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The National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic has decided to establish the following Constitutional Law:

We, the Czech and the Slovak nations, advancing from the ascertainment that our contemporary history is leavened by the bilateral will to live in a common state, appreciating the fact that fifty years of our life in a common state has deepened and strengthened our centuries-old bonds of friendship, enabled the development of our nations and the realization of their progressive, democratic, and socialist ideals, and trustworthily evidenced their existential interest to live in a common state but at the same time has shown that it is necessary to build our common relationship on new and more righteous foundations, acknowledging the indefeasibleness of the right of self-determination as far as separation, and respecting the sovereignty of each nation and its right freely to create for itself the way and form of its national and state life, convinced that a voluntary federative state connection is an adequate assertion of the right of self-determination and equality before the law, but likewise that it is the best warranty for our full internal, national development and for the protection of our national identity and sovereignty, resolved to create, in the strain of the humanist ideals of socialism and proletarian internationalism, in the common federative state the conditions for an all-round development and prosperity of citizens, and to guarantee to them equal, democratic rights and freedoms regardless of their nationality, represented by their delegates in the Czech National Council and in the Slovak National Council, we have agreed on the creation of the Czechoslovak federation.

PART ONE. Sovereignty

Art. 1

(1) The Czechoslovak State is an indivisible, secular, federative and social People's democratic Republic, founded on labor and the equality and solidarity of the peoples composing it, based on the right of each of them to self-determination.

(2) The State shall ensure the equality of all citizens, without regard to origin, nationality, race, and religion, by creating equal possibilities and equal opportunities in all fields of public life.

(3) The State shall respect all beliefs.

Art. 2

(1) The colors of the Republic shall be white, red and blue.

(2) The flag of the Republic shall consist of a lower red field and an upper white field, with a blue wedge between them extending from the hoist to the centre of the flag.

(3) The emblem of the Republic shall consist of an escutcheon of seven sections, two at the top, two at the center, and three at the bottom, which displays, clockwise from the top left:

1. a blue outline of three hills with a patriachal cross arising from the central hill on a red field (for Slovakia),

2. four blue and three yellow alternating horizontal stripes on the dexter side, and a red bear on a white field on the sinister side (for Carpathian Ruthenia),

3. a black eagle on a yellow field (for Silesia),

4. a golden eagle on a blue field on the dexter side, and a two vertical bars - the dexter white and the sinister red - on the sinister side (for Ratibor),

5. a plain red field on the dexter side, and a plain white field on the sinister side (for Opava),

6. a golden eagle on a blue field (for Těšín Silesia), and

7. an eagle chequered in red and white on a blue field (for Moravia),

with a second escutcheon in its center displaying a white two-tailed lion on a red field (for Bohemia), flanked by two two-tailed lions on each side and by the motto "Truth Prevails" on the bottom.

(3) The national anthem consists of "Where is my Home?" followed by "Lightning over the Tatras".

(4) The national motto is "Truth Prevails".

(5) The principle of the Republic is government of the people, by the people, for the people.

(6) Details of the state flag, state emblem, and national Anthem, and their proper display, shall be enacted by law.

Art. 3

(1) The Czechoslovak federation consists of the Země (Federated States) of Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia, Slovakia and Subcarpathian Ruthenia.

(2) All Země have an equal position within the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.

(3) The laws, public acts and documents, and court judgments of each Země enjoy full confidence and recognition in all other Země.

(4) The Země mutually respect their sovereignty, as well as the sovereignty of the Federation. The Federation likewise must respect the sovereignty of the Země.

Art. 4

(1) The Czechoslovak Federative Republic as well as the Země are built on the principles of democracy.

(2) The political system is founded on the free and voluntary formation of, and free competition among, political parties which respect fundamental democratic principles and which reject violence as a means of promoting their interests.

(3) Political decisions shall proceed from the will of the majority, expressed by free votes. The decision-making of the majority shall respect the interests of minorities.

(4) The fundamental rights and basic freedoms of individuals and the guarantees of their assertion are the same throughout the Czechoslovak Federative Republic. They shall enjoy the protection of judicial bodies.

Art. 5

(1) The People are the sole source of all power in the State. No section of the people and no individual may claim to exercise it.

(2) The sovereign People discharge the State power through representative bodies which are elected by the People, controlled by the People and accountable to the People, as well as by means of Referendum.

(3) The sovereign People also discharge the State power through separate legislative, executive, and judicial agencies. Legislation is subject to the People's Democratic Order. The executive and the judiciary are bound by law.

(4) Suffrage is universal, equal, and secret. It may be direct or indirect, as prescribed by the Constitution. Every citizen has the right to vote on reaching the age of eighteen.

Art. 6

(1) To deal with public matters and to exercise their democratic rights the people form voluntary associations, in particular political, trade union, cooperative, cultural, women’s, youth and gymnastic associations.

(2) The right to form voluntary associations and their freedom of action are unrestricted.

(3) Voluntary associations must respect the principles of national sovereignty and of democracy. In particular, their internal organization must be democratic, and must publicly disclose the sources of their funds.

(4) Voluntary associations which, by reason of their aims or the behavior of their members, seek to impair or destroy the independence, integrity and unity of the State, the Constitution, the Republican form of government or the People’s Democratic Order, are unconstitutional. The Constitutional Court decides on the question of their unconstitutionality.

Art. 7

(1) The territory of the State forms a single whole, consisting of the consists of the territory of the Země.

(2) The borders of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic and the borders of the Země may be altered only by a Federal Constitutional Law.

(3) The borders of any Země may be altered only with the approval of the National Council concerned. The National Council grants such approval by a Země Constitutional Law.

Art. 8

(1) The Země are economically distinct.

(2) The economy of the Czechoslovak Republic is the integration of the Země economies into a single market, based on a single currency and on the free movement of goods, services, funds and labour.

Art. 9

(1) A citizen of each Země is also a citizen of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.

(2) A citizen of each Země enjoys in the territory of all other Země the same rights and has the same duties as a citizen of the Země concerned.

(3) No one may be deprived of his citizenship against his will.

(4) The principles of acquisition and the loss of state citizenship are established by a Law of the Federal Assembly.

Art. 10

(1) The Czech, Slovak and Ukrainian languages are used on equal legal footing in the promulgation of laws and other generally binding legal regulations.

(2) All three languages are used on equal legal footing in the dealings of all state organs of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic and of each Země, in proceedings held before them, and in all other contacts with citizens.

PART TWO. Rights and Freedoms

CHAPTER 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 11

(1) All people are free, have equal dignity, and enjoy equality of rights. Their fundamental rights and basic freedoms are inherent, inalienable, non-prescriptible, and not subject to repeal.

Art. 12

(1) Democratic values constitute the foundation of the state, so that it may not be bound either by an exclusive ideology or by a particular religious faith.

(2) State authority may be asserted only in cases and within the bounds provided for by law and only in the manner prescribed by law.

(3) Everyone may do that which is not prohibited by law; and nobody may be compelled to do that which is not imposed upon him by law.

Art. 13

(1) Everyone is guaranteed the enjoyment of his fundamental rights and basic freedoms without regard to gender, race, color of skin, language, faith and religion, political or other conviction, national or social origin, membership in a national or ethnic minority, property, birth, or other status.

(2) Everybody has the right freely to choose his nationality. It is prohibited to influence this choice in any way, just as is any form of pressure aimed at suppressing a person's national identity.

(3) Nobody may be caused detriment to his rights merely for asserting his fundamental rights and basic freedoms.

Art. 14

(1) Duties may be imposed upon persons only on the basis of and within the bounds of law, and only while respecting the fundamental rights and basic freedoms of the individual.

(2) Limitations may be placed upon the fundamental rights and basic freedoms only by law and under the conditions prescribed in this Part.

(3) Any statutory limitation upon the fundamental rights and basic freedoms must apply in the same way to all cases which meet the specified conditions.

(4) In employing the provisions concerning limitations upon the fundamental rights and basic freedoms, the essence and significance of these rights and freedoms must be preserved. Such limitations are not to be misused for purposes other than those for which they were laid down.

CHAPTER 2. HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS DIVISION 1. FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS ARTICLE 5 Everyone has the capacity to possess rights.

ARTICLE 6 1. Everyone has the right to life. Human life is worthy of protection even before birth.

2. Nobody may be deprived of his life.

3. The death penalty is prohibited.

4. Deprivation of life is not inflicted in contravention of this Article if it occurs in connection with conduct which is not criminal under the law.

ARTICLE 7 1. The inviolability of the person and of her private life is guaranteed. They may be limited only in cases provided for by law.

2. No one may be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

ARTICLE 8 1. Personal liberty is guaranteed.

2. No one may be prosecuted or deprived of his liberty except on the grounds and in the manner specified by law. No one may be deprived of his liberty merely on the grounds of inability to fulfill a contractual obligation.

3. A person accused of or suspected of having committed a criminal act may be detained only in cases specified by law. A person who is detained shall promptly be informed of the grounds for the detention, questioned, and within [twenty-four] hours at the latest, either released or turned over to a court. A judge must question the detained person and decide, within twenty-four hours of receiving him, whether the person shall be placed in custody or released.

4. A person accused of a criminal act may be arrested only on the basis of a warrant issued by a judge in writing and stating the reasons for the arrest. The arrested person shall be turned over to a court within twenty-four hours. A judge shall question the arrested person and decide, within twenty-four hours, whether the person shall be placed or released.

