constituteproject.org • Head of state decree power PDF generated: 18 Apr 2016, 15:15 Article 63 In the event of the absolute impossibility of Parliament holding session, the President of the Republic during such period shall promulgate decree-laws adopted by the Cabinet and those decree-laws shall have the same effect as ordinary Laws. These decree-laws become null and void if they are not adopted by Parliament at its next session. Article 64 Every Member of Parliament represents the whole nation and not just those who elected or nominated him or her or the political organization on whose ticket he/she stood for election. Any imperative mandate is null and void. The right of vote of a member of Parliament is ad personam. Article 65: Taking office for members of the Parliament • Oaths to abide by constitution Before taking office, members of the Parliament shall take an oath before the President of the Republic and, in case of his/her absence, before the President of the Supreme Court. • Leader of first chamber • Standing committees • Leader of second chamber On commencement of each term of office for members of the Parliament, the first sitting of each Chamber shall be devoted to the election of the Bureau composed of the Speaker and Deputy Speakers. It shall be convened and presided over by the President of the Republic within fifteen (15) days after the publication of the election results. • Standing committees Before taking office, members of the Bureau of each Chamber of the Parliament shall take oath before the President of the Republic. • Standing committees The composition of the Bureau of each Chamber of the Parliament, their responsibilities as well as modalities for holding sessions shall be determined by the Organic Law establishing internal rules of each Chamber. • Public or private sessions • Quorum for legislative sessions Article 66 The quorum required for each Chamber of Parliament shall be at least three fifths of its members. The sittings of each Chamber of Parliament are public. However, each Chamber of Parliament may decide, by absolute majority of the members present, to sit in camera at the request of either the President of the Republic, the President of Senate or the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or a quarter of the members of either Chamber or the Prime Minister. Article 67 The Chambers of Parliament shall hold their sessions in the Capital City, each at its respective Chambers designated for the purpose except in cases of force majeure confirmed by the Supreme Court upon request by the President of the Chamber concerned. In the event that the Supreme Court itself is unable to hold session, the President of the Republic shall determine by decree-law the place where the Parliament shall hold session. Rwanda 2003 (rev. 2010) Page 19