ARTICLE 14

Legislative power should be exercised by the parliament which shall comprise 2 houses;

1. The national Assembly
2. The Senate
3. Parliament shall legislate and control Government action

Both houses of parliament shall meet on the same dates

• (New) in ordinary session during the months of march, june and November each Year, when convened by the consultation with the president of the republic
• In extraordinary sessions at the request of the president houses. However, the two houses shall be convened simultaneously only if the business of the day concerns both of them.

The two houses of parliament shall meet in congress at the request of the president of the republic in order to:

• Be addressed by or receive a message from the president of the republic.
• Receive the oath of members of the constitutional council.
• Take a decision on a draft or proposed constitutional amendment.

When parliament meets in congress, the bureau of the national Assembly shall preside over the proceedings.

No person shall be member of both the National Assembly and of the senate, as well as the immunities, ineligibilities, incompatibilities, allowances and privileges of the members of parliament shall be determined by law.

CHAPTER I

The national Assembly

1. The national assembly shall comprise 180 members elected by direct and secret universal suffrage for a five year term of office. The number of the members of the national Assembly may be modified by law.
2. Each member of the national Assembly shall represent the entire nation.
3. Any imposed mandate shall be null and void
4. In case of serious crisis or where circumstances so warrant, the president of the republic may after consultation with the president of the constitutional council and bureau of the national Assembly and the senate, request the National assembly to decide, by law, extend or a bridge its terms of office. In this case, the election of a new assembly shall take placement less than 40 days and not more than 120 days following the expiry of the extension or abridgement period.

ARTICLE 16

• At the beginning of each legislative years, the national assembly shall meet as of right in ordinary session under the conditions laid down by law.
• Each years, the national Assembly shall hold 3 ordinary sessions each lasting not more than 30 days.

1. At the opening of its first ordinary session, the national assembly shall elect its president and bureau members.
2. The National assembly shall during one of its session adopt the state budget where such budget is not adopted before the end of the current financial year, the president of the republic shall be empowered to extend the previous budget by one until a new one is passed.

• The national Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session for not more than 15 days on a specific agenda and at the request of the president of the republic or one third of its members.                                                               The extraordinary session shall wind up as soon as the agenda for which it was convened is exhausted.

ARTICLE 17

• Sitting of the national assembly shall be public. Exceptionally, the National assembly may hold sitting in Camera at the request of the president of the republic or of an absolute majority of its members.
• The national Assembly shall in a law, draw up its standing orders.

ARTICLE  18

• The agenda of the national assembly shall be drawn up by the chairmen’s conference.
• The chairmen conference shall be composed of president of parliamentary groups, chairmen of committees and members of the Bureau of the national assembly. A member of government shall participate in the conference meeting.
• Only bills falling within its area of jurisdiction by virtue of article 26 below maybe included in the agenda of the National assembly.
• The agenda shall give priority and in the order decided by the government, to the consideration of the government bills and private members bills accepted by it. The other private members bill by the chairmen’s conference shall be considered subsequently.
• Where a private bill has not been considered during two successive ordinary sessions, it shall authomatically be considered at the very, next ordinary session.
• Any item on the agenda shall, at the request of the government be treated as a matter of urgency.

ARTICLE 19

• Laws shall be passed by a simple majority of the members of the National assembly.
• Bill submitted to the national assembly for reconsideration by the senate shall either be passed or rejected in accordance with article so below.
• The president of the republic may, before enacting any law ask for a second reading, in such case, bills shall be passed by an absolute majority of the members of the national Assembly.

CHAPTER II

THE SENATE

• The senate shall represent the regional and local authorities
• Each region shall be represented in the senate by 10 senators of when 7 shall be elected by direct universal suffrage on a regional basis and 3 appointed by the president of the republic.
• Candidates for the post of senate and personalities appointed to the post of senator by the president of the republic must have attained the age of 40 by the date of the election or appointment.
• Senators shall serve a term of 5 years.

ARTICLE 21

• At the beginning of each legislative year, the senate shall meet as of right in ordinary session under the condition lead down by law.
• Each years, the senate shall hold 3 ordinary sessions each hasting not more than 30 days. At the opening of its first ordinary sessions the senate shall elect its president and bureau members.
• The senate shall meet in extraordinary sessions for not more than 15 days on a specific agenda and at the request of the president of the republic or of the third of its members. The extraordinary session shall  wind up as soon as the agenda for which it was convened is exhausted.

ARTICLE 22

• Sitting of the senate shall be public. Exceptionally, the senate may hold sittings in Camera at the request of the president of the republic or of an absolute majority of its members.
• The senate shall in a law draw up its standing orders.

ARTICLE 23

• The agenda of the senate shall be drawn up by the chairmen’s conference.
• The chairmen’s conference shall be composed of presidents of parliamentary groups, chairmen of comitees and members of the bureau of the senate. A member of Government shall participate in the conference meeting.
• Only bill failing within its area of jurisdiction by virtue of article 26 below may be included in the agenda of the senate.
• The agenda shall give priority and in the order decided by the government, to the consideration of the government bills and private members bills accepted by it. The other conference shall be considered subsequently. Where a private members bills has not been considered during two successive ordinary sessions, it shall automatically be considered at the very next ordinary session.
• Any item on the agenda shall, at the request of the government be treated as a matter of urgency.

ARTICLE 24

• Laws shall be passed by a simple majority of the senators.
• The senate may amend or reject all or part of all bill submitted to it for consideration, in accordance with article 30 below.
• The president of the republic may before enacting a law ask for a second reading. In such case, bills shall passed by an absolute majority of the senators.