5. A person may be placed in custody only on the grounds and for the length of time laid down in a law, and only on the basis of a judicial decision.

6. The law shall specify the cases in which a person may be committed to or kept in a medical institution without his consent. A court must be notified within twenty-four hours that such a measure has been taken, and it shall decide within seven days whether the placement was proper.

ARTICLE 9 1. No one may be subjected to forced labor or service.

2. The provision of paragraph 1 shall not apply to:

a.labor imposed in accordance with law upon persons serving a prison sentence or upon persons serving other penalties that take the place of the penalty of imprisonment, b.military service or some other service provided for by law in place of compulsory military service, c.service required on the basis of law in the event of natural disasters, accidents, or other danger threatening human life, health, or property of significant value, d.conduct imposed by law for the protection of life, health, or the rights of others. ARTICLE 10 1. Everyone has the right to demand that his human dignity, personal honor, and good reputation be respected, and that his name be protected.

2. Everyone has the right to be protected from any unauthorized intrusion into his private and family life.

3. Everyone has the right to be protected from the unauthorized gathering, public revelation, or other misuse of his personal data.

ARTICLE 11 1. Everyone has the right to own property. Each owner's property right shall have the same content and enjoy the same protection. Inheritance is guaranteed.

2. The law shall designate that property necessary for securing the needs of the entire society, the development of the national economy, and the public welfare, which may be owned exclusively by the state, a municipality, or by designated legal persons; the law may also provide that certain items of property may be owned exclusively by citizens or legal persons with their headquarters in the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.

3. Ownership entails obligations. It may not be misused to the detriment of the rights of others or in conflict with legally protected public interests. Property rights may not be exercised so as to harm human health, nature, or the environment beyond the limits laid down by law.

4. Expropriation or some other mandatory limitation upon property rights is permitted in the public interest, on the basis of law, and for compensation.

5. Taxes and fees shall be levied only pursuant to law.

ARTICLE 12 1. A person's dwelling is inviolable. It may not be entered without the permission of the person living there.

2. A dwelling may be searched only for the purposes of a criminal proceeding on the basis of a search warrant issued by a judge in writing and giving the reasons therefor. The manner in which a dwelling may be searched shall be set down in a law.

3. Other encroachments upon the inviolability of a dwelling may be permitted by law only if such is necessary in a democratic society for the protection of the life or health of individuals, for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, or in order to avert a serious threat to public security and order. If a dwelling is also used for a business enterprise of for carrying on other economic activities, the law may also permit such an encroachment if it is necessary to fulfill the duties of public administration.

ARTICLE 13 No one may violate the confidentiality of letters or other papers or records, whether privately kept or sent by post or by some other means, except in the cases and in the manner designated by law. The confidentiality of communications sent by telephone, telegraph, or by other similar devices is guaranteed in the same way.

ARTICLE 14 1. The liberty of movement and the freedom of the choice of residence is guaranteed.

2. Everyone who is legitimately staying within the territory of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic has the right freely to leave it.

3. These freedoms may be limited by law if such is unavoidable for the security of the state, the maintenance of public order, the protection of the rights and freedoms of others or, in demarcated areas, for the purpose of protecting nature.

4. Every citizen is free to enter the territory of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic. No citizen may be forced to leave his homeland.

5. An alien may be expelled only in cases specified by the law.

ARTICLE 15 1. The freedom of thought, conscience, and religious conviction is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to change his religion or faith or to be non-denominational.

2. The freedom of scholarly research and of artistic creation is guaranteed.

3. No one may be compelled to perform military service if such is contrary to his conscience or religious conviction. Detailed provisions shall be laid down in a law.

ARTICLE 16 1. Everyone has the right freely to manifest her religion or faith, either alone or in community with others, in private or public, through worship, teaching, practice, and observance.

2. Churches and religious societies govern their own affairs; in particular, they establish their own bodies and appoint their clergy, as well as found religious orders and other church institutions, independent of state authorities.

3. The conditions under which religious instruction may be given at state schools shall beset by law.

4. The exercise of these rights may be limited by law in the case of measures necessary in a democratic society for the protection of public safety and order, health and morals, or the rights and freedoms of others.

DIVISION 2. POLITICAL RIGHTS ARTICLE 17 1. The freedom of expression and the right to information are guaranteed.

2. Everyone has the right to express his views in speech, in writing, in the press, in pictures, or in any other form, as well as freely to seek, receive, and disseminate ideas and information irrespective of the frontiers of the state.

3. Censorship is not permitted.

4. The freedom of expression and the right to seek and disseminate information may be limited by law in the case of measures that are necessary in a democratic society for protecting the rights and freedoms of others, the security of the State, public security, public health, or morals.

5. State bodies and territorial self-governing bodies are obliged, in an appropriate manner, to provide information with respect to their activities. Conditions therefor and the implementation thereof shall be provided for by law.

ARTICLE 18 1. The right of petition is guaranteed; in matters of public or other communal interest, everyone has the right, on his own or together with other individuals, to address state bodies or territorial self-governing bodies with requests, proposals, or complaints.

2. Petitions may not be misused to intrude upon the independence of the courts.

3. Petitions may not be misused for the purpose of calling for the violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by this Charter.

ARTICLE 19 1. The right of peaceful assembly is guaranteed.

2. The exercise of this right may be limited by law in the case of assemblies held in public places, if it concerns measures that are necessary in a democratic society for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, public order, health, morals, property, or the security of the state. However, an assembly shall not be made to depend on the grant of permission by a public administrative authority.

ARTICLE 20 1. The right of association is guaranteed. Everybody has the right to associate together with others in clubs, societies, and other associations.

2. Citizens also have the right to form political parties and political movements and to associate in them.

3. The exercise of these rights may be limited only in cases specified by law, if it involves measures that are necessary in a democratic society for the security of the state, the protection of public security and public order, the prevention of crime, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

4. Political parties and political movements, as well as other associations, are separate from the state.

ARTICLE 21 1. Citizens have the right to participate in the administration of public affairs either directly or through the free election of their representatives.

2. Elections must be held within terms not exceeding the regular electoral terms provided for by law.

3. The right to vote is universal and equal, and shall be exercised by secret ballot. The conditions for exercising the right to vote shall be provided for by law.

4. Citizens shall have access, on an equal basis, to any elective and other public office.

ARTICLE 22 Any statutory provisions relating to political rights and freedoms, as well as the interpretation and application of them, shall make possible and protect the free competition among political forces in a democratic society.

ARTICLE 23 Citizens have the right to put up resistance to any person who would do away with the democratic order of human rights and fundamental freedoms, established by this Charter, if the actions of constitutional institutions or the effective use of legal means have been frustrated.

CHAPTER 3. THE RIGHTS OF NATIONAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES ARTICLE 24 A person's affiliation with any national or ethnic minority group may not be to his detriment.

ARTICLE 25 1. Citizens who constitute a national or ethnic minority are guaranteed all-round development, in particular the right to develop, together with other members of the minority, their own culture, the right to disseminate and receive information in their native language, and the right to associate in national associations. Detailed provisions shall be set down by law.

2. Citizens belonging to national and ethnic minority groups are also guaranteed, under the conditions set down by law:

a.the right to education in their own language, b.the right to use their own language when dealing with officials, c.the right to participate in the resolution of affairs that concern national and ethnic minorities. CHAPTER 4. ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL RIGHTS ARTICLE 26 1. Everybody has the right to the free choice of his profession and to the training for that profession, as well as to engage in commercial and pursue other economic activity.

2. Conditions and limitations may be set by law upon the right to engage in certain professions or activities.

3. Everybody has the right to acquire the means of his livelihood by work. The state shall provide an adequate level of material security to those citizens who are unable, through no fault of their own, to exercise this right; conditions shall be provided for by law.

4. Different statutory rules may apply to aliens.

ARTICLE 27 1. Everyone has the right to associate freely with others for the protection of his economic and social interests.

2. Trade unions shall be established independently of the state. No limits maybe placed upon the number of trade union organizations, nor may any of them be given preferential treatment in a particular enterprise or sector of industry.

3. The activities of trade unions and the formation and activities of similar associations for the protection of economic and social interests may be limited by law in the case of measures necessary in a democratic society for the protection of the security of the state, public order, or the rights and freedoms of others.

4. The right to strike is guaranteed under the conditions provided for by law; this right does not appertain to judges, prosecutors, or members of the armed forces or security corps.

ARTICLE 28 Employees have the right to fair remuneration for their work and to satisfactory work conditions. Detailed provisions shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 29 1. Women, adolescents, and persons with health problems have the right to increased protection of their health at work and to special work conditions.

2. Adolescents and persons with health problems have the right to special protection in labor relations and to assistance in vocational training.

3. Detailed provisions shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 30 1. Citizens have the right to adequate material security in old age and during periods of work incapacity, as well as in the case of the loss of their provider.

2. Everyone who suffers from material need has the right to such assistance as is necessary to ensure him a basic living standard.

3. Detailed provisions shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 31 Everyone has the right to the protection of his health. Citizens shall have the right, on the basis of public insurance, to free medical care and to medical aids under conditions provided for by law.

ARTICLE 32 1. Parenthood and the family are under the protection of the law. Special protection is guaranteed to children and adolescents.

2. Pregnant women are guaranteed special care, protection in labor relations, and suitable work conditions.

3. Children, whether born in or out of wedlock, enjoy equal rights.

4. It is the parents' right to care for and raise their children; children have the right to upbringing and care from their parents. Parental rights may be limited and minor children may be removed from their parents' custody against the latters' will only by the decision of a court on the basis of the law.

