President, the records, decrees, and other resolutions of the National Congress;

• 5)

  To keep note of the leaves of absence granted to the Deputies, giving notice to the Board of Directors of the date of their termination;

• 6)

  To conduct the scrutiny of the voting, making the result known to the Plenary of the National Congress;

• 7)

  To ensure the preservation of the files, documents, books, correspondence, and other documentation received;

• 8)

  To issue the corresponding certifications of the documentation in their charge;

• 9)

  To publish the records, decrees, and resolutions issued by the National Congress;

• 10)

  To send in duplicate to the Executive Branch, within three (3) days of being issued, the respective decrees for the corresponding legal purposes;

• 11)

  To communicate to the appropriate party the resolutions of the National Congress; and, 12. To appoint the personnel of the Legal Office and Transparency Office of the National Congress. The Secretary must verify attendance and verification of quorum, and in its absence by whoever succeeds him. CHAPTER IV OF THE PERMANENT COMMISSION

The Permanent Commission is the body of the National Congress that, during its recesses, exercises the functions and powers that are indicated in the Constitution of the Republic and this Law.

Once the sessions of the National Congress have ended, the Permanent Commission must meet within three (3) business days following the last session, which is composed of the President of the National Congress, a Vice President, the First Secretary, and principal and alternate members. Once the Permanent Commission is elected, it must establish a calendar of meetings and the mechanisms to carry out the responsibilities that correspond to it by law, and its decisions are made by simple majority of its members.

The Permanent Commission must be presided over Constitutionally by the President of the National Congress. The Secretary assists the President, keeping the record of the sessions of the Permanent Commission and communicating to the appropriate party the resolutions or agreements adopted. CHAPTER V OF THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUPS

Once the National Congress is installed, the Deputies must form their respective Parliamentary Groups, which must be composed of the Deputies of the political party by which they were elected.

Once the Parliamentary Groups are constituted, they elect a Chief, a Deputy Chief, and a Secretary, which must be communicated to the Board of Directors.

The President assigns to the parliamentary groups an annual budget for their operation, and they must submit requests to the President, who shall approve or disapprove them in accordance with the allocated Budget. Said parliamentary groups must settle the received funds monthly.

The Chief of the Parliamentary Group is responsible for calling meetings of the same and presiding over them. CHAPTER VI OF THE COMMISSIONS

The Commissions are composed of Deputies to address the matters assigned to them by the President, issuing the opinions, reports, and statements requested of them.

There are two (2) classes of Commissions: Ordinary and Special. The Commissions are composed of a minimum number of seven (7) deputies. The Deputies who compose the Commissions are designated by the President, seeking the integration of all parliamentary groups. Likewise, the President designates the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and other members of each of the commissions.

The Ordinary Commissions are the following:

• 1)

  Commission on Legislation and Constitutional Affairs;

• 2)

  Commission on Electoral Affairs;

• 3)

  Commission on Budget;

• 4)

  Commission on Justice and Human Rights;

• 5)

  Commission on Ethics and Transparency;

• 6)

  Commission on Education;

• 7)

  Commission on Health;

• 8)

  Commission on Defense and Sovereignty;

• 9)

  Commission on Security and Citizen Prevention;

• 10)

  Commission on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development;

• 11)

  Commission on Social Economy;

• 12)

  Commission on Telecommunications;

• 13)

  Commission on Energy;

• 14)

  Commission on Family, Childhood, Youth and Senior Citizens;

• 15)

  Commission on Agriculture and Livestock;

• 16)

  Commission on International Relations and Regional Integration;

• 17)

  Commission on Mining and Hydrocarbons;

• 18)

  Commission on Development and Social Protection;

• 19)

  Commission on Labor and Trade Union Affairs;

• 20)

  Commission on Gender Equity;

• 21)

  Commission on Finance and External Cooperation;

• 22)

  Commission on Modernization and Institutional Communication;

• 23)

  Commission on Environment and Climate Change;

• 24)

  Commission on Sports and Social Prevention;

• 25)

  Commission on Links with Civil Society and Community Participation;

• 26)

  Commission on Regional, Departmental and Municipal Affairs;

• 27)

  Commission on Science and Technology;

• 28)

  Commission on Investment Promotion; and, 29. Commission on Links with Indigenous and Afro-Honduran Groups.

Special Commissions are those integrated by the President to address draft decrees, particular matters, urgent matters, or those matters assigned to him by the President.

