The Rules of the House of Councillors

Chapter I. Opening of Session and Election of Officers

Article 1. Members shall assemble in the House of Councillors at 10 a.m. on the day designated in the Imperial Rescript for convocation.

Article 2. Members who attend the House for the first time since their election are required to present to the Secretariat their certificates of election and have them checked with the list of those elected.

Article 3. When members assembled have reached one-third of the total membership, the President shall take the Chair.

Article 4. When the posts of both the President and the Vice-President are vacant on the day of convocation, the House shall elect the President after Members assembled have reached one-third of the total membership.
The election of the President shall be held by secret ballot with single entry.

Article 5. Each Member shall, when his name is called, take his ballot card and wooden name-plate to the rostrum for voting.
Secretary A shall receive the name-plate, secretary B the ballot card, and on behalf of the Member they shall put them respectively into the name-plate box and the ballot box.

Article 6. When all the Members present have voted, the Secretary General shall declare the closure of the ballot box. After this declaration no more voting shall be allowed.

Article 7. On completion of the voting, the Secretary General shall immediately have the secretaries count the name-plates and the ballot cards and examine the ballot cards.
When the number of the ballot cards exceeds that of the name-plates, a further vote shall be held, unless the result of the election is unaffected by this discrepancy.

Article 8. When all the ballot cards have been examined, the Secretary General shall announce to the House the result of the election.

Article 9. The Member who has obtained more than half the votes is declared elected. If no Member has obtained a majority, a deciding vote shall be taken between the two who have obtained the largest number of votes; and the one who obtains the greater number of votes is declared elected.
In case of a tie on the occasion of selecting two Members between whom a deciding vote is to be taken, or of deciding the Member to be declared elected, the selection or the decision shall be made by lot.

Article 10. If a question arises about an election in the House, the Secretary General shall put it to the House for decision.

Article 11. After the election of the President, the House shall elect the Vice-President.
The election of the Vice-President shall be held in the same manner as that of the President.

Article 12. When the President and the Vice-President have been elected, the Secretary General shall present them to the House and conduct the President to the Chair.

Article 13. If the post of either the President or the Vice-President is vacant on the day of convocation, the House shall hold an election in the same manner as provided for in Article 4 and under.

Article 14. The President shall assign a seat in the Chamber to each Member at the beginning of each session; although he may change it whenever necessary.
Each seat shall be numbered and shall have the Member's name-block attached to it.

Article 15. Deleted.

Article 16. If the post of the Chairman of any Standing Committee is vacant on the day of convocation, the House shall hold an election in the same manner as that of the President.
The House may, however, delegate the selection of a Chairman to the President.

Article 17. If the post of the Secretary General is vacant on the day of convocation, the House shall hold an election in the same manner as that of the President. The House may, however, delegate the selection of the Secretary General to the President.

Article 18. Deleted.

Article 19. The election of the President, the Vice-President, the Chairman of a Standing Committee, or the Secretary General, whose post has become vacant while the Diet is in session, and the election of a President pro tempore shall be held in the same manner as provided for in Article 4 and under.

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Chapter II. Designation of Prime Minister

Article 20. The Member who is to be designated Prime Minister shall be chosen by open ballot with single entry.
The Member who has obtained more than half the votes cast shall be the one to be designated.
If no one has obtained more than half the votes cast, a deciding vote shall be taken between the two who have obtained the largest number of votes; and the one who obtains the greater number of votes is declared designated.
In case of a tie on the occasion of selecting two Members between whom a deciding vote is to be taken, or of deciding the Member to be declared designated, the selection or the designation shall be made by lot.
The House may also choose the person to be designated, not by ballot, but by a motion or by other means.

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Chapter III. Opening Ceremony

Article 21. The date, time, and place of the opening ceremony shall be fixed by the President in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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Chapter IV. Determination and Extension of the Term of a Session and Recess of the Diet

Article 22. The term of an extraordinary and a special session shall be resolved by the House, after the President has conferred with the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In this case the President must previously consult with the Chairmen of Standing Committees to obtain their opinions of the legislative program for the session.
The result of a decision as provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be notified to the House of Representatives and the Cabinet.

Article 23. The provision of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to an extension of the term of a session of the Diet.

Article 23-II. The provision of Article 22 shall apply mutatis mutandis to recess of the Diet.
Recess of the House shall be decided by the House upon the proposition of the President. In this case, the President must previously consult with the Chairmen of Standing Committees to obtain their opinions.
Even while the House is in recess, a sitting may be held, if the President deems it of urgent necessity or if at least one-forth of the total membership makes a request for it.
When the plenary meeting has been held under the provision of the preceding paragraph, recess of the House shall have ended.

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Chapter V. Introduction and Withdrawal of Measures

Article 24. When any Member desires to introduce a measure, he must submit it, signed jointly by the required number of supporters, to the President with the reasons in writing attached. If the measure is a bill which requires a budgetary action, a written statement of the expenses needed for the implementation of the law shall be attached.
The President shall have the introduced bill printed and distributed to each Member.
The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to the bills presented by a Committee or a Research Committee.

Article 25. When any measure mentioned in the preceding Article requires the decision of the Diet, the President shall, besides distributing it to each Member, send it to the House of Representatives for preliminary consideration.

Article 26. When the introducer or proposer of a bill intends to request the omission of a Committee's consideration on the introduced or proposed bill, he must inform the President to that effect in writing simultaneously with its introduction, proposition or sending.
When the request is made under the preceding paragraph, the President must put it to the House for decision.

Article 27. When measures are presented by the House of Representatives or the Cabinet, or when measures are sent from the House of Representatives, or when measures are sent from the House of Representatives, or the Cabinet for preliminary consideration, the President shall have them printed and distributed to each Member, unless they are the same measures as have already been distributed for preliminary consideration.

Article 28. When a Member desires to withdraw a measure he has introduced, the request must be made by all the proposers.
To withdraw a measure after a Committee or the House has begun to consider it, the permission of the Committee or of the House is required respectively.

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Chapter VI. Reference of Measures

Article 29. The President shall refer a measure and a measure sent for preliminary consideration to an appropriate Standing Committee.
As to a measure deemed specially necessary or a special measure not coming under the jurisdiction of any Standing Committee, the President shall put it to the House for decision and create a Special Committee, to which the measure shall be referred.
In case of reference of matters other than measures to Committees, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply, unless provided for otherwise in these Rules.