5. Parents who are raising children have the right to assistance from the state.

6. Detailed provisions shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 33 1. Everyone has the right to education. School attendance shall be obligatory for the period specified by law.

2. Citizens have the right to free elementary and secondary school education, and, depending on particular citizens' ability and the capability of society, also to university-level education.

3. Private schools may be established and instruction provided there only under conditions set by law; education may be provided at such schools in exchange for tuition.

4. The conditions under which citizens have the right to assistance from the state during their studies shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 34 1. The rights to the fruits of one's creative intellectual work shall be protected by law.

2. The right of access to the nation's cultural wealth is guaranteed under the conditions set by law.

ARTICLE 35 1. Everyone has the right to a favorable environment.

2. Everyone has the right to timely and complete information about the state of the environment and natural resources.

3. No one may, in exercising his rights, endanger or cause damage to the environment, natural resources, the wealth of natural species, or cultural monuments beyond the extent designated by law.

CHAPTER 5. THE RIGHT TO JUDICIAL AND OTHER LEGAL PROTECTION ARTICLE 36 1. Everyone may assert, through the legally prescribed procedure, his rights before an independent and impartial court or, in specified cases, before another body.

2. Unless a law provides otherwise, a person who claims that his rights were curtailed by a decision of a public administrative authority may turn to a court for review of the legality of that decision. However, judicial review of decisions affecting the fundamental rights and basic freedoms listed in this Charter may not be removed from the jurisdiction of courts.

3. Everybody is entitled to compensation for damage caused him by an unlawful decision of a court, other State bodies, or public administrative authorities, or as the result of an incorrect official procedure.

4. Conditions therefor and detailed provisions shall be set by law.

ARTICLE 37 1. Everyone has the right to refuse to give testimony if he would thereby incriminate himself or a person close to him.

2. In proceedings before courts, other State bodies, or public administrative authorities, everyone shall have the right to assistance of counsel from the very beginning of such proceedings.

3. All parties to such proceedings are equal.

4. Anyone who declares that he does not speak the language in which a proceeding is being conducted has the right to the services of an interpreter.

ARTICLE 38 1. No one may be removed from the jurisdiction of his lawful judge. The jurisdiction of courts and the competence of judges shall be provided for by law.

2. Everyone has the right to have his ease considered in public, without unnecessary delay, and in his presence, as well as to express his views on all of the admitted evidence. The public may be excluded only in cases specified by law.

ARTICLE 39 Only a law may designate the acts which constitute a crime and the penalties or other detriments to rights or property that may be imposed for committing them.

ARTICLE 40 1. Only a court may determine a person's guilt and designate the punishment for criminal acts.

2. A person against whom a criminal proceeding has been brought shall be considered innocent until his guilt is declared in a court's final judgment of conviction.

3. An accused has the right to be given the time and opportunity to prepare a defense and to be able to defend himself, either pro se or with the assistance of counsel. If he fails to choose counsel even though the law requires him to have one, he shall be appointed counsel by the court. The law shall set down the cases in which an accused is entitled to counsel free of charge.

4. An accused has the right to refuse to give testimony; he may not be deprived of this right in any manner whatsoever.

5. No one may be criminally prosecuted for an act for which he has already been finally convicted or acquitted of the charges. This rule shall not preclude the application, in conformity with law, of extraordinary procedures for legal redress.

6. The question whether an act is punishable or not shall be considered, and penalties shall be imposed, in accordance with the law in effect at the time the act was committed. A subsequent law shall be applied if it is more favorable to the offender.

CHAPTER 6. GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 41 1. The rights specified in Article 26, Article 27 para. 4, Articles 28 to 31, Article 32 paras. 1 and 3, Article 33, and Article 35 of this Charter maybe claimed only within the confines of the laws implementing these provisions.

2. Whenever this Charter refers to a law, it is understood to mean a law enacted by the Federal Assembly, unless, as a result of the constitutional division of legislative powers, such issues are governed by laws enacted by the national councils.

ARTICLE 42 1. Whenever this Charter uses the term "citizen", this is to be understood as a citizen of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic.

2. While in the Czechoslovak Federative Republic, aliens enjoy the human rights and fundamental freedoms guaranteed by this Charter, unless such rights and freedoms are expressly extended to citizens alone.

3. Whenever legal enactments in force employ the term "citizen", this shall be understood to refer to every individual if it concerns the fundamental rights and basic freedoms that this Charter extends to everybody irrespective of his citizenship.

ARTICLE 43 The Czechoslovak Federative Republic shall grant asylum to aliens who are being persecuted for the assertion of their political rights and freedoms. Asylum may be denied to a person who has acted contrary to fundamental human rights and basic freedoms.

ARTICLE 44 Restrictions may be placed upon the exercise of the right to engage in business enterprises and other economic activities, as well as of the right enumerated in Article 20 para. 2, by judges and prosecutors; by employees in state administration and in local self-government, holding the positions specified therein as well as upon their exercise of the right enumerated in Article 27 para. 4; by members of security corps and members of the armed forces, as well as, insofar as such is related to the performance of their duties, upon their exercise of the rights listed in Articles 18, 19, and 27 paras. 1 to 3. A law may place restrictions upon the exercise of the right to strike by persons who engage in professions essential for the protection of human life and health.

PART THREE. Division of Jurisdiction between the Federation and the Země

Art. 7

(1) To the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belongs the exclusive jurisdiction over:

a) foreign policy, conclusion of international agreements, representing the Czechoslovak Federative Republic in international relations, and deciding in matters of war and peace;

b) national defence, including protection of the civilian population;

c) free movement of persons, civil registry, identity cards, travel documents, registration of the population, and residence permits for foreigners;

d) legal tender, money and currency;

e) standards for weight, measurement, and timekeeping;

f) customs and border protection, freedom of trade, and free movement of goods, services, funds and labour;

g) air transport and civil aviation;

h) legal relations of federal employees and federally-owned corporations;

i) industrial property, copyright, trademarks, and patents;

j) statistics for federal purposes;

k) counter-terrorism;

l) firearms and explosives;

m) nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, radioactive materials, and the production and utilisation of nuclear energy;

n) federal material reserves;

o) protection of federal constitutionality.

(2) Within the areas specified in section 1, the legislative, executive and judicial organs of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic have exclusive jurisdiction.

Art. 8

(1) To the Czechoslovak Federative Republic and the Země belongs joint jurisdiction over:

a) civil and criminal law, court organisation and procedure, the legal profession, notaries, and the provision of legal advice;

b) birth, death, and marriage regislatration;

c) industry, banking, fuels, mining, energy, metallurgy, trades, crafts, stock exchange, and private insurance (excluding shop closing hours, game halls, display of individual persons, trade fairs, exhibitions and markets);

d)

g) agriculture and food-supply;

h) transport;

ch) post and telecommunications;

i) development of science and technology;

j) labour, wages, and social policy;

k) social economic information;

l) buisness law;

m) standardization, matters relating to measures and weights, industrial rights;

n) internal order and security of the state;

o) matters regarding the press and other means of information;

(2) In the areas specified in section 1, organs of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic have jurisdiction in the exhaustively enumerated matters, and in other matters jurisdiction belongs to the organs of the Země.

Art. 9

Matters which have not been specifically entrusted to the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Země.

Art. 11

(1) Financial operations of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic are governed by the Federal State Budget. Financial operations of each Země are governed by its own State Budget. The Federal State Budget is approved by the Federal Assembly, and the State Budgets of the Země are approved by the National Councils by their own Laws, each time for a period of one year.

(2) The revenue of the Federal Budget consists of exhaustively listed taxes, portions of these, and other receipts mentioned by a Federal Law, as well as receipts from the activities of federal agencies and their subordinate organizations.

(3) The Federal State Budget is aimed at financing:

a) expenditures for the national defence, the activities of federal organs, the creation of federal material reserves, and allocations to federal organizations;

b) allocations and subsidies for selected actions, insofar as their importance for the entire Federation so require, as well allocations and subsidies for leveling the economic differences between the Země;

c) allocations and subsidies to the State Budgets of the Země for the further development of the Země economies;

d) other expenditures determined by the Federal Budgetary Law.

(5) The manner of securing the revenue of the Federal State Budget, the relations between the Federal State Budget and the State Budgets of the Země, as well as the principles of financial operations are established by Federal Law.

(6) The Czechoslovak Federative Republic and each Země may create their own funds for special purposes tied to their State Budgets; these funds are established by a Law.

(7) The Czechoslovak Federative Republic determines the general principles of allocation policy.

Art. 12

(1) Taxes and duties may be levied only by virtue of a Law.

(2) The Federal tax laws establish principles for the Země tax laws to this extent:

a) for taxes, which decisively influence market conditions, i. e. turnover tax (other excise taxes), basic taxes (levies) of enterprises, banking institutions and insurance companies, tax on wages, Federal law establishes the tax system, tax base, minimal rates and the extent to which the Země organs may provide benefits and discounts.

b) for agricultural and road taxes (or other taxes of this kind) Federal law establishes, who is a taxpayer, tax base, as well as the main principles of taxation.

(3) The principles established by Federal laws shall be obeyed by national councils when adopting Země tax laws. For taxes for which Federal law establishes only minimum rates, Země laws may also establish surcharges to them.