The Commissions have the following responsibilities:

• 1)

  Issue opinions on draft laws or decrees assigned to them;

• 2)

  Issue the reports and opinions requested of them;

• 3)

  Convene to address the matters assigned to them; and, 4. Submit to the Board of Directors a semi-annual report on their activities.

The President designates the budgetary allocations, human resources, and adequate equipment for the operation of the Commissions.

The Commissions, through the First Secretariat, may request the assistance, presence, or collaboration of officials or employees of State institutions, the Judicial Branch, Private Enterprise, non-governmental, scientific, or academic organizations to provide guidance in their work through opinions or statements.

The Commissions, through the Legislative Management, receive assistance for the performance of their functions, which provides legal and technical collaboration for the issuance of their opinions, statements, or reports. Such assistance also includes support to the Commissions for the holding of meetings, hearings, or any other activity necessary for the fulfillment of their responsibilities.

A project or opinion of the respective Commissions is considered to be the opinion that results from the vote of the simple majority of its members. CHAPTER VII OF THE LEGISLATIVE MANAGEMENT

The Legislative Management must provide technical and legal assistance to the Board of Directors, to the Deputies, and to the Commissions, and also has the following responsibilities:

• 1)

  Provide technical assistance to Male and Female Deputies;

• 2)

  Evaluate the social, institutional, economic, and fiscal impact that legislative projects and resolutions will have;

• 3)

  Collaborate with the Presidency and the Board of Directors in the preparation of the Legislative Agenda for the ordinary session period; as well as for the recess period;

• 4)

  Organize the study of law and parliamentary practice;

• 5)

  Coordinate, organize, and verify studies and research on legislative projects or draft bills;

• 6)

  Organize, coordinate, and promote seminars, conferences, and discussions on topics determined by the Presidency, the Board of Directors, and the Commissions;

• 7)

  Propose and organize the development of legislative projects or constitutional reforms;

• 8)

  Coordinate the Study, updating, and coordination of legal contents to facilitate knowledge of current legislation;

• 9)

  Prepare its annual plan of activities and projects; and, 10. Prepare the draft budget of the Legislative Management, which must be approved by the President. CHAPTER VIII OF THE SPECIAL PAYROLL OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Special Payroll Office of the Legislative Branch is responsible for handling payments for the operation of the National Congress in accordance with the budgetary allocations approved by the Board of Directors.

The General Treasury of the Republic shall credit, by advance quarterly installments, the necessary funds to make payments to the National Congress. CHAPTER IX OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Board of Directors is responsible for the Administration of the National Congress and the Direction of the departments that make up the administrative structures necessary to fulfill the purposes and operations of the institution. Budgetary Administration must be under the charge of the Special Treasury of the Legislative Branch, which shall handle payments. The Administration of Natural Resources and General Services, including the function of purchases and supplies, shall attend to expenditures approved by the Board of Directors. The Special Treasury shall have at least two (2) Departments: Financial Department and Administrative Department.

The National Congress has, furthermore, the following departments:

• a)

  Internal Audit;

• b)

  General Management;

• c)

  Legal Advisory;

• d)

  Planning and Management Evaluation;

• e)

  Human Resources; and,

• f)

  Communications. It may likewise designate departments in the most convenient manner in its administrative structure: creating, modifying, or eliminating its departments. The officials and employees of the National Congress and the selection process shall be governed by a labor regime that shall be regulated by the regime of the Career of Officials and Employees of the National Congress, issued by it through regulation. TITLE IV OF DEPUTIES

Deputies and Deputadas are elected by the people to exercise the legislative function in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic and the Law.

The rights of Deputies and Deputadas are:

• 1)

  To participate with voice and vote in the sessions of the Plenary;

• 2)

  To be part of at least one Ordinary Commission and participate with voice and vote in it;

• 3)

  To present legislative initiatives, motions, and propositions in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic and the Law;

• 4)

  To receive Technical Legal and other kinds of assistance for the fulfillment of their functions and obligations; and, 5. To receive a salary in accordance with the dignity of their office.

The duties of Deputies are:

• 1)

  To attend the sessions of the plenary and of the Commissions of which they are part;

• 2)

  To participate in the drafting of opinions, reports, or statements of the Commissions of which they are part;

• 3)

  To exercise the assignments or representations that may have been designated by the President or the Plenary;

• 4)

  To notify in writing the Board of Directors when, for justified cause, they are absent from the National Congress for more than eight (8) days; and, 5. To vote in the plenary sessions in which they are present.

The President of the National Congress determines the number of Deputy and Deputada Alternates who are permanently integrated from each of the Political Caucuses. In case of temporary or permanent absence of a Principal Deputy, he is substituted by the respective alternate; in the absence of both, the President must designate the substitute.