Article 29-II. A bill submitted by a Committee or a Research Committee shall not be referred to a Committee, but to a plenary sitting of the House. However, the one deemed specially necessary by the President may be referred to a Committee.

Article 29-III. The President may refer to a Special Committee any measure or matter related to one which has been referred to that Committee.

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Chapter VII. Committees

Subchapter 1. General Provisions

Article 30. Members of Committees shall all be nominated by the President.
The permission of resignations of Committee members shall be given by the President.

Article 31. A Committee shall have one or more directors.
Directors shall be mutually elected from among the Committee members by secret ballot. However, the appointment may be made, not by ballot, but by motion or other means.
A director shall perform the duties of the Chairman when the Chairman is unable to attend to them or when the position becomes vacant.
The permission of resignation of directors shall be made by the Committee concerned.

Article 32. Deleted.

Article 33. A Committee may hold its meeting to consider or investigate the measure or matter referred to it.

Article 34. Deleted.

Article 35. A Committee may set up sub-committees for consideration or investigation.

Article 36. A Committee may hold a combined meeting with other Committees or Research Committees by arrangement, if it needs to do so for consideration or investigation.

Article 37. No Committee shall meet during a plenary sitting of the House without the permission of the President.

Article 38. The Chairman of a Committee shall fix the date and time for a Committee meeting.
When requested by at least one-third of the Committee members, the Chairman must hold a meeting.
The Chairman shall declare the opening, recess or closing of a Committee meeting.

Article 39. When a measure has been referred to a Committee, the Committee shall first hear its purport.

Article 40. Deleted.

Article 41. With regard to a measure presented by the House of Representatives or an amendment made by the House of Representatives to a measure which was presented by the Cabinet, the Committee may request an explanation from the Committee Chairman and the proposer or the introducer of the amendment of the House of Representatives.

Article 42. Committee members may freely ask questions and express opinions on the subject under consideration.
When Committee members ask for permission to speak, the Chairman shall grant it according to the order of the requests.

Article 42-II. When a Committee conducts consideration or investigation, a Committee member who questions the Government shall pose his or her questions to a Minister of State, the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, a State Minister or a Parliamentary Vice-Minister.

Article 42-III. Regardless of the provisions in the preceding article, when the Chairman of a Committee deems it necessary for Committee's consideration or investigation on precise or technical matters relating to the administration, the Chairman shall request the presence of a Government informant to hear his or her explanation on them.
A Committee shall request the attendance of a Government informant through the Government office in charge.

Article 43. The Chairman of a Committee is authorized to attend meetings of other Committees or Research Committees and express his opinions on behalf of his Committee.

Article 44. A Committee may hear an opinion or permit a speech of any Member not on the Committee.

Article 45. When the Chairman desires to participate in a debate himself, he must take a seat of a Committee member.
If the Chairman participates in the debate, he shall not return to his seat as Chairman pending completion of decision by vote on the subject.

Article 46. Any member who desires to move an amendment to a measure must submit it in writing beforehand to the Chairman.
When the amendment under the preceding paragraph is one to a bill and is to bring about an increase of the budget or is to require budgetary action, a written statement shall be attached clarifying expenditure needed as a result of the amendment.

Article 47. The Chairman of a Committee may allocate the time for questions, debate, and so on, as the Committee may decide.

Article 48. A Committee member may make a motion to close questions and debate.

Article 49. When the debate on a matter is closed, the Chairman shall announce the question and put it to a vote.

Article 50. When a Committee desires to present a bill that will affect the budget, the Cabinet shall be given an opportunity to express its opinion in advance of the Committee's decision.
As to a bill introduced by a Member, affecting the budget and referred to the committee, the Chairman must, before putting it to a vote, give the Cabinet an opportunity to express its opinion. The same shall also apply to an amendment to increase the total amount of the budget and an amendment to a bill, creating an increase of the budget or affecting the budget, submitted by a Committee member.

Article 51. When a Committee member acts contrary to the Diet Law or these Rules, or conducts himself in a disorderly manner, or impairs the dignity of the House, the Chairman shall restrain him or cause him to retract his remarks. If the member does not obey the Chairman's order, the Chairman may forbid him to speak for the rest of the day's meeting or cause him to leave the room.

Article 52. The Chairman may declare a recess or adjourn the meeting, if the business of the Committee goes out of control.

Article 53. When a Committee intends to continue its consideration or investigation of a special measure or matter after the Diet is no longer in session, a request must be made to the President with the reasons in writing attached.
When a request under the preceding paragraph is made, the President must put it to the House for decision.

Article 54. Deleted.

Article 55. Deleted.

Article 56. A Committee shall compile the minutes of meetings.

Article 57. The minutes of the Committee shall be signed by the Chairman or the director who has presided over the Committee meeting for the day and kept in the Secretariat.

Article 58. The minutes of the Committee shall be distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member of the House, except those parts of minutes of closed meetings which the Committee has decided to keep secret, and those remarks which the Chairman has ordered to be retracted under the provisions of Article 51.

Article 59. Except as provided in the preceding three Articles, the provisions of Articles from l56 to 158 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Committee minutes.

Subchapter 2. Open Hearings

Article 60. A Committee may hold open hearings to consider measures.

Article 61. When a Member or anyone who is not a Member of the House desires to have an open hearing held on an important measure, he shall send in to the Committee Chairman in writing clearly his reasons.

Article 62. When a Committee desires to hold an open hearing, the President's approval must be obtained.

Article 63. An open hearing may be held also for preliminary consideration.

Article 64. The subject matter of an open hearing shall be decided by the Committee Chairman after putting it to the Committee for decision.

Article 65. The Chairman shall announce to the public the date and time and the subject of the hearing.

Article 66. Any person who desires to express his opinion at an open hearing shall beforehand send in to the Committee Chairman in writing his reasons and his opinion for or against the subject.

Article 67. The persons interested, men of learning and experience and others whose opinions are to be heard at an open hearing (to be called 'speaker') shall be selected by the Committee from among those who have volunteered to speak and from other persons, and shall be notified of their selection.
Diet Members or other public service employees shall not be prevented from becoming speakers.
At open hearings, the number of speakers for and against the subject as well as the length of time allotted to them shall be impartial.