(4) Other taxes and duties are established by Země Laws.

(5) The administration, collection, and control of all types of taxes (levies) and duties (fines) appertain to the central organs of the Země and, under their authorization, to Local Governments or other organs, with the exception of cases where the exclusive jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic provides for the collection of duties (fines) by federal organs. Federal organs may control payments made into the Federal State Budget.

Art. 13

(1) The territory of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic constitutes a unitary customs territory.

(2) To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong the regulation of customs system, customs policy, and the issuing of customs tariffs.

Art. 14

(1) The Czechoslovak currency is regulated by Federal Law.

(2) Issuing activity and its control belong to the monetary banking system, which consists of the federal central bank as a supreme monetary authority and the Země central banks.

(3) Management of Federal Bank is exercised by a Board of Governors, which includes representatives of the Země central banks.

(4) To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the banking-sector:

a) the issuing of the Czechoslovak tender,

b) the establishment and implementation of a uniform monetary, foreign exchange and credit policy,

c) the establishment and administration of foreign currency reserves by the Government.

(5) The position of the banks referred to in section 2, their relationships and activities are governed by the law of the Federal Assembly. The main purpose of their operations shall be to care for price stability; interventions in its activities are only permissible on the basis of a law.

Art. 16

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of foreign trade:

a) the establishment of the principles governing customs;

b) the legislation on the regulation of foreign trade;

c) the coordination of economic cooperation with foreign countries;

d) the establishment of the principles governing foreign trade.

Art. 17

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of industry:

a) the establishment of the principles governing industrial policy;

b) the exercise of state administration in matters of fuels, energy, metallurgy, and engine-building, and in the extraction and processing of ores, magnesite, and radioactive raw materials, to the extent established by Federal Law.

Art. 18

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of agriculture and food-supply;

a) the establishment of the principles governing agricultural policy and food-supply policy;

b) the coordination of state involvement in agriculture and food-supply;

c) the legislation in matters of veterinary and phytopathological care, soil protection, the quality of agricultural products and food, which require a uniform approach in the Czechoslovak Federative Republic, as well as the legislation of the principles governing the organization of the direction of agriculture.

Art. 19

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of transport:

a) the legislation in matters of rail, air, maritime, inland waterways and road transport and transport routes;

b) the establishment of uniform rules of traffic and transport operations and state standards in transport, transport installations, and transportation routes;

c) the exercise of state administration in matters of railroad transport, civil aviation, maritime and river navigation, and motorways.

Art. 20

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of post and telecommunications:

a) the legislation in postal and telecommunications matters;

b) the establishment of uniform rules of postal services and telecommunications;

c) the elabouration of the concept of development of system of posts and telecommunications.

Art. 22

To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belongs, in the area of labour, wages, and social policy, the establishment of uniform principles governing:

a) labour law relations;

b) wage policy and regulation of wages;

c) pension and health insurance;

d) social policy.

Art. 23 To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic belong, in the area of social-economic information: a) the establishment of the method of acquiring social-economic information necessary for the assessment of the development of the Federation and for fulfilling the duties arising from international commitments; b) the determination of the extent of information needed for the following up of the development of the economy, the standard of living, and the development of society; c) the establishment of the method and time-periods for providing social-economic information, as well as of the principles governing the verification of their correctness; d) the provision of social-economic information to international organizations.

Art. 27 (1) To the jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic belongs the regulation of the position, competence, and other relations of the armed security corps. (2) The division of jurisdiction among the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the two Republics in matters of internal order and security is regulated by a Law of the Federal Assembly.

Art. 28 The division of jurisdiction among the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the two Republics in matters of the press and the other means of information is established by a Law of the Federal Assembly.

PART FOUR. The Federal Assembly

Art. 29

(1) The Legislative power of the Czechoslovak Federative Republic is vested in the Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly is the supreme organ of state power, subject to the rights of the people.

(2) The Federal Assembly consists of two Houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Both Houses are equal.

(3) A valid decision of the Federal Assembly requires the concurrent decision of both Houses, unless the present Constitutional Law provides otherwise or unless an internal matter of only one of the Houses is involved.

Art. 30

(1) The Chamber of Deputies consists of 200 Deputies, who are elected by direct universal suffrage under the principles of proportional representation.

(2) The seats shall be distributed among the Země in proportion to their resident population, each Země being entitled to one seat at least.

(3) The Chamber of Deputies is elected for a term of five years.

(4) The conditions under which the right to elect and to be elected to the House of the People is exercised and the manner in which the election and recall of its deputies are performed are determined by a Law of the Federal Assembly.

Art. 31

(1) The Senate represents the Země in legislation.

(2) The Senate consists of 120 Senators. Each Země elects 30 Senators by direct universal suffrage under the principles of the majority system.

(3) A Deputy may not be at the same time a Senator.

(4) The electoral term of the Senators is nine years. One third of the Senators, being 10 in each Země, shall be elected every three years.

Art. 32

(1) The Federal Assembly meets in ordinary session twice a year (a spring session and a fall session).

(2) Ordinary sessions of the Federal Assembly are convened and closed as of right.

(3) The spring session begins on the last Tuesday of April; it may not last more than three months. The fall session begins on the first Tuesday of October and ends on the third Friday of December.

Art. 33

(1) The President of the Republic must convene the Federal Assembly in extraordinary session at his own initiative, or at the request of the Prime Minister or at least one-third of the members of either House.

(2) The end of an extraordinary session of the Federal Assembly is declared by its Presidium. If the extraordinary session was convened with a specified agenda, its end shall be declared as soon as the agenda has been compeleted.

Art. 34

(1) Each House meets in session by virtue of the decision of the Bureau of the respective House.

(2) The two Houses meet in joint session if they are to elect the Chairman and First Deputy Chairman of the Federal Assembly, and in other cases where the Houses so decide or the Constitution so requires.

Art. 35

(1) The meetings of both Houses are, as a general rule, public.

(2) Closed meetings may be held only in cases established by the Rules of Order of the Federal Assembly.

Art. 36 (1) To the Federal Assembly belongs in particular the jurisdiction to: a) decide on the enactment of the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Constitutional and other Laws of the Federal Assembly and ascertain how they are executed; b) deal with basic questions of foreign policy; c) deal with basic questions of internal policy; d) approve medium-term national economic plan of the Federation and the Federal State Budget, verify their fulfilment, and approve the final account of the Federal State Budget; e) elect the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and deal with his reports; f) deal with declarations of policy of the Government and control its activities and those of its members, as well as deal with the question of confidence in the Government; g) elect and recall members of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; h) establish by Constitutional Law federal ministries and federal committees and establish by Law other federal organs of state administration; ch) establish by Law the control organ of the Federal Assembly. (2) The Federal Assembly decides on a declaration of war, if it is necessary to meet obligations arising from international agreements concerning joint defence against an attack. (3) International political treaties and international economic agreements of a general nature, as well as international agreements whose implementation requires a Law of the Federal Assembly, require the approval of the Federal Assembly prior to their ratification. (4) The Federal Assembly may repeal a decree or a decision of the Government or a generally binding legal regulation of a federal ministry, federal committee or another federal central organ of state administration if they violate the Constitution or another Law of the Federal Assembly.

Art. 37 (1) The Federal Assembly exercises legislative power in matters: a) entrusted by the present Constitutional Law to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic (Art. 7); b) under joint jurisdiction (Art. 8 and Articles 10 to 28) in that part which is entrusted to the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (2) The Federal Assembly furthermore adopts Laws whose implementation – with exceptions established by Constitutional Laws – belongs to the full extent to the organs of the Republics, namely the Family Law, the Civil Code, the Code of Civil Procedure, the Law on Private International Law and Procedure, the Criminal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Law on the Execution of the Punishment Consisting of Deprivation of Liberty and on the Imposition of Custody, the Law on General Procedure Before Administrative Organs, the Law on University-level Schools, Travel Documents Law, the Weapons and Munitions Law, and the Geodesic and Cartographic Law. (3) Insofar as the uniformity of the legal order so requires, the Federal Assembly realizes fundamental legislation in matters of public health care, the system of elementary, secondary general, and vocational schools, association and assembly, nationalities, copyright, the position of churches and religious societies, and in matters of forestry and water conservation.