Deputies are subject to the following prohibitions:

• 1)

  To participate in debates of the Plenary or of the Commissions to which they belong regarding matters in which they would have a direct interest, whether personally or through their relatives in the fourth degree of consanguinity or second of affinity;

• 2)

  To contract or receive concessions from the State, or to represent natural or juridical persons that contract or have concessions from the State;

• 3)

  To take advantage of their office to obtain benefits, gifts, gratuities, or remuneration other than those established by law as a function of their office;

• 4)

  To violate the secrecy or take advantage of knowledge of reserved matters to which they have access as a function of their office; and, 5. To be absent from the plenary session with the purpose of breaking the quorum.

The status of Deputy is lost:

• 1)

  By resignation;

• 2)

  By expiration of the period for which they were elected;

• 3)

  By final judicial sentence that declares them incapable;

• 4)

  By final judicial sentence that condemns them for a felony or disqualification that prevents them from completing the period for which they were elected;

• 5)

  By removal decreed by the plenary in the cases established in the Special Law of Political Trial; and, 6. By expulsion decreed in the case of the paragraph according to Article 197 of the Constitution of the Republic. TITLE V OF LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVE

The following have legislative initiative:

• 1)

  Deputies;

• 2)

  The President of the Republic, through the Secretaries of State;

• 3)

  The Supreme Court of Justice, in matters of its jurisdiction;

• 4)

  The Supreme Electoral Tribunal, in matters of its jurisdiction; and, 5. Citizens in accordance with the Law on Mechanisms of Citizen Participation.

Legislative initiatives or Bills shall have the following structure:

• 1)

  Statement of reasons;

• 2)

  Whereas clauses;

• 3)

  Titles, Chapters, Sections, and Articles, when applicable;

• 4)

  Place, Date, and Signature of the Bill's Author. Motions and statements may be written or verbal.

When bills or motions have an economic impact on the General Budget of Income and Expenses of the Republic, the opinion of the Secretariat of State in the Office of Finance must be heard, prior to its discussion. TITLE VI OF SESSIONS AND DEBATES

The period of sessions of the National Congress begins on January twenty-fourth of each year and concludes on October thirty-first of the same year. The recess period of sessions of the National Congress is from May first to May thirty-first of each year. Sessions may be extended for the time necessary by resolution of the Congress, at the initiative of one or more of its members or at the request of the Executive Branch.

The sessions of the National Congress are ordinary and extraordinary.

Ordinary sessions are those convoked by the President and are held on two days—Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday—of each week of the session period, in the schedules that the same shall determine. The President may extend the days and hours for the celebration of the sessions of the Plenary.

The National Congress shall meet in extraordinary sessions:

• 1)

  When requested by the Executive Branch;

• 2)

  When convoked by its Permanent Commission;

• 3)

  When agreed to by more than half of its members; and, 4. When convoked by the President of the National Congress. In these cases, it shall only deal with the matters that motivated the respective convocation.

The sessions of the National Congress are public, unless by agreement of the plenary or by decision of the Steering Committee, it is determined to hold sessions in private.

Prior to the start of sessions, the Steering Committee, through the Secretary, shall verify the quorum. The quorum is formed with a majority of the proprietary Deputies or alternate Deputies that have been previously incorporated by the President. If prior to the start of the session or during its course, a proprietary Deputy is absent and this prevents the formation of quorum, the President may incorporate any alternate Deputy from the political party of the absent proprietary Deputy.

Once the quorum has been verified, the Secretary shall read the proposed agenda, prepared by the Steering Committee and Caucus Leaders, which shall include the reading of the minutes of the previous session. Once the minutes of the previous session have been read and before being approved, any Deputy may make reconsiderations so that amendments are made regarding the accuracy of the facts and corrections of wording are made. The Plenary shall make the proposed amendments when they are appropriate.

Once the decree bills or motions of an urgent nature have been debated, the opinions issued by the Commissions shall be submitted for debate in their order, accompanied by the respective decree bill or motion. The opinions of the Commissions must be signed by at least the majority of their members.

In cases of urgency, the Plenary or the President may decide that bills or motions be issued opinions during the course of the session or during recess, and must be presented in the same session. Likewise, if so decided by the Plenary, one or two debates may be waived, and discussion shall take place in only one.

When a bill or motion is submitted for debate with its respective opinion, it shall be read in full and a copy must be in the possession of the court clerks' organizers; in case of technical problems, a physical copy must be provided to each Deputy.