Article 68. A speaker at an open hearing shall confine himself to the matters.
When a speaker at an open hearing deviates from the subject or when his words or actions are considered improper, the Chairman may stop him or order him to leave the room.

Article 69. A Committee member may question a speaker at an open hearing.

Article 70. Neither debate shall take place nor vote be taken at an open hearing.

Article 71. A speaker may not state his views through a proxy or in writing. However, this shall not apply to the case when a special permission has been given by the Committee.

Subchapter 3. Committee Reports

Article 72. When a Committee has completed the consideration or investigation of a measure or matter, it shall prepare a report and submit it to the President through the Chairman.
To the report of the preceding paragraph shall be attached a written summary containing a brief explanation of the reasons for its decision, expenses and other matters.
When a Committee has given the Cabinet an opportunity to express its opinion under the provision of Article 57-III of The Diet Law, the gist of this opinion shall be included in the written summary.

Article 72-II. A report on the minority opinion shall be submitted promptly to the President through the Chairman.

Article 72-III. When a Committee does not complete its consideration or investigation of a measure or matter before the beginning of the next session, the Chairman must prepare a written report to that effect and submit it to the President.

Article 72-IV. The President shall have the report under the preceding three Articles distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member.

Article 73. When a Standing Committee intends to make an interim report to the House on the matter under its investigation, the Chairman shall make a written request to the President to that effect.
When a request as mentioned in the preceding paragraph has been made, the President shall put the case to a vote of the House.

Subchapter 4. Standing Committees

Article 74. The number of members and the jurisdiction of each Standing Committee are as follows:

1. Committee on Cabinet  22 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet and Cabinet Office (excluding matters relating to the Standing Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defense, on Financial Affairs, and on Economy and Industry)
(2)Matters under the jurisdiction of the National Personnel Authority
(3)Matters under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council
(4)Matters under the jurisdiction of the National Public Safety Commission
2. Committee on General Affairs  25 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (excluding matters relating to the Standing Committees on Environment)
3. Committee on Judicial Affairs  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice
(2)Matters relating to the judicial administration of the Courts
4. Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(2)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense
(3)Matters under the jurisdiction of the National Security Council
5. Committee on Financial Affairs  25 members
(1) Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance (excluding matters relating to the Standing Committees on Budget, and on Audit)
(2)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Financial Services Agency
6. Committee on Education, Culture and Science  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
7. Committee on Health, Welfare and Labour  25 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
8. Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
9. Committee on Economy and Industry  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
(2)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Fair Trade Commission
10. Committee on Land and Transport  25 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
11. Committee on Environment  21 members
(1)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment
(2)Matters under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Dispute Coordination Commission
12 . Committee on Fundamental National Policies  20 members
(1)Fundamental policies of the state
13.Committee on Budget  45 members
(1)Budgets
14. Committee on Audit  30 members
(1)Auditing
(2)The approval of expenditure from reserve fund
(3)The approval of the transfer of liquidity from the account settlement adjustment fund into the government revenue
(4)Complete returns on commitments of the national treasury
(5)Complete returns on the increase and decrease and the current value of national property leased rent-free
(6)Examination of accounts by the Board of Audit
15. Committee on Oversight of Administration  35 members
(1)Monitoring the administration (Including making recommendations based on such monitoring. The same applies to Article 74-V.)
(2)Inspecting the administration
(3)Complaints against the administration
16. Committee on Rules and Administration  25 members
(1)The House administration
(2)The Diet Law, Rules and Regulations of the House
(3)Administration of the National Diet Library
(4)The Judge Impeachment Court and Judge Indictment Committee
17. Committee on Discipline  10 members
(1)Disciplinary action against Members of the House

Article 74-II. A Member of the House shall not serve concurrently on more than two Standing Committees. In case he serves on two Standing Committees, one of the two shall be limited to the Committees on Fundamental National Policies, Budget, Audit, Oversight of Administration, Rules and Administration or Discipline, except for the case of paragraph 3, Article 42 of the Diet Law.

Article 74-III. A Standing Committee is authorized to investigate matters under its jurisdiction, besides the measures or matters referred to it.

Article 74-IV. As to the total budget under consideration, the Committee on Budget may request any other Committee with a time limit to consider parts of the total budget which come under the jurisdiction of said Committee.
The Chairman of the Committee which has been requested consideration as provided for in the preceding paragraph, shall be deemed to report, after the consideration, a summary of the consideration to the Committee on Budget.
The Committee on Budget, when it deems specially necessary, may consider the total budget even if it is within the period of consideration requested in accordance with the first paragraph of this Article.

Article 74-V. The Committee on Oversight of Administration shall report its activities, including instances in which it is necessary to make recommendations, at least once per calendar year to the House, thereby to contribute to the systematic, continuous, and effective monitoring the administration.

Article 74-VI. The Committee on Rules and Administration may hold its meeting at any time while the Diet is in session with respect to administration of the House and of the National Diet Library.

Article 75. The Budget Committee and the Audit Committee may divide themselves into several working committee for convenience of the consideration.
Each working committee shall elect a chief and an assistant chief from among its members by secret ballot. However, a motion or other means may be employed for its selection instead of voting.
Pending the election of a chief and an assistant chief, the business pertaining to a working committee shall be conducted by the eldest person in the working committee.
When the chief is unable to attend to his duties or when the position becomes vacant, an assistant chief shall perform the duties of the chief.
The resignation of the chief or the assistant chief requires the approval of the working committee.

Article 76. When a Standing Committee desires to hold a joint meeting with a Standing Committee of the House of Representatives, it shall make a decision to that effect after its Chairman has consulted with the Committee Chairman of the House of Representatives.

Article 77. A Standing Committee may not take a vote on a measure or matter put to a joint meeting until the latter has completed its consideration.

Subchapter 5. Special Committees

Article 78. The number of members of a Special Committee shall be decided by the House. The House may, however, increase the membership whenever necessary.

Article 79. Deleted.

Article 80. Members of a Special Committee shall elect a Chairman from among themselves by secret ballot, and the person who has obtained the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected. In case of a tie, the decision shall be made by lot. However, the Chairman of a Special Committee may also be elected not by ballot but by a motion or by other means.
Until the Chairman is elected, the eldest person in the Committee shall perform the duties of the Chairman.
The resignation of the Chairman of a Special Committee requires the approval of the Committee.

