four months,
and a prorogation or an adjournment may be ordered only by the
chambers themselves. Extraordinary sessions may be convoked by
one-fourth of the members or by the President. Each chamber is
authorized to judge the qualifications of its members, to choose its
president and other officers, and to fix its rules of procedure. The
presiding official at joint sessions is the elder of the two
presidents. Members are accorded the usual privileges of speech and
immunities from judicial process, and they are guaranteed compensation
at rates to be regulated by law.

The functions and powers of the chambers are enumerated in much
detail. Most important among them is the enactment, interpretation,
suspension, and abrogation of all laws of the republic. Still more
comprehensive is the power to supervise the operation of the
constitution and of the laws and "to promote the general welfare of
the nation." More specifically, the chambers are authorized to levy
taxes, vote expenditures, contract loans, provide for the national
defense, create public offices, fix salaries, regulate tariffs, coin
money, establish standards of weights and measures, emit bills of
credit, organize the judiciary, control the administration of national
property, approve regulations devised for the enforcement of the laws,
and elect the President of the republic. To the Chamber of Deputies is
accorded the right to initiate all measures relating to taxes, the
organization of the forces on land and on sea, the revision of the
constitution, the prorogation or adjournment of legislative sessions,
the discussion of proposals made by the President, and the bringing of
actions against members of the executive department. Initiative in
respect to all other matters may be taken by any member of either
branch of Congress or by the President of the republic. A measure
which is adopted by a majority vote in each of the two houses is
transmitted to the President to be promulgated as law. The President
possesses not a shred of veto power. He is required to promulgate
within fifteen days any measure duly enacted; if he fails to do so,
the measure takes effect none the less. When the chambers fall into
disagreement regarding proposed changes in a bill, or when one (p. 646)
chamber rejects a bill outright, the subject is debated and a decision
is reached in joint session.

*712. The Judiciary and Local Government.*--The organs of judicial
administration compr