itted to be a member of
both Houses simultaneously.

Article 49. Members of both Houses shall receive appropriate
annual payment from the national treasury in accordance with law.

Article 50. Except in cases provided by law, members of both
Houses shall be exempt from apprehension while the Diet is in
session, and any members apprehended before the opening of the
session shall be freed during the term of the session upon demand
of the House.

Article 51. Members of both Houses shall not be held liable
outside the House for speeches, debates or votes cast inside the
House.

Article 52. An ordinary session of the Diet shall be
convoked once per year.

Article 53. The Cabinet may determine to convoke
extraordinary sessions of the Diet. When a quarter or more of the
total members of either house makes the demand, the Cabinet must
determine on such convocation.

Article 54. When the House of Representatives is dissolved,
there must be a general election of members of the House of
Representatives within forty (40) days from the date of
dissolution, and the Diet must be convoked within thirty (30)
days from the date of the election.

(2) When the House of Representatives is dissolved, the
House of Councillors is closed at the same time. However, the
Cabinet may in time of national emergency convoke the House of
Councillors in emergency session.

(3) Measures taken at such session as mentioned in the
proviso of the preceding paragraph shall be provisional and shall
become null and void unless agreed to by the House of
Representatives within a period of ten (10) days after the
opening of the next session of the Diet.

Article 55. Each House shall judge disputes related to
qualifications of its members. However, in order to deny a seat
to any member, it is necessary to pass a resolution by a majority
of two-thirds or more of the members present.

Article 56. Business cannot be transacted in either House
unless one third or more of total membership is present.

(2) All matters shall be decided, in each House, by a
majority of those present, except as elsewhere provided in the
Constitution, and in case of a tie, the presiding officer shall
decide the issue.

Article 57. Deliberation in each House shall be public.
However, a secret meeting may be held where a majority of
two-thirds or more of those members present passes a resolution
therefor.

(