constituteproject.org PDF generated: 18 Apr 2016, 15:15 Decisions taken in sessions in respect of which there has either been no convocation or no agenda has been distributed or which take place during periods outside the approved time of sessions or outside the designated Chambers shall be null and void, save as is provided in the preceding paragraph. Article 68: Incompatibility with the office of a member of the Parliament No person shall at the same time be a member of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. • Eligibility for cabinet • Head of government's role in the legislature The office of a Deputy or a Senator is incompatible with the office of a member of the Cabinet. • Outside professions of legislators The Organic Law establishing internal rules of each Chamber of the Parliament shall determine other offices which are incompatible with the office of member of the Parliament. • Compensation of legislators An Organic Law shall determine the benefits to which members of the Parliament are entitled. • Immunity of legislators • Removal of individual legislators Article 69: Immunity for members of the Parliament and procedures of their prosecution No member of the Parliament shall be prosecuted, pursued, arrested, detained or judged for any opinions expressed or by reason of how he/she votes during the exercise of his/her duties. No member of the Parliament suspected of a felony or misdemeanour may be prosecuted or arrested without the authorisation of the Chamber to which he/she belongs by voting with a majority of two thirds (2/3) of members present except where a member of the Parliament is caught in flagrante delicto committing a felony or a court of law has passed a final sentence against him/her. When it is not in session, an extraordinary session shall be convened for that purpose. Any member of the Parliament convicted of a felony by a court of law of last instance shall be automatically stripped off his/her parliamentary seat, after confirmation by the Supreme Court. Each Chamber of the Parliament may, in the Organic Law establishing its internal rules, make provisions for gross misconduct which may lead to the removal from office of a member of that Chamber upon approval of its members. In such a case, the decision to remove the member from office shall be taken by a majority of three-fifths (3/5) of the members of the concerned Chamber. • Joint meetings of legislative chambers • Standing committees Article 70: Holding of sessions and meetings of the Chambers of Parliament Ordinary sessions of both Chambers of Parliament shall take place on the same dates. However, meetings and extraordinary sessions of each of the Chambers shall be held according to the Organic Law establishing its internal rule. The two Chambers of Parliament cannot meet in joint session save in cases of debate on issues in respect of which the Constitution mandates a joint session or formal ceremonies provided for by the Law or other official ceremonies. Rwanda 2003 (rev. 2010) Page 20