Art. 38 (1) A Law of the Federal Assembly may entrust the regulation of the questions specified in Art. 37, section 1(b), and Art. 37, section 2, to legislation by the Republics. (2) Insofar as federal legislation does not regulate to the full extent the matters specified in Art. 37, section l(b), and Art. 37, section 2, they may be regulated by legislation of the National Councils. (3) Insofar as the Federal Assembly does not issue basic legislation on the matters specified in Art. 37, section 3, the full legislative regulation appertains to the National Councils. Art. 39 The executive power over the matters specified in Art. 37, section l(b), is divided between federal organs and organs of the Republics according to the respective provisions of the present Constitutional Law (Articles 10 to 28a). Art. 40 (1) The House of the People is capable of taking decisions if a simple majority of its deputies is present. (2) The House of Nations is capable of taking decisions if a simple majority of its deputies elected in the Czech Socialist Republic and a simple majority of its deputies elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic are present. (3) A valid decision requires the approval of a simple majority of deputies present in each House, unless the present Constitutional Law provides otherwise (Articles 41 to 43). Art. 41 The adoption of the Federal Constitution, a Constitutional Law of the Federal Assembly, their amendment, the election of the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and decisions on the declaration of war require a three-fifths majority of all the deputies of the House of the People, as well as a three-fifths majority of all deputies in the House of Nations elected in the Czech Socialist Republic and a three-fifths majority of all the deputies of the House of Nations elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic. Art. 42 (1) In cases where under the present Constitutional Law outvoting is prohibited, the deputies elected in the Czech Socialist Republic and the deputies elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic vote separately in the House of Nations. A decision is adopted if a majority of all the deputies elected in the Czech Socialist Republic and a majority of all the deputies elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic have voted in favor of it, unless the present Constitutional Law requires a qualified majority (Art. 41). (2) The prohibition of outvoting applies to the approval of: a) the draft bill establishing principles of the acquisition and loss of Czechoslovak state citizenship; b) medium-term state plans for the development of the national economy of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; c) draft bills establishing system of economical plans, its structure and principles for creating of economical plans of federation; d) draft bills establishing the method for securing the revenue of the Federal State Budget, relations between the Federal State Budget and the State Budgets of the Republics, as well as the principles of budgetary administration; e) Federal State Budgets and the final budgetary accounts of the Federation; f) draft bills setting up funds for special purposes tied to the Federal State Budget; g) draft bills on the questions specified in Art. 11, section 7; h) draft bills establishing principles of tax laws of national councils; ch) drafts of legal regulations relating to the questions specified in Art. 13, section 2; i) draft bills regulating the Czechoslovak currency, status of federal central bank and national central banks of both republics, their relationships and activities, as well as draft legislation on the matters referred to in Art. 14 section 4; j) drafts of legal regulations relating to the questions specified in Art. 15; k) draft bills relating to foreign economic relations; l) draft bills in matters specified in Art. 22; m) draft bills regulating the establishment, the legal position, and the method of direction of economic organizations; n) draft bills issued under Art. 27, section 2 and Art. 28. o) draft bills establishing federal organs of state administration, with the exception of ministries and federal committees. (3) The prohibition of outvoting also applies to the approval of declarations of policy of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and to votes of confidence in the Government. Art. 43 (1) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may ask any House for a vote of confidence. A motion of no confidence in the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may be introduced by at least one-fifth of the deputies of either House. (2) A vote of no confidence in the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic requires the approval of a simple majority of the deputies present of the House of the People or the approval of a simple majority of all the deputies of the House of Nations elected in the Czech Socialist Republic or the approval of a simple majority of all the deputies of the House of Nations elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic. The voting in the House of Nations is performed by roll call. (3) The provisions of sections 2 and 3 also apply to a vote of no confidence in an individual member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Art. 44 (1) Each House must decide on a proposal adopted by the other House within three months. If it does not so decide within this term, the proposal is adopted. (2) If the two Houses do not reach a concurrent decision, they may decide to initiate proceedings to agree on a common text. In such a case, each House elects ten representatives from among its deputies to a conference committee for the aforementioned proceedings, unless they agree on a different number of representatives. (3) If the two Houses do not adopt a concurrent decision on a draft bill even on the recommendation of this committee or otherwise within five months of the first vote, the same draft bill may be introduced at the earliest after the lapse of one year following its rejection. (4) If the two Houses do not reach a concurrent decision on the Federal State Budget, the proceedings to agree on a common text under section 2 is obligatory. If no agreement is reached on the Federal State Budget before the beginning of the budgetary year, the legal provisions on provisional budgeting are applicable. (5) If those proceedings do not produce a concurrent decision of both Houses, the Federal Assembly may be dissolved. New elections are called by the Presidium of the Federal Assembly within sixty days. Art. 45 (1) Draft bills of the Federal Assembly may be introduced by deputies of the Federal Assembly, the committees of both Houses, the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Czech National Council, and the Slovak National Council. (2) Laws of the Federal Assembly are signed by the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Chairman of the Federal Assembly, and the Chairman of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (3) A Law of the Federal Assembly comes into force only if it is promulgated in the manner established by a Law of the Federal Assembly. Laws of the Federal Assembly are promulgated by the Presidium of the Federal Assembly within fourteen days of their adoption. Art. 46 The rules governing the proceedings of the Federal Assembly and the mutual relations of the two Houses, as well as relations with the Government and with other institutions, are regulated by the Law on the Rules of Order of the Federal Assembly. Each House regulates its internal relations by its own decision. Art. 47 The validity of the election of deputies of the Federal Assembly is verified by the respective House. It does so on the proposal of the Mandates and Immunities Committee. Art. 48 (1) A deputy of the Federal Assembly makes the following vow at the first meeting of his House, which he attends: (2) A refusal to make the vow, or a vow made with a reservation, results in the loss of mandate. Art. 49 (1) The House of the People and the House of Nations, as well as their individual deputies have the right to interpellate the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and its members, and to put questions to them on matters within their jurisdiction. The Government and its members are bound to answer such interpellations and questions. (2) The Chairman and the other members of the Government have the right to attend meetings of both Houses of the Federal Assembly, and of their committees, as well as meetings of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. They are given the floor whenever they so request. (3) If either House, its committee, or the Presidium of the Federal Assembly so request, a member of the Government is bound to attend a meeting of the House, its committee, or the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. Art. 50 A deputy of the Federal Assembly may not be subjected to criminal or disciplinary prosecution or be taken into custody without the approval of the House of which he is a member. If the House refuses to give such approval, the prosecution is excluded for good. Art. 51 A deputy of the Federal Assembly may never be prosecuted for his voting in a House, its organs, or in the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. A deputy is subjected only to the disciplinary jurisdiction of his House for statements made in the exercise of his functions in either House, its organs, or in the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. Art. 52 If a deputy of the Federal Assembly is caught and arrested in the act of committing a criminal offense, the competent organ immediately notifies the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. If the Presidium does not grant approval, the deputy must be released immediately. Art. 53 A deputy of the Federal Assembly may refuse to testify on matters which he has come to know in the exercise of his function, even after he has ceased to be a deputy. Art. 54 Each House elects its Presidium which consists of three to six deputies. Art. 55 Each House sets up committees as its initiatory and control organs, and elects their chairman and other members. Art. 56 (1) Both Houses of the Federal Assembly elect the Presidium of the Federal Assembly from among the deputies. (2) The Presidium of the Federal Assembly has forty members, twenty of whom are elected by the House of the People and twenty by the House of Nations. The House of Nations elects ten members from among its deputies elected in the Czech Socialist Republic and ten members from among its deputies elected in the Slovak Socialist Republic. (3) The Presidium of the Federal Assembly maintains its functions after the expiration of the electoral term until the newly-elected Federal Assembly elects its own Presidium. (4) Members of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly are accountable to that House of the Federal Assembly which elected them. The House may recall them at any time. (5) The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Federal Assembly are elected by the House of the People and the House of Nations from among the members of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. If a deputy who is a citizen of the Czech Socialist Republic is elected Chairman, a deputy who is a citizen of the Slovak Socialist Republic is elected First Deputy Chairman, or vice versa. Art. 57 (1) The Presidium of the Federal Assembly decides by a simple majority of all its members. (2) The provisions of Article 42, regarding the prohibition of outvoting, also applies to the taking of decisions of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. Art. 58 (1) At the time when the Federal Assembly is not in session either because it has been terminated or because its electoral term has expired, the jurisdiction of the Federal Assembly is exercised by the Presidium of the Assembly. The Presidium is, however, not empowered to elect the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, adopt or amend Constitutional Laws, decide on the Federal State Budget, declare war, or to pass a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or in its members. (2) At the time when the Federal Assembly is not in session due to extraordinary causes, the Presidium of the Federal Assembly exercises the full jurisdiction of the Assembly except for the right to amend the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and to elect its President. (3) Urgent measures requiring the enactment of a Law are taken by the Presidium of the Federal Assembly in the form of Legal Measures signed by the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Chairman of the Federal Assembly, and the Chairman of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Legal Measures are promulgated in the same manner as Laws. (4) Measures taken by the Presidium of the Federal Assembly under sections 1 to 3 must be approved at the next session of the Federal Assembly; otherwise, they cease to have effect. (5) The Presidium of the Federal Assembly may make a decision on a declaration of war only if a session of the Federal Assembly is made impossible by extraordinary causes. Such a decision takes effect only if approved by three-fifths of all the members of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly who are citizens of the Czech Socialist Republic, and by three-fifths of all the members of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly who are citizens of the Slovak Socialist Republic. (6) At the time when the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is exercising the function of the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the Presidium of the Federal Assembly is competent to appoint and recall the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and its members and to entrust them with the direction of ministries and other federal organs. Art. 59 The Presidium of the Federal Assembly calls elections to the Federal Assembly. Chapter four The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Art. 60 (1) At the head of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is the President. He is elected by the Federal Assembly. (2) The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is accountable to the Federal Assembly for the discharge of his functions. Art. 61 (1) The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: