Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 144 (1952).djvu/333

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To act in this capacity it shall be necessary that the accusation formulated by the House of Representatives have been resolved upon by two-thirds of its members.

For the purposes of this Article, the court shall be composed of the members of the Senate and all members of the Supreme Court, presided over by the person who is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the time.

(b) To sit as a court, to try members of the Cabinet when they are accused by the House of Representatives of a crime against the external safety of the Nation, against the unrestricted functioning of the legislative or judicial branches, of infringement of constitutional precepts, or any other crime of a political character determined by law.

(c) To sit as a court, to try Provincial Governors, when they are accused by the Provincial Council or by the President of the Republic on resolution of the Cabinet, of any of the crimes specified in the preceding paragraph.

In all cases in which the Senate sits as a court it shall be presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It cannot impose on the accused any penalty other than that of removal from office or removal from and disqualification to hold public office, without prejudice to the imposition on them, by the regular courts, of any other penalty that they have incurred.

(d) To approve the appointments made, with the advice of the Cabinet, by the President of the Republic, of heads of permanent diplomatic missions and other officers whose appointment requires its approval, according to law.

(e) To approve the appointments of members of the Tribunal of Accounts of the Nation.

(f) To appoint investigating committees. These shall have the number of members resolved upon by the Senate, the right to summon both private individuals and public officers and authorities to appear before them and testify, and to solicit the data and documents they deem necessary for the purposes of the investigation.

It is the duty of the courts, administrative authorities and private individuals to furnish to the investigating committees all the information and documents they request. To authorise these committees, a favourable vote of two-thirds of the members of the Senate shall be required when the investigation