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Chapter VII-II. Research Committees

Article 80-II. A Research Committee shall be set up in the first session of the Diet to be convoked after the regular election for the Members of the House of Councillors.

Article 80-III. An open hearing of a Research Committee may be held when it is necessary for research.
To the open hearing of a Research Committee, the provisions in Article 62 and Articles 64 to 71 inclusive shall be applied mutatis mutandis.

Article 80-IV. A Research Committee shall prepare, in relation to the matters of research, a written report on the proceedings and results of the research and submit it to the President through the Chairman of the Research Committee.
To the research of a Research Committee while the Diet is not in session, the provision in Article 72-III shall be applied mutatis mutandis.
The President shall have the report in paragraph 1 of this Article and the report in Article 72-III applied mutatis mutandis by the preceding Paragraph distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member.

Article 80-V. The Chairman of a Research Committee may report the proceedings and results of the research to the House.
To the report in the preceding Paragraph, the provision of Article 105 shall be applied mutatis mutandis.

Article 80-VI. A Research Committee may recommend, in relation to the matters of research, the introduction of a bill from a Committee.
When a Research Committee makes a recommendation as provided in the preceding Paragraph, the Chairman of the Research Committee shall submit the written statement covering the purport and contents of the recommendation to the President.
When the statement as provided in the preceding Paragraph is submitted to the President, he shall send it to the relevant Committee.
In case a request is made by the Committee to which the statement provided in Paragraph 2 of this Article has been sent, the Chairman of a Research Committee may explain in the Committee regarding the said recommendation.
The President shall have the statement provided in Paragraph 2 of this Article distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member.

Article 80-VII. A Research Committee may have an official with professional knowledge and other necessary personnel, to support its research.

Article 80-VIII. To the organization and management of a Research Committee, the provisions in Subchapter 1 or the preceding Chapter (excluding, however, Article 39, Article 41, Article 46 and Paragraph 2 or Article 50) and Article 80 shall be applied mutatis mutandis. In the above, "Article 51" in Article 58 shall read "Article 51 which is applied mutatis mutandis in Paragraph 1 of Article 80-VIII."
Besides the provisions in the preceding Paragraph, to a Research Committee, the provision in Article 180-II, Article 181, Article 181-II, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 181-III (limited to sections related to committees), Article 186, Article 231, Article 233, Article 234, and Paragraph 2 of Article 236 shall apply mutatis mutandis, and to the Chairman of a Research Committee, the provisions in Article 175-II, Paragraph 2 of Article 235 and Article 237 shall apply mutatis mutandis. In the above, "Article 51" in Paragraph 2 of Article 235 shall be read as "Article 51 which applies mutatis mutandis in Paragraph 1 of Article 80-VIII."

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Chapter VIII. Plenary Sittings

Subchapter 1. Opening, Closing and Adjournment of Sitting

Article 81. The sitting shall start at 10 a.m. This does not, however, apply if the President deems it necessary.

Article 82. When the business of the measures or matters put on the Order of the Day is brought to an end, the President may declare the sitting closed. Even if some business remains to be dealt with, the President may adjourn the sitting, putting it to the House for decision when he deems it necessary, or without putting it to the House for decision when it is past 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Article 83. When the time for the sitting comes, the President shall take the Chair and, after reporting on various matters, shall declare the sitting open.
No one may speak on the business of the sitting until the President has declared the sitting open.

Article 84. When the Members present do not form a quorum, the President shall declare to adjourn the sitting. When the absence of the quorum is proved because of the Members leaving their seats during a sitting, the President may declare a recess or adjourn the sitting.
When the President deems that the number of the Members present will possibly fall short of a quorum during a sitting, he may prohibit the Members from leaving their seats or request the Members who are outside the Chamber to present themselves in the Chamber.
When the number of the Members present is deemed to lack a quorum, a Member may request the President to count the number of the Members present.

Article 85. After the President has declared the closing, adjournment or recess of the sitting, no one may speak on the business of the sitting.

Subchapter 2. The Order of the Day

Article 86. The date and time for opening a sitting, the measures and matters to be laid before it and their order shall be placed on the Order of the Day.
The Order of the Day shall be notified in advance to each Member through the Official Bulletin of the House of Councillors and published in the Official Gazette.

Article 87. When the President has notified the Members of the date and time for a sitting only, he must fix the Order of the Day prior to the opening of the sitting.

Article 88. When the President deems it necessary, or a motion is made by a Member, the President may alter the order in the Order of the Day, or add other measure or matter to it after putting the case to a vote of the House without debate.

Article 89. If any business on the Order of the Day has not been taken up or the business has not been finished, the President must place it again on the Order for another day.

Subchapter 3. Motion

Article 90. Except for special stipulations made in the Diet Law or these Rules, all motions shall require one or more supporters to be brought up before a sitting.

Article 90-II. When a Member wishes to withdraw a motion, the request for withdrawal shall be made by all the Members who have submitted the motion with him. In order to withdraw a motion after it has been brought to a sitting, the permission of the House is necessary.

Subchapter 4. Speaking

Article 91. A Member who desires to speak in the sitting is required to give notice to a secretary of the House in advance, as far as circumstances permit.

Article 92. Deleted.

Article 93. A Member who gives notice to debate must make it clear at the time of notice whether he is going to speak for or against the subject.

Article 94. As to the notices of questions or debates, the secretary shall put them on the Speaking List in the order of the notices received, and report them to the President.
In allowing questions or debates, the President shall name each speaker in the order of their names on the Speaking List.
For those who do not comply with the naming mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the notices shall become invalid.

Article 95. Members who have not given notice may not speak until all the Members who gave notice have finished speaking.

Article 96. A Member who desires to speak without having given notice may do so after obtaining the President's permission by standing up, calling the President and giving his own name.

Article 97. When two or more Members stand up and ask for permission to speak, the President shall give permission to speak in the order in which he considers the Members stood up.

Article 98. All speaking must be done from the rostrum. However, when speaking is extremely short or when the President grants permission, a Member may speak from his assigned seat.

Article 99. The President may at any time order a Member speaking from his assigned seat to speak from the rostrum.

