CHAPTER VII
The Economic and Social Council
Article 70
The Economic and Social Council is an advisory body regarding economic and social matters. Its composition and relations with the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Advisors are determined by law.
CHAPTER VIII
Local Authorities
Article 71
Municipal councils, regional councils and the structures to which the law gives the quality of local authority, manage local affairs according to the terms set by law.
CHAPTER IX
The Constitutional Council
Article 72
The Constitutional Council looks into bills submitted to it by the President of the Republic to ensure their conformity with the Constitution. It is mandatory to submit to the Constitutional Council bills for organic laws, bills specified in article 47 of the Constitution, and bills regarding the general methods of application of the Constitution, nationality, personal status, obligations, definition of crimes and misdemeanors and the applicable sentences, procedures before the different orders of courts, amnesty, and the basic principles of the system of ownership and real rights, education, public health, labor law and social security.
Similarly, the President of the Republic must submit to the Constitutional Council the treaties stated in article 2 of the Constitution.
He may also submit to it any question concerning the organization and functioning of the country's institutions.
The Constitutional Council shall rule on appeals relating to the election of members of the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Advisors. It shall check the validity of referendum procedures, and shall announce the results thereof.
Article 73
Bills emanating from the President of the Republic are presented to the Constitutional Council before being put before the Chamber of Deputies or submitted for referendum.
During the term set in article 52 of the Constitution for promulgation and publication, the President submits to the Constitutional Council any changes made in the substance of the bills adopted by the Chamber of Deputies and previously submitted to the Constitutional Council in accordance with the provisions of this article. He informs the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies thereof.
In this case, the above-mentioned deadline is suspended until the Constitutional Council has made its recommendation to the President of the Republic; the period of such suspension must not exceed one month.
Article 74
Following their adoption, the President of the Republic submits to the Constitutional Council the bills proposed by the deputies, within the deadlines for promulgation and publication stipulated in article 52, in the cases where the submission of bills to the Council is mandatory according to the terms of article 72. He informs the Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies thereof.
In this case, the provisions of paragraph 3 of article 73 shall apply.
The internal regulations of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Chamber of Advisors shall be submitted to the Constitutional Council before applying them, so as to check their conformity with the constitution.
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