a) represents the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in foreign relations, negotiates and ratifies international agreements; he may delegate the negotiation of international agreements which do not require approval by the Federal Assembly to the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or, with the latter\'s approval, to its individual members; b) receives and accredits envoys; c) convenes sessions of the Federal Assembly, and proclaims these sessions to be terminated; d) may dissolve the Federal Assembly in the case specified in Article 44, section 5; e) signs the Laws of the Federal Assembly and the Legal Measures of its Presidium; f) is entitled to submit to the Federal Assembly reports on the state of affairs of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and on significant political questions, to propose necessary measures, and to be present at meetings of the Houses of the Federal Assembly; g) appoints and recalls the Chairman and the other members of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and entrusts them with the direction of federal ministries and other federal central organs and assigns state secretaries to federal ministries in which they operate. h) is entitled to attend and to preside over meetings of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, to request reports from the Government and from its individual members, and to discuss with the Government or its members questions necessary to be resolved; ch) appoints higher state functionaries of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in cases established by law; appoints and promotes generals; appoints on the proposal of the competent organs of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic professors and rectors of university-level institutions; i) awards decorations, unless he empowers another organ to do so; j) has the right to grant amnesty, to pardon and to mitigate punishments imposed by criminal courts, and to order the noncommencement or discontinuation of criminal proceedings and the expunction of sentences; k) is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces; l) proclaims a state of war on the proposal of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and declares war on the strength of a decision taken by the Federal Assembly if the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is attacked or if it is necessary to fulfill obligations arising from international agreements on joint defence against an attack. (2) The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic also exercises powers which are not explicitly specified in the present Constitutional Law, if a Law of the Federal Assembly so provides. Art. 62 (1) Any citizen who is eligible to be a deputy in the Federal Assembly may be elected President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (2) The President is elected for a term of office of five years. He takes office by making the vow. (3) The election of the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is held within the last fourteen days of the Presidential term of office. If the office of the President becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the term of office, the election is held not later than within fourteen days. (4) The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may not simultaneously be a deputy of any representative body, a member of the Government or the Constitutional Court, or a judge. (5) If a deputy of a representative body, a member of Government or the Constitutional Court, or a judge is President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, he ceases to exercise his previous function from the day of his election. His mandate or membership in the Government or the Constitutional Court, or his judicial office, ceases on the day on which he makes the vow. Art. 63 The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic makes the following vow before the Federal Assembly: Art. 64 If the office of the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic becomes vacant and a new President has not yet been elected and has not made the vow, or if the President is unable to exercise his office for serious reasons, the exercise of his functions appertains to the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. In such a case, the Government may entrust its Chairman with some of the powers of the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; the supreme command of the armed forces passes during this time to the Chairman of the Government. Art. 65 The President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may not be subjected to judicial prosecution for actions connected with the exercise of his office. Chapter five The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Art. 66 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is the highest executive organ of state power in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Art. 67 (1) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, ministers and state secretaries. (2) State secretaries operate in all federal ministries. If the minister is a citizen of the Czech Socialist Republic the state secretary is a citizen of the Slovak Socialist Republic and vice versa. (3) The function of a member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is incompatible with the function of a member of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly or with the function of a member of the Constitutional Court. Art. 68 Members of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic make the following vow before the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic: Art. 69 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, after its appointment, is obliged to submit to the Federal Assembly at its next earliest session, its declaration of policy and to ask for a vote of confidence. Art. 70 (1) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is accountable for the exercise of its functions to the Federal Assembly; either of the two Houses of the Assembly may pass a vote of no confidence in the Government. (2) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may ask the Federal Assembly for a vote of confidence at any time. Art. 71 (1) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may submit its resignation to the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (2) If a House of the Federal Assembly passes a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or if it refuses to express its confidence, the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic recalls the Government. (3) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic always submits its resignation after the first meeting of a newly-elected Federal Assembly. Art. 72 If the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic accepts the resignation of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, he entrusts the Government with the exercise of its functions temporarily until a new Government is appointed. Art. 73 (1) A member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may submit his resignation to the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (2) The House of the People or the House of Nations of the Federal Assembly may also express their lack of confidence in an individual member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. In such a case, the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic recalls that member of the Government. Art. 74 If the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic accepts the resignation of a member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, he may determine who of the members of the Government may temporarily take charge of the matters previously administered by the member of the Government whose resignation he accepted. Art. 75 A decision of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic takes effect if it is approved by a simple majority of all the members of the Government. Art. 76 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist¨Republic secures the fulfillment of the tasks of the Federation in the areas of national defence, strengthening of the security of the country, development of a peaceful foreign policy, economic construction, and other areas within the jurisdiction of the Federation. For this purpose, it ensures the implementation of the Laws of the Federal Assembly, and unifies, directs, and controls the activity of the federal ministries, federal committees and the other federal organs. Art. 77 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic as a body decides in particular on: a) draft bills of the Federal Assembly; b) Government decrees; c) the implementation of its declaration of policy; d) basic questions of internal and foreign policy; e) drafts of national economic plans, the [Federal] Budget, and the final [budgetary] account of the Federation; f) basic economic measures for securing the economic policy; g) the appointment of functionaries in cases established by a Law of the Federal Assembly; h) motions asking the Federal Assembly for a vote of confidence; ch) other questions, if a Law of the Federal Assembly so provides. Art. 78 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic cooperates with the Governments of the two Republics when negotiating international agreements whose implementation belongs to the jurisdiction of the Republics; it also cooperates when representing the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in international organizations operating in areas which are within the jurisdiction of the Republics. Art. 79 The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may issue decrees for the purpose of implementing a Law of the Federal Assembly and within the limits of such a Law, if the Law regulates questions which fall within the jurisdiction of the Federation. Art. 80 Federal ministries, federal committees and the other central organs of the Federation may issue generally binding legal regulations on the basis and within the limits of Laws enacted by the Federal Assembly, if they are authorized by a Law to do so. Art. 81 (1) Federal ministries operate in the area of exclusive jurisdiction of the Federation and in the area of joint jurisdiction. (2) Federal ministries are established by a Constitutional Law of the Federal Assembly. Art. 82 (1) In some sectors of state activities in joint jurisdiction operate federal committees. Federal committee consists of minister, who is a chairman, and other members. Federal committee is composed of an equal number of citizens of the Czech Socialist Republic and Slovak Socialist Republic. (2) If the minister disagrees with the measure of the committee he is authorized to suspend its implementation and refer the matter to the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (3) If some of national parts of the committee disagrees with the decision of the committee it may ask the government to review review the decision of the Committee. Composition of the committee and its meetings are governed by the law of the Federal Assembly. (4) The Federal committees are established by the constitutional act of the Federal Assembly. Art. 83 In addition to federal ministries and federal committees other federal organs of state administration operate in areas under Federal jurisdiction. These organs are established by Laws of the Federal Assembly. Art. 84 State organs of the Republics implement Laws of the Federal Assembly on the territory of the Republics, insofar as their implementation has not been entrusted to the competent federal organs. Art. 85 Insofar as the administrative organs of the Republic exercise competence in matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Federation, they are obliged to observe directives of organs of federal administration. Chapter six The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Art. 86 (1) The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is a judicial organ for the protection of constitutionality. (2) Members of the Constitutional Court are independent in their decision-making and make decisions only on the strength of the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Laws of the Federal Assembly. Art. 87 The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic decides on: a) the concurrence of Laws of the Federal Assembly and Legal Measures of its Presidium with the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; b) the concurrence of Constitutional Acts of the Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council with the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, and the concurrence of Laws enacted by the National Councils with the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic; c) the concurrence of decrees of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and generally binding legal regulations of federal ministries, federal committees and other central organs of state administration, as well as decrees issued by the Governments of the Republics and generally binding legal regulations of ministries and the other central organs of state administration of the Republics with the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Laws of the Federal Assembly. Art. 88 The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic settles conflicts of competence between: a) organs of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and organs of one or both Republics; b) organs of both Republics. Art. 89 The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may initiate improvements of legislation of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, as well as of legislation of the Republics. Art. 90 (1) If the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic establishes a contradiction between legal regulations in the sense of Article 87, it rules that the relevant regulations, a part thereof, or some provisions become inapplicable; the competent organs are obliged to amend the relevant regulations within six months of the publication of the finding of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic so as to bring them into agreement with the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or other Laws of the Federal Assembly. If they fail to do so, the relevant regulations, a part thereof, or some provisions cease to have legal effect six months after