Article 100. Speakers may not deviate from the subject under consideration or go beyond its scope.

Article 101. No speech shall be interrupted halfway by another one.

Article 102. A Member who has not finished speaking owing to an adjournment of the sitting or a recess, may continue when the business on the matter is resumed.

Article 103. No Member is permitted to read out any written statement in a sitting. This provision does not, however, apply to a brief note which has been prepared for the purpose of quotation or report.

Article 104. When a measure or matter which has been referred to a Committee is brought to a sitting, the Chairman of the Committee shall first explain the contents of the measure or matter, and then report on its proceedings and results before questions on the measure or matter begin.
As to the measure or matter with which the consideration or investigation of a Special Committee has been finished while the Diet is not in session, the ex-Chairman shall make the report mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 105. In making the report, the Chairman must not add his own opinion to it.

Article 106. Following the report by the Chairman, a Member of a minority opinion shall report that opinion. In case there are several minority opinions, the order of the reports shall be decided by the President.

Article 107. When a measure on which Committee consideration has been omitted is brought to a sitting, the introducer or the proposer shall first explain its purport and contents.

Article 107-II. As to a bill introduced by a Member, requiring budgetary action on which Committee consideration has been omitted, the President must, after the explanation by the introducer of the purport of the bill, afford the Cabinet an opportunity to give its opinion. The same shall apply to an amendment presented by a Member to increase the total amount of the budget or an amendment to a bill, which brings about an increase of the budget or which will require budgetary action.

Article 108. Members may question the Chairman, the reporter of the minority opinion, the introducer or the proposer.

Article 109. Deleted.

Article 110. Questions may not be made on the same subject more than three times.

Article 111. When there has been too long a succession of questions and there seems no likelihood of an end, a Member may make a motion to close the questions with the support of twenty or more Members.
When the motion in the preceding paragraph has been made, the President shall decide it after putting it to a vote of the House without debate.

Article 112. When questions have ended, the President shall declare the closure of questions.

Article 113. When questions have closed, a debate shall be opened.

Article 114. Deleted.

Article 115. Deleted.

Article 116. In a debate, the President must let the opposer take the floor first, and, as far as circumstances permit, must let the supporters and opposers speak alternately.
When all the Members on one side who gave notice have finished speaking, Members on the same side who did not give notice may ask for permission to speak even before all the Members on the other side who gave notice have not finished speaking.

Article 117. A Member may not debate two times on the same subject under consideration.

Article 118. A Chairman or a reporter of the minority opinion may speak several times in order to explain the purport of the report.
An introducer or a proposer may speak several times in order to explain the purport of the measure.

Article 119. If the President desires to participate in a debate himself, he must give notice to that effect in advance and take his assigned seat.
When the President has participated in the debate, he may not return to the Chair until a vote has been taken on the matter.

Article 120. After two or more Members have spoken for and against, or when two or more Members have spoken on one side and there is no one to speak on the other side, a Member may make a motion to close the debate with the support of twenty or more Members.
When the motion under the preceding paragraph has been made, the President shall decide it after putting it to a vote of the House without debate.

Article 121. Deleted.

Article 122. When a debate has ended, the President shall declare its closure.

Article 123. A Member who desires to speak on a point of order is required to give notice of its purport to a secretary of the House in advance.
The time to grant permission to speak on a point of order shall be in the discretion of the President.

Subchapter 5. Amendments

Article 124. Deleted.

Article 125. A motion of amendment must be made in advance to the President with the proposed amendment, signed by the proposer and the prescribed number of supporters.
When the amendment under the preceding paragraph is one to a bill and is to bring about an increase of the budget or is to require a budgetary action, a written statement shall be attached clarifying expenditure needed as a result of the amendment. The President shall have the amendment printed and distributed to each Member.

Article 126. A motion of amendment withdrawn by the proposer may be reproposed by another Member together with the prescribed number of supporters.

Article 127. Deleted.

Article 128. An amendment reported by a Committee shall be brought up before a sitting without need of any supporters.

Article 129. An amendment proposed by a Member must be voted upon before one reported by a Committee.

Article 130. When several amendments are proposed by Members on the same subject, precedence shall be given to the amendments according to how far they depart from the original bill or measure. The order of voting on them shall be decided by the President.
But in case twenty or more Members present object to the order, the President shall decide it after putting it to the House for decision without debate.

Article 131. If all the amendments have been rejected, the original bill or measure shall be voted upon.

Article 132. If both the amendments and the original bill or measure fail to secure majority support but the House resolves not to drop the matter yet, the House may order a Committee to draft a new bill or measure; when such a new bill or measure is reported, it may be brought to a sitting.

Article 133. The House may delegate to the President adjustment of the articles and words or phrases which have been amended and resolved.

Subchapter 6. Voting

Article 134. A vote must be unconditional.

Article 135. No Member who is not present in the Chamber at the time of voting is entitled to vote.

Article 136. When the President desires to take a vote, he shall announce the question to be voted on.
After the President's announcement, no one may speak on the subject.

Article 137. In taking a vote, the President shall ask those Members who are for the matter to stand up, and, ascertaining whether they are in the majority or in the minority, he shall declare the result of the vote.
When the President finds it difficult to ascertain whether the standing Members are in the majority or not, or when one-fifth or more of the Members present have raised an objection to his declaration, he must put the matter to a vote by open ballot or push-button ballot.

Article 138. When the President deems it necessary, the vote may be taken by open ballot. When one-fifth or more of the Members present demand it, the vote must be taken by open ballot.

Article 139. In an open ballot, those Members who are for the matter shall cast white ballots with their names on them, and those against, green ballots with their names on them, into the respective ballot boxes.

Article 140. While a vote by open ballot is being taken, all entrances to the Chamber shall be closed.

Article 140-II. When the President deems it necessary, the vote may be taken by push-button ballot.

Article 140-III. When the push-button ballot is used, those who are for the matter shall cast ballots by pushing the "approval" button of the voting device at their seats and those against, the "objection" button.

Article 141. When the voting has finished, the President shall declare the result to the House.

Article 142. No Member is permitted to ask for alteration of his vote once cast.