The debate is presided over and conducted by the President, who shall give the floor to the Deputies who request it in their order. Deputies shall express their opinions freely, with due decorum, and their interventions shall be limited to the matter under discussion, being able to intervene three (3) times on the same matter. Any deputy may request from the president the use of the floor in order when another is making use of the same and is expressing themselves on a matter that is not under discussion.

The sponsoring Deputy and the members of the Commission that has issued an opinion on it, may intervene to defend or make clarifications about the respective Decree Bills or motions.

With the consent of the Plenary, motions of order may be presented for the following purposes:

• 1)

  To address a matter of priority;

• 2)

  To send or return a matter to Commission; and, 3. To postpone the consideration of a pending matter for a determined time. Motions of order are prior to any other matter, even one that is under debate.

Voting shall be conducted by electronic means or by raising of hands. Voting may be nominal or with registration of names at the request of any Deputy, approved by the Plenary, and shall be taken in alphabetical order of surnames, alternately beginning with the first and the last letter of the alphabet. Voting shall be private when so determined by the Steering Committee.

The decisions of the National Congress shall be made by a majority of the Deputies present, except in the specific cases determined by the Constitution of the Republic and the Law. The vote may be affirmative, negative, or abstention. No Deputy may excuse themselves from casting their vote, except in the case that they have a personal interest in the matter being discussed.

Once voting has begun, it cannot be interrupted, nor can a new debate be opened, until voting has been exhausted. During voting, Deputies shall not leave the session hall until voting has ended.

Deputies may provide the reasoning for their vote orally at the time of voting or deliver in writing to the Steering Committee their reasoning after the voting. Written reasoning becomes part of the record of the decree bill or motion.

Decree bills may be voted on by articles, chapters, titles, or by the entirety of the bill. When it is decided to submit for voting by parts or by the entirety of the Decree Bill, Deputies cast their vote approving or disapproving in a single vote the part or the entirety of the bill submitted for their consideration.

Every bill approved by the National Congress shall take the form of a Decree, and shall be sent to the Executive Branch no later than three (3) days after being voted on, so that it may give its sanction if applicable and cause it to be promulgated as Law. The sanction of Law shall be made with this Formula: "Therefore, Let It Be Executed".

If the Executive Branch finds inconveniences in sanctioning a decree, it exercises the right of veto and returns it to the National Congress within ten (10) days with this formula: "Returns to Congress", setting forth the reasons for its disagreement. If it is not obtained within the stated term, it is considered sanctioned and the Executive Branch shall promulgate it as Law.

When the Executive Branch returns a Decree, the National Congress submits it to new deliberation and if it is ratified by two-thirds of votes, it sends it again to the Executive Branch, with this formula: "Constitutionally Ratified" and the latter shall publish it without delay. If the veto is based on the grounds that the Bill is unconstitutional, it cannot be submitted to new deliberation without first referring it to the Supreme Court of Justice; this court issues its opinion within the term that the National Congress designates.

When a Bill does not proceed from the Supreme Court of Justice and has as its object to reform or repeal any of the provisions contained in the codes of the Republic, it cannot be discussed without hearing the opinion of that court. The Court issues its report within the term that the National Congress designates. This provision does not apply to laws of a political, economic, and administrative nature.

No bill that has been rejected, wholly or partially, may be discussed again in the same Legislature.

As long as the Plenary has not approved any Article of a bill, the bill proponent or the Opinion Committee may withdraw it to present it in another form. However, if it has been approved, it cannot be withdrawn without permission of the Plenary.

When a Draft Decree proceeds from the Executive Branch, it must be submitted for discussion within a period not exceeding thirty (30) calendar days.

The officials elected by the National Congress of the Republic, when the period for which they were elected concludes and their permanent substitutes have not been designated, shall remain in office in their positions until such election is held.

With respect to the administrative organization of the National Congress, as well as the requirements for the appointment of employees and officials, reference shall be made to the manuals approved for such purpose by the President thereof.

Cases not foreseen in this Law are resolved by the Plenary and due note must be taken of the resolution issued, so that in analogous cases it may serve as precedent; for such purpose the Secretariat shall keep a special record.

This Law may be reformed or its interpretation agreed upon by affirmative vote of two-thirds of its members.

By virtue of the Constitutional Reforms to Article 205 numeral 3), the Internal Regulation approved by means of Decree Number 24, dated June 18, 1982, published in the Official Journal La Gaceta, No. 23,925 dated February 1, 1983, is hereby repealed.

This Law shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal La Gaceta.