the publication of the finding. (2) A finding of the Constitutional Court is published in the Official Gazette used for the promulgation of Laws of the Federal Assembly. Art. 91 The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic decides on complaints against failure to certify the mandate of a deputy of the Federal Assembly and against a verdict recalling a deputy of the Assembly, as well as against a decision refusing to register a candidate deputy. Art. 92 The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic decides on the protection of the rights and freedom guaranteed by the Constitution where they have been infringed upon by a decision or another intervention of a federal organ, unless the law grants other judicial protection. Art. 93 (1) The Constitutional Court always initiates proceedings if a motion has been introduced by: a) a House of the Federal Assembly, the Presidium of the Federal Assembly, the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, or another federal organ; b) the Czech National Council, its Presidium, the Slovak National Council, its Presidium, or the Government of a Republic; c) a court; d) the Procurator General; e) an individual citizen in the cases specified in Article 91. (2) The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may initiate proceedings on the basis of its own decision. (3) The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may also initiate proceedings on the motion of citizens and organizations. Art. 94 (1) The Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic consists of twelve members, of whom eight are judges and four substitutes. The Constitutional Court decides by a panel. (2) Any citizen who is eligible for the Federal Assembly, who has reached the age of thirty-five years, is a graduate of a university law school, and has been active in the legal profession for at least ten years may be elected member of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. (3) Members of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic are elected by the Federal Assembly for a term of seven years. A judge of the Constitutional Court may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms. (4) Four judges and two substitutes are elected from among the citizens of the Czech Socialist Republic and four judges and two substitutes are elected from among the citizens of the Slovak Socialist Republic. Art. 95 (1) The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic are elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Constitutional Court. (2) If the Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is a citizen of the Czech Socialist Republic, a citizen of the Slovak Socialist Republic is elected Deputy Chairman, or vice versa. Art. 96 (1) The Chairman of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic calls a substitute to serve as judge if a judge falls sick, if his seat becomes vacant, or if he has lost his office. (2) If a judge of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic has lost his office, the substitute becomes a judge on a permanent basis up to the expiration of the electoral term of the Constitutional Court. Art. 97 (1) Members of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic enjoy the same immunity as deputies of the Federal Assembly. (2) Permission to proceed with criminal or disciplinary prosecution of a member of the Constitutional Court or to take him into custody is granted by the Constitutional Court. Art. 98 (1) The function of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is incompatible with the function of deputy of the Federal Assembly, the Czech National Council, the Slovak National Council, and member of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic or the Governments of the Republics, or with a function in the administrative or economic apparatus. (2) A Law of the Federal Assembly may establish the incompatibility of the function of member of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic with further functions. Art. 99 A member of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may resign from his function. The Federal Assembly may recall him following disciplinary proceedings or on the basis of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Assembly may also recall a judge in the case that he has not attended the sessions of the Court for more than a year, provided this fact has been ascertained by the plenum of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Art. 100 The details of the jurisdiction and organization of the Constitutional Court of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and its rules of procedure are regulated by a Law of the Federal Assembly, Art. 101 There are Constitutional Courts in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic. Their jurisdiction and principles of organization are established by Constitutional Laws of the National Councils. Chapter seven The State Organs of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic Part one The Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council Art. 102 (1) The Czech National Council is the representative of the national sovereignty and identity of the Czech nation and the highest organ of state power in the Czech Socialist Republic. (2) The Slovak National Council is the representative of the national sovereignty and identity of the Slovak nation and the highest organ of state power in the Slovak Socialist Republic. (3) The National Council is the highest representative body of the Republic and its only legislative organ. Art. 103 (1) The Czech National Council consists of two hundred deputies. The Slovak National Council consists of one hundred and fifty deputies. (2) The National Council is elected for a term of 4 years. (3) The conditions under which the right to elect and be elected to the National Council is exercised and the manner in which the election and recall of its deputies are performed, are established by a Law of the National Council. Art. 104 (1) The National Council is in session at least twice within a year (a spring session and a fall session). (2) The National Council is convened and its sessions are declared to be terminated by its Presidium. (3) The National Council must be convened by its Presidium at the request of at least one-third of its deputies. The Presidium of the National Council convenes the session within fourteen days or within another term specified in the request. Art. 105 Individual meetings of the National Council are convened by its Chairman. Art. 106 (1) Meetings of the National Council are, as a general rule, public. (2) Closed meetings may be held only in cases established by the procedural rules of the National Council. Art. 107 (1) To the jurisdiction of the National Council belong in particular: a) deciding on Constitutional and other Laws of the Republic and observing how they are executed by the organs of the Republic; b) the granting of approval to international agreements whose implementation requires a Law of the National Council; c) dealing with basic questions of internal policy; d) approving medium-term national economic plan and the State Budget of the Republic, controlling their fulfillment, and approving the final state budgetary account of the Republic; e) electing and recalling the Chairman of the National Council and the other members of the Presidium of the National Council; f) dealing with the declaration of policy of the Government of the Republic and controlling its activity and the activity of its members, as well as dealing with the question of confidence in the Government; g) setting up by a Law ministries and other central organs of state administration of the Republic; h) electing and recalling members of the Constitutional Court of the Republic. ch) establishing by Law the control organ of the National Council (2) The National Council may repeal a decree or decision of the Government of the Republic or a generally binding legal regulation of a ministry or another central organ of state administration, if they contradict the Constitution or another Law of the National Council. Art. 108 As the highest representative organ of the Republic, the National Council considers initiatives of the National Committees, deals with their activities, and decides on measures regarding their extension. Art. 109 (1) The National Council is capable of taking decisions if a simple majority of all the deputies is present. (2) A valid decision requires the approval of a simple majority of the deputies present. (3) The adoption of a Constitutional Law requires the approval of a three-fifths majority of all the deputies of the National Council. Art. 110 (1) The Government of the Republic may ask the National Council for a vote of confidence. A motion of no confidence in the Government may be submitted by at least one-fifth of the deputies of the National Council. (2) The provisions of section 1 also apply to a vote of no confidence in an individual member of the Government of the Republic. Art. 111 (1) Draft bills may be submitted by deputies of the National Council, committees of the National Council, and by the Government of the Republic. (2) Laws of the National Council are signed by the Chairman of the National Council and the Chairman of the Government of the Republic. (3) A Law of the National Council takes effect if promulgated in the manner established by a Law of the National Council. Laws of the National Council are promulgated by the Presidium of the National Council within fourteen days after their approval. Art. 112 The rules governing the proceedings of the National Council, and its relations with the Government and with other institutions are regulated by the Law on the Rules of Order of the National Council. Art. 113 The validity of the election of deputies is verified by the National Council. The Council does so on the proposal of its Mandates and Immunities Committee. Art. 114 (1) A deputy makes a vow at the first meeting of the National Council he attends. (2) A deputy of the Czech National Council makes the following vow: (3) A deputy of the Slovak National Council makes the following vow: (4) A refusal to make the vow, or a vow made with a reservation, results in the loss of the mandate. Art. 115 (1) The National Council, as well as individual deputies have the right to interpellate the Government of the Republic and its members, and to put questions to them on matters within their jurisdiction. The Government and its members are bound to answer such interpellations and questions. (2) The Chairman and the other members of the Government of the Republic have the right to attend meetings of the National Council, its Presidium, and committees. They are given the floor whenever they so request. (3) If the National Council, its Presidium, or committee so requests, a member of the Government is bound to attend a meeting of the National Council, its Presidium, or committee. Art. 116 (1) A deputy may not be subjected to criminal or disciplinary prosecution or be taken into custody without the approval of the National Council. If the National Council refuses to give such approval, the prosecution is excluded for good. (2) A deputy of the National Council may never be prosecuted for his voting in the National Council or its organs. A deputy is subject only to the disciplinary jurisdiction of the National Council for statements made in the exercise of his function in the National Council or its organ. (3) If a deputy has been caught and arrested in the act of committing a criminal offense, the competent organ immediately notifies the Presidium of the National Council. If the Presidium does not grant approval, the deputy must be released immediately. Art. 117 A deputy of the National Council may refuse to testify on matters of which he has come to know in the exercise of his function, even after he has ceased to be a deputy. Art. 118 The National Council sets up committees as its initiatory and control organs, and elects their chairmen and other members. Art. 119 (1) The National Council elects the Presidium of the National Council from among its deputies. (2) The Presidium of the National Council consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and other members. The number of members of the Presidium is established by the National Council, (3) The Presidium of the National Council maintains its after the expiration of the electoral term until the newly-elected National Council elects its own Presidium. (4) The Presidium of the National Council and its rnembers are accountable to the National Council. The National Council may recall them at any time. Art. 120 The Presidium of the National Council decides by a simple majority of all its members. Art. 121 (1) At the time when the National Council is not in session because it has been terminated or because its electoral term has expired, the jurisdiction of the National Council is exercised by the Presidium of the National Council. The Presidium is, however, not empowered to adopt or amend Constitutional Laws, or to decide on the State Budget of the Republic. (2) At the time when the National Council is not in session due to extraordinary causes, the Presidium of the National Council exercises the full jurisdiction of the Council except for the right to adopt or amend Constitutional Laws. (3) Urgent measures requiring the enactment of a Law are taken by the Presidium of the National Council in the form of Legal Measures signed by the Chairman of the National Council and the Chairman of the Government of the Republic. Legal Measures are promulgated in the same manner as Laws. (4) Measures taken by the Presidium of the National Council under sections 1 to 3 must be approved at the next session of the National Council; otherwise, they shall become null and void. Art. 122 (1) To the competence of the Presidium of the National Council furthermore belong: a) the appointment and recall of the Chairman and other members of the Government of the Republic and entrusting them with the direction of ministries and other central organs; b) the appointment of state functionaries, in cases where such appointment has been entrusted to the Presidium by a Law; c) the granting of prizes and the awarding of decorations according to the Laws of the Republic. (2) The Presidium of the National Council calls elections to the National Council and general