Article 143. The President may ask the House whether any Member has any objection against a given matter, and if he finds no objection raised, he shall declare the matter passed. If an objection is raised, however, against the President's declaration by Members present, the President must take a vote in accordance with the other means provided in this Subchapter.

Subchapter 7. Deleted

Articles 144-152. Deleted.

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Chapter IX. Questions

Article 153. The President shall have distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member a written question approved by the House or by him together with the Cabinet's written answer to it.

Article 154. The Cabinet may give oral answers to questions.
On such oral answers, the questioner may put another question orally to the Cabinet.

Article 155. When a written question is to be recorded in the minutes under the provision of paragraph 4 of Article 74 of the Diet Law, the President may have the written question put into a concise form if he considers it diffuse.

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Chapter X. Minutes

Article 156. All the proceedings of sittings must be recorded in the minutes by means of shorthand.

Article 157. Matters especially provided for in the Diet Law, matters especially decided by the House and matters deemed necessary by the President shall be recorded in the minutes.

Article 158. A Member who spoke may ask for correction of his remarks not later than 5 p.m. on the day after the distribution of the minutes to each Member.
The correction, however, shall be limited to words or phrases and the gist of the speech may not be changed. The same shall apply to Ministers of State, the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, State Ministers, Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, Government special advisers, and others who spoke in a sitting.
When a Member raises an objection either to matters recorded in the minutes or to a correction of the minutes, the President shall decide it after putting it to a vote of the House without debate.

Article 159. The minutes to be kept in the Secretariat shall be signed by the President, or by the Vice-President or the President pro tempore who presided over the sitting of the day, and by the Secretary General or the secretary who is his proxy.

Article 160. The minutes shall be distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member and be available to the general public.

Article 161. The minutes to be distributed and to be available shall not contain the parts which the House has decided to keep secret under the provision of Article 63 of the Diet Law, and any words which the President has ordered to be retracted under the provision of Article 116 of the same Law.

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Chapter XI. Petitions

Article 162. All petitions must contain the names (in the case of juridical persons, their names) and addresses (if there is no residence, a dwelling place) of the petitioners.

Article 163. No petition in the name of a delegate shall be accepted, except in the case of juridical persons.

Article 164. A petition must be expressed in moderate terms and must be submitted in a peaceful manner.

Article 165. The President shall have a list of petitions prepared, distributed weekly in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member.
The list of petitions shall contain the purport of each petition, the name and address of the petitioner, the name of the introducing Member and the date of receipt.

Article 166. At the same time as the list of petitions provided in the first paragraph of the preceding Article is distributed, the President shall refer them to the appropriate committees.

Article 167. In the case of a petition asking for the removal of a judge, the President shall send it to the Judges Indictment Committee without referring it to any other Committee.

Article 168. A Member who has introduced a petition must make an explanation on the purport of the petition when requested by the Committee.

Article 169. Only such petitions as have been resolved by the House shall be printed and distributed.

Article 170. The Committee, according to the results of their consideration, shall classify the petitions as follows, and submit the reports to the President:
(1) Those to be adopted
(2) Those not to be adopted
The petitions to be adopted shall be further classified as follows:
(1) Those needing to be sent to the Cabinet
(2) Those not needing to be sent to the Cabinet

Article 171. As to the petition which the Committee has decided to be adopted, the Committee may attach a written opinion to the report of Paragraph 1 of the preceding Article.

Article 172. When the Committee has decided that a petition does not need to be laid before a sitting of the House, the Committee shall submit the report to the President to that effect.
In the case of the preceding Paragraph, the decision in the preceding Paragraph shall become final, unless demand to lay it before a sitting of the House is made by twenty or more Members within seven days, excluding the period of recess, from the day the report is submitted.

Article 173. Deleted.

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Chapter XII. Relations with the House of Representatives

Article 174. When a measure is to be sent to the House of Representatives, the President shall have the Secretary General deliver it to the Speaker of that House.

Article 175. When a measure is received from the House of Representatives, the President shall report it to the House.

Article 175-II. A Committee Chairman or an introducer or a proposer of an amendment may make an explanation in the House of Representatives on the measure presented by the House of Councillors or the part amended by the House of Councillors of the measure presented by the Cabinet upon the request of that House.

Article 176. The election of members of the Conference Committee shall be held by secret ballot with plural entry.
The members who have obtained the largest number of votes shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie, however, the decision shall be made by lot.
The House may delegate the appointment of members of the Conference Committee to the President.
The House is authorized to accept the resignation of a member of the Conference Committee.

Article 177. The election of the chairman of the Conference Committee shall be supervised by the eldest Committee member.

Article 178. A measure sent back by the House of Representatives or a final compromise arrived at by the Conference Committee of both Houses shall not be referred to any Committee.
Questions and debate on a measure sent back shall be confined within the scope of the amendments contained in it.
In respect or a final compromise of the Conference Committee, questions and debate shall be confined within the scope of that compromise.

Article 179. Regulations concerning the Conference Committee and the joint meetings of Standing Committees of both Houses shall be resolved by the House after the President has conferred with the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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CChapter XIII. Relations with General Public and Government Agencies

Article 180. Sending Members out for consideration, investigation or for other purposes requires the resolution of the House. However, when it is urgently necessary or when the Diet is not in session, the President may decide to send Members out.

Article 180-II. A Committee may, with the approval of the President, send Committee members out for consideration or investigation.
When a Committee desires to send Committee members out, a written request must be submitted to the President, stating the purpose, names of members, destination, period and expenses.

Article 181. When a Committee calls for the production of the records or documents from the Cabinet, offices of government and public entities and others for consideration or investigation, the request must be made through the President.

Article 181-II. When a Committee asks the Board of Audit to audit the accounts of a specified matter and calls for the production of the results, the request must be made through the President.

Article 181-III. Regarding specially designated secrets (as stipulated in Paragraph 1 of Article 3 in the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets (Act No. 108 of 2013); the same applies hereinafter), Members may access (including reading, viewing, or listening; the same shall apply in the next paragraph) specially designated secrets that have been submitted to and stored by the House when deemed justifiable by the presiding officer of a House as necessary for House investigations or inquiries.
Also, committee members may access specially designated secrets that have been submitted to and stored by their committees when deemed justifiable by the committee chairperson as necessary for committee investigations or inquiries.
The provisions of Paragraph 1 of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to personnel who conduct business for House investigations or inquiries. The provisions of the preceding paragraph in this Article shall be applied mutatis mutandis to personnel who conduct business for committee investigations or inquiries. In these cases, “investigations or inquiries” in Paragraph 1 and the preceding paragraph of this Article shall be read as “business for investigations or inquiries.”

Article 182. When a motion is made to call a witness at a plenary sitting for consideration or investigation, the President shall decide it after putting it to the House for decision and request his presence.
When a Committee has resolved to call a witness at its meeting, the request of his attendance must be made through the President.

Article 183. The President or the Committee Chairman may request a witness to submit, in advance, a summary of his testimony.

Article 184. A witness must present himself to the House to give testimony.
However, under unavoidable circumstances, a written statement may be presented instead of testimony.

Article 185. A witness shall confine his speaking to the matter on which he is asked to testify.

Article 186. A Committee may hear the views of voluntary testifiers for consideration or investigation.
A request by a Committee for the attendance of voluntary testifiers must be made through the President.

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Chapter XIV. Leave of Absence and Resignation

Subchapter 1. Leave of Absence

Article 187. When a Member expects that he will be prevented from attending the House for several days for some cause, he shall present to the President in advance an application in writing for leave of absence, stating the reason and the length of time.
The President may grant leave of absence for a period within seven days. As to leave of absence for a period more than seven days, the President shall decide it after putting it to the House for decision.
When a Member has been prevented from attending the House due to official duties, illness, delivery of a baby, or other circumstances of a temporary nature, the Member must give the President a written notice of nonattendance stating the reason.

Article 188. A Member who takes a journey with leave of absence must, at the time of his departure and return, notify the President to the effect.

Article 189. When a Member who has been granted leave of absence attends the House before it expires, the leave shall lapse.

Subchapter 2. Resignation

Article 190. When a Member desires to resign, he must submit his resignation to the President.

Article 191. The President shall have the resignation read out and decide whether to accept or reject it after putting the case to a vote of the House without debate.

Article 192. If the President considers that the resignation contains some insulting remarks, he may report its substance to the House instead of reading it out. In this case, the President may refer the resignation to the Committee on Discipline for examination.

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Chapter XV. Challenge to Member's Qualification

Article 193. A Member who desires to challenge another Member on his qualification must submit to the President a written charge in duplicate, duly signed, containing the substance, reasons and evidence for the allegation.

Article 193-II. When a written charge has been submitted, a Special Committee on Challenge to Member's Qualification is deemed to have been established.
The Special Committee of the preceding paragraph shall be composed of 10 members.

Article 194. The President must fix the term of examination after putting it to the House for decision and refer the written charge to the Committee, and at the same time send the duplicate to the Member whose qualification has been challenged (to be called 'the defendant Member'), notify him of the term of examination by the Committee and have him submit a written answer by a fixed date.
If the defendant Member proves that he is unable to submit his answer by the fixed date by reason of natural calamity, illness or other unavoidable cause, the President may fix another date for his answer.

Article 195. When a written answer is submitted by the defendant Member by the appointed date, the President shall immediately send it to the Committee.

Article 196. The Committee shall examine the matter on basis of the written charge and the written answer. When an answer has not been submitted by the appointed date, the examination may be conducted with the written charge alone.

Article 197. The defendant Member may engage counsel at any time after he has received the duplicate of the written charge. In this case, he must inform the President to that effect.

Article 198. Counsel may, at the request or with the permission of the Committee, speak before the Committee in defence of the defendant Member.

Article 199. The Member who has instituted the suit (to be called 'the prosecuting Member') and the defendant Member may attend the Committee and speak with its permission.

Article 200. When the Committee deems it necessary for the examination of the case, it may, through the President, call the prosecuting Member and the defendant Member and may question them.

Article 201. The Committee may request the President to extend the term of examination.

Article 202. When the Committee has submitted to the President its written report of examination, the President shall have it distributed in electronic or other appropriate media to each Member.

Article 203. The defendant Member may speak several times at a sitting of the House in defence of the case.

Article 204. The counsel may speak at a sitting of the House in vindication of the case.

Article 205. The verdict of the House on a Member's qualification shall be rendered in the form of a resolution of the House.
No reason shall be attached to the verdict of the House.

Article 206. When a verdict is rendered by the House, the President shall have copies of the verdict prepared and send the copy of it to the prosecuting Member and to the defendant Member.

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Chapter XVI. Discipline and Police

Subchapter 1. Discipline

Article 207. Members must respect the dignity of the House.

Article 208. Members shall use terms of respect for each other in the Chamber and in Committee meeting rooms.

Article 209. No one shall enter the Chamber or Committee meeting rooms with a hat, overcoat, scarf, umbrella, stick and the like on or with him.
However, anyone attending officially, whether a Member or non-Member, may carry a stick to assist walking if he or she has notified the President of the House. Anyone else may do the same after receiving permission from the President.

Article 210. No smoking is allowed in the Chamber.

Article 211. No one shall read newspapers, books, etc., during the sitting except for reference materials.

Article 212. No one shall make unauthorized utterances or behave in a disorderly manner during the sitting so as to create a disturbance while other Members are speaking.

Article 213. No one shall ascend the rostrum without the permission of the President.

Article 214. The House shall come to order when the President rings the bell.

Article 215. At the close or recess of a sitting, no Member shall leave the Chamber until the President has retired.

Article 216. All questions relating to discipline in the House shall be decided by the President. The President, however, may decide them after putting them to the House without debate.

Subchapter 2. Police

Article 217. The President shall exercise police power within the House by directing the guards and the police.

Article 218. The guards shall be on police duty within the House.
The police shall be on police duty outside the House building. When the President deems it necessary, however, he may cause the police to be on duty inside the building.

Article 219. When a person is found in the very act of committing a criminal of offence in the House, the guards or the police shall arrest the offender, make the report to the President and ask for directions from the President. In the Chamber, however, no arrest shall be made without the order of the President.

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Chapter XVII. Visitors

Article 220. The Visitors' gallery shall be divided into sections for the Imperial family, honoured guests, foreign diplomats, Members of the House of Representatives, public officials, the general public and the press.

Article 221. When public officials desire to visit the House through the offices of the Ministry or the Agency to which they belong, the Secretary General shall send a limited number of admission tickets to the Ministry or the Agency.