elections to National Committees. Art. 123 The Chairman of the National Council: a) represents the National Council; b) signs Laws of the National Council and Legal Measures of its Presidium; c) administers the vow of the members of the Government of the Republic; d) convenes and presides over the meetings of the National Council. Part two The Government of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Government of the Slovak Socialist Republic Art. 124 The Government of the Republic is the highest executive organ of state power of the Republic. Art. 125 (1) The Government of the Republic consists of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and ministers. (2) The function of a member of the Government is incompatible with the function of a member of the Presidium of the National Council or with the function of a member of the Constitutional Court. Art. 126 (1) The members of the Government of the Czech Socialist Republic make the following vow before the Chairman of the Czech National Council: (2) The members of the Government of the Slovak Socialist Republic make the foI1owing vow before the Chairman of the Slovak National Council: Art. 127 The Government of the Republic, after its appointment, is obliged to submit to the National Council at its next earliest session its declaration of policy and to ask for a vote of confidence. Art. 128 (1) The Government of the Republic is accountable for the exercise of its functions to the National Council which may express its lack of confidence in it. (2) The Government of the Republic may ask the National Council for a vote of confidence at any time. Art. 129 (1) The Government of the Republic may submit its resignation to the Presidium of the National Council. (2) If the National Council passes a vote of no confidence in the Government of the Republic or if it denies it a vote of confidence, the Presidium of the National Council recalls the Government. (3) The Government of the Republic always submits its resignation after the first meeting of a newly-elected National Council. Art. 130 If the Presidium of the National Council accepts the resignation of the Government, it entrusts the Government with the exercise of its functions temporarily until a new Government is appointed. Art. 131 (1) A member of the Government of the Republic may submit his resignation to the Presidium of the National Council. (2) The National Council may express its lack of confidence in individual members of the Government of the Republic. In such a case, the Presidium of the National Council recalls the member of the Government. Art. 132 If the Presidium of the National Council accepts the resignation of a member of the Government of the Republic, it may determine who of the members of the Government will temporarily take charge of matters previously administered by the member of the Government whose resignation it accepted. Art. 133 The Government of the Republic decides in a body, which is capable of taking decisions if a simple majority of its members is present. The validity of a decision requires the approval of a simple majority of all the present members of the Government. Art. 134 The Government of the Republic organizes and secures the fulfillment of tasks in the area of the economic, cultural, and social construction of the Republic, as well as in further areas which fall, by the present Constitutional Law, under the jurisdiction of the Republic. For this purpose, the Government of the Republic ensures the implementation of Laws, unifies, directs, and controls the activity of the ministries and other organs of state administration of the Republic, and follows and secures the fulfillment of its decrees and decisions. Art. 135 (1) All governmental and executive powers ensuing from the legislative competence of the National Council belong to the Government of the Republic. (2) To the competence of the Government of the Republic furthermore belong matters which are regulated according to the present Constitutional Law by Laws of the Federal Assembly, if their implementation belongs to the Governments of the Republics (Article 37, section 2). (3) To the competence of the Government of the Republic also belong matters designated to the Governments of the Republics within the scope of joint jurisdiction according to Article 8 and Articles 10 to 28 of the present Constitutional Law. Art. 136 The Government of the Republic directs and controls the activity of the National Committees. Art. 137 The Government of the Republic as a body decides in particular on: a) draft bills; b) Government decrees; c) the implementation of its declaration of policy; d) the approval of international agreements whose execution belongs to the jurisdiction of the Republic; e) drafts of national economic plans, the [State] Budget, and the final [budgetary] account of the Republic; f) basic economic measures for securing the economic policy; g) the appointment of functionaries in cases established by a Law; h) motions asking the National Council for a vote of confidence; ch) other questions, if a Law of the National Council so provides. Art. 138 The Government of the Republic may issue decrees for the purpose of implementing a Law of the National Council and within the limits of such a Law. It may likewise issue decrees for the implementation of a Law of the Federal Assembly, if it is empowered to do so. Art. 139 The ministries and the other central organs of state administration of the Republic may issue generally binding legal regulations on the basis and within the limits of Laws of the Federal Assembly and Laws of a National Council, if they are authorized by a Law to do so. Chapter eight General, Transitional, and Concluding Provisions Art. 140 (1) The territory of the Czech Socialist Republic consists of the current territory of the Czech provinces. (2) The territory of the Slovak Socialist Republic consists of the current territory of Slovakia. (3) The territorial division of the Republics is established by Laws of the National Councils. Art. 141 (1) The capital of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the regular seat of its organs is Prague. The position of Prague as capital of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is regulated by a Law of the Federal Assembly. (2) The capital of the Czech Socialist Republic and the regular seat of its organs is Prague. (3) The capital of the Slovak Socialist Republic and the regular seat of its organs is Bratislava. Art. 142 (1) The Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic may be only amended by a Constitutional Law of the Federal Assembly. (2) Both Republics approve their own Constitutions, together with the approval of the Constitution of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. Until the Constitution of the Czech Socialist Republic and the Constitution of the Slovak Socialist Republic are approved, the constitutional relations of these Republics are governed by the present Constitutional Law and the other constitutional regulations. (3) Laws of the Federal Assembly, Laws of the National Councils, and other legal regulations of the federal organs and the organs of the Republics may not contradict the Constitution and the Constitutional Laws of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic. The interpretation and application of all legal regulations must be in conformity with the Constitution and the Constitutional Laws of the Federation. (4) Laws of the National Councils and other legal regulations of the Republics may not contradict the Constitutional Laws of the National Councils. The interpretation and application of all legal regulations of a Republic must be in conformity with the Constitutional Laws of the respective National Councils. Art. 143 (1) The provisions of Article 1, section 2, and Article 12, of Chapters III, IV, V, and VI (Articles 39 to 85), as well as of Articles 107 to 109, and Article III of the Constitution (Constitutional Law 1960 No. 100) are repealed. (2) Wherever the provisions of the Constitution and other Laws mention the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, this term is understood according to the nature of the matter to mean also the Czech Socialist Republic and the Slovak Socialist Republic. (3) The President of the Republic elected according to the provisions of Article 63 of the Constitution remains in office as the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic according to the present Constitutional Law; his electoral term of office is computed as of the day of his election. (4) The Presidium of the National Assembly remains in office until the election of the Presidium of the Federal Assembly. (5) The Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic exercises the function of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic until the appointment of the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic according to the present Constitutional Law. Art. 144 (1) All Laws and other legal regulations in force on the day when the present Constitutional Law comes into effect continue to be in force. Insofar as they regulate matters which do not belong to the jurisdiction of the Federation according to the present Constitutional Law, they may be amended by Laws of the Czech National Council or the Slovak National Council, or by other legal regulations of the Republics. (2) Insofar as the existing Laws and other legal regulations enumerate the jurisdiction of the National Assembly, the Government, the Slovak National Council, or of other central state organs, such jurisdiction is exercised in matters reserved by the present Constitutional Law to the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic by the Federal Assembly, the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, or by other central federal organs; in other matters, such jurisdiction is exercised by the Czech National Council, the Slovak National Council, the Government of the Czech Socialist Republic, the Government of the Slovak Socialist Republic, or other central organs of both Republics. (3) A Law of the Federal Assembly may determine to which organs (organizations) and to what extent the jurisdiction passes of the present organs (organizations) – with the exception of ministries or other central organs of state administration headed by a minister – which have been entrusted by the present Laws with nationwide jurisdiction in matters which according to the present Constitutional Law belong to the joint jurisdiction of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and to the two Republics. Such a Law may also regulate the necessary transfer of rights and obligations of the present organs (organizations). Art. 145 The organization of courts and the Procuracy in the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic is regulated by a Constitutional Law of the Federal Assembly. Until the day such Constitutional Law comes into effect, the Federal Assembly is competent to: a) elect and recall judges of the Supreme Court and professional judges of military courts; b) propose to the President of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic to recall the Procurator General; c) discuss reports of the Supreme Court and the Procurator General on the state of socialist legality. Art. 146 (1) As long as the Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council are not elected on the basis of the present Constitutional Law, a) the Czech National Council formed according to the Constitutional Law 1968 No. 77, exercises the jurisdiction of the Czech National Council according to the present Constitutional Law; b) the Slovak National Council extended according to Article 6 of the Constitutional Law 1968 No. 77, exercises the jurisdiction of the Slovak National Council according to the present Constitutional Law. (2) The Czech National Council extends the number of its members by election so as to have two hundred members. (3) The Slovak National Council extends the number of its members by election so as to have one hundred and fifty members. (4) The members of both National Councils have the rights and obligations of deputies according to the present Constitutional Law. Art. 147 As long as the Federal Assembly is not elected in the sense of Article 30, section 1, and Article 31, section 2: a) the National Assembly becomes in its present composition the House of the People of the Federal Assembly, and b) the deputies of the House of Nations are elected by the Czech National Council and the Slovak National Council, extended on the basis of Article 146, from among their members who are not deputies of the National Assembly. Art. 148 The constitutional act no. 83/1968 Coll. on the end of the parliamentary term of national committees, National assembly and Slovak national council applies to the Czech national council and the Slovak national council exercising powers under article 146 and to the Federal assembly established under article 147. Art. 149 To the Art. 91 of Constitution as amended by the constitutional law no. 110/1967 Coll. and no. 28/1968 Coll. is connected new section 4 of this wording: “(4) The law may establish special status and powers of national committees in other major cities. Art. 150 (1) The National Assembly, the Czech National Council, and the Slovak National Council may take measures necessary for the implementation of the present Constitutional Law prior to the day when it comes into effect. (2) If the National Assembly deals with some of the draft bills specified in Article 42, section 2, prior to the day specified in section 1, their adoption requires the approval of a majority of all the deputies of the National Assembly elected in the Czech provinces and a majority of all the deputies of the National Assembly elected in Slovakia. The adoption of a Constitutional Law requires the approval of at least three-fifths of all the deputies of the National Assembly elected in the Czech provinces and at least three-fifths of all the deputies of the National Assembly elected in Slovakia. (3) The draft bills according to section 2 are voted on separately by the deputies elected in the Czech provinces and the deputies elected in Slovakia. Art. 151 (1) The present Constitutional Law comes into effect on 1 January 1969. (2) The provisions of Article 146, sections 1 and 3, and Articles 149 and 150 come into effect immediately.