Article 222. Half of the seats for the general public shall be allotted to those who obtain admission tickets for the general public section issued by the Secretary General on each day of a plenary sitting. These tickets shall be given to the people on a first-come, first-served basis at the House before the sitting.
The other half of the seats for the general public shall be allotted to those who, at the invitation of a Member, carry admission tickets for the general public section with the date indicated, previously issued by the Secretary General to the Member.

Article 223. Visiting badges valid throughout a session shall be issued to newspaper companies and news agencies.
The number of visiting badges shall be decided, under the direction of the President, by the Secretary General at the beginning of each session.

Article 224. The President may order the guards or the police to make a body search of visitors, when he deems it necessary.

Article 225. A person carrying firearms or any other dangerous object, a person under the influence of alcohol, or any person who is regarded by the President as affecting the maintenance of order, shall not be admitted to the gallery.

Article 226. The President may limit the number of visitors to be admitted when he deems it necessary to do so for the maintenance of order.

Article 227. Visitors must show their admission tickets or visiting badges to the guards and follow their directions.

Article 228. Visitors must observe the Visitors' Regulations made by the President.

Article 229. No visitors may enter the Chamber under any circumstances.

Article 230. When all visitors are to be excluded on account of the House resolution to hold a closed sitting or because of noise in the gallery, or when any visitor is ordered out of the gallery for obstructing the proceedings, the President shall instruct the guards to execute his order of expulsion.

Article 231. Provisions of Article 224 and succeeding Articles shall be applied mutatis mutandis to visitors to Committee meetings.

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Chapter XVIII. Disciplinary Measures

Article 232. When a disciplinary case occurs at a sitting, the President may declare a recess or adjourn the sitting or cause the offender to leave the Chamber.

Article 233. When a disciplinary case occurs at a Committee meeting, the Chairman of the Committee may declare a recess or closing of the meeting.

Article 234. When a disciplinary case occurs in a sitting or a committee meeting, or otherwise within the House, the President shall refer it to the Committee on Discipline.

Article 235. If any person does not yield to the President's restraint or disobeys his order to retract offensive remarks, the President, besides taking appropriate action under Article 116 of the Diet Law, may also refer it as a disciplinary case to the Committee on Discipline.
If any person does not yield to the Committee Chairman's restraint or disobeys his order to retract offensive remarks, the Chairman, besides taking appropriate action under Article 51, may also report to the President for action as a disciplinary case.

Article 236. If any person has disclosed to others either matters not to be publicized under Article 63 of the Diet Law or specially designated secrets that have been submitted to or disclosed to the House, the presiding officer shall refer him to the Committee on Discipline as a disciplinary case.
If any person has disclosed to others either those parts of minutes of closed meetings which a committee has decided to keep secret or specially designated secrets that have been submitted to a committee, the committee chairperson must report him to the presiding officer of a House for action as a disciplinary case.

Article 237. Any Member may make a motion for a disciplinary measure, even if the Chairman does not consider the case as needing discipline.

Article 238. When a motion for a disciplinary measure is made, the President must put it to the sitting of the House without delay.
In case of the preceding paragraph, the President shall put it to a vote for a resolution of the House without debate and refer it to the Committee on Discipline.

Article 239. The Committee on Discipline may, through the President, ask for the presence of the defendant Member and other Members concerned and may question them.

Article 240. A Member may not join the sitting or Committee meeting at which his disciplinary case is examined. He may, however, speak in his own defence or have another Member do so in his stead, with permission of the President or the Chairman.

Article 241. Of the disciplinary actions the text of the admonition or the apology in an open sitting shall be drafted by the Committee on Discipline and submitted to the President with a report on the case.

Article 242. Suspension of attendance at the House shall not exceed 30 days.
Even if several disciplinary offences have been concurrently committed by the same Member, the suspension shall not exceed the period mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Article 243. A Member who has been suspended from attendance at the House shall lose his Committee membership of the Special Committee or the Conference Committee.

Article 244. If a Member who has been suspended comes to the House during the period of his suspension, the President shall immediately order him to leave the House. If the Member disobeys the order, the President may take necessary action and refer the matter again to the Committee on Discipline.

Article 245. The House is authorized to suspend from attendance at the House or expel any Member who commits a breach of order in the House or impairs the dignity of the House in a particularly reprehensible manner.

Article 246. When the recommendation for expulsion made by the Committee on Discipline is not adopted by a majority of two-thirds or more of Members present, the House may inflict other disciplinary actions on the offending Member.

Article 247. When the House has decided on a disciplinary action, the President must declare the verdict of the House in an open sitting, even if the decision is made in a closed sitting.

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Chapter XIX. Election of Members of Judge Impeachment Court, Members of Judge Indictment Committee and Others

Article 248. The election of members and reserve members of the Judge Impeachment Court, and the members and reserve members of the Judge Indictment Committee shall be held by secret ballot with plural entry.
The Members who have obtained the largest number of votes shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie, the Members to be elected shall be decided by lot.
The House may delegate the designation of members to the President.

Article 249. Where an election of more than one member occurs among the Members of the House of Councillors for a Committee or other function under the law, other than those provided for in the preceding Article, the provisions of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to their election.

Article 250. Where an election of any member occurs among Members of the House of Councillors for a Committee or other function under the law, the election shall be held in the same manner as that of the President.
The House may delegate the designation of the member to the President.

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Chapter XX. Emergency Session

Article 251. The Members must assemble in the House of Councillors at 10 a.m. on the day designated for an emergency session.

Article 252. In applying the provisions of Articles 4, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 74-VI, and 223, "convocation" shall be read as "assembly"; "each session" shall be read as "an emergency session"; and "while in session" or "throughout a session" shall be read as "while in an emergency session."

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Chapter XXI. Official Bulletin of the House of Councillors

Article 253. The President shall have the Official Bulletin of the House of Councillors issued to notify each Member of the matters concerning the sittings in the House and other matters deemed necessary.
The report to the House provided in Article 175 may be replaced with notice by the Official Bulletin of the House of Councillors.

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Chapter XXII. Supplementary Provisions

Article 254. All questions concerning any part of the Rules of the House shall be settled by the President. The President may, however, settle the questions after putting them to the House for decision.

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