PART VI

Treaties and International Agreements

Article 43

The President of the Republic shall negotiate and ratify treaties and international agreements. Treaties and international agreements failing within the area of competence of the Legislative Power as defined in Article 26 above shall be submitted to Parliament for authorization to ratify.

Article 44

Where the Constitutional Council finds a provision of a treaty or of an international agreement unconstitutional, authorization to ratify and the ratification of the said treaty or agreement shall be deferred until the Constitution is amended.

Article 45

Duly approved or ratified treaties and international agreements shall, following their publication, override national laws, provided the other party implements the said treaty or agreement.

Part VII

The Constitutional Council

Article 46

The Constitutional Council shall have jurisdiction in matters pertaining to the Constitution. It shall rule on the constitutionality of laws. It shall be the organ regulating the functioning of the institutions.

Article 47

(1) The Constitutional Council shall give a final ruling on:

- the constitutionality of laws, treaties and international agreements;

the constitutionality of the standing orders of the National Assembly and the Senate 'prior to their implementation;

- conflict of powers between State institutions; between the State and the Regions, and between the Regions.

(2) Matters may be referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly or one-third of the Senators.

Presidents of regional executives may refer matters to the Constitutional Council whenever the interests of their Regions are at stake.

3) Laws as well as treaties and international agreements may, prior to their enactment, be

referred to the Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the

National Assembly, the President of the Senate, one-third of. The members of the National

Assembly, one-third of the Senators, or the Presidents of regional executives pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) Above Enactment deadlines shall cease to lapse once an instrument has been referred to the Constitutional Council.

(4) The Constitutional Council shall advice in matters falling under its jurisdiction.

Article 48

(1) The Constitutional Council shall ensure the regularity of presidential elections, parliamentary elections and referendum operations. It shall proclaim the results thereof.

(2) Any challenges in respect of the regularity of one of the elections provided for in the preceding paragraph may be brought before the Constitutional Council by any candidate, political party that participated in the election in the constituency concerned or any person acting as Government agent at the election

(3) Any challenges in respect of the regularity of a referendum may be referred to the

Constitutional Council by the President of the Republic, the President of the National

Assembly the President of the Senate, one-third of the members of the National Assembly

or one-third of the Senators.

Article 49

In any case, the Constitutional Council shall give ruling within a period of 15 (fifteen) days once a matter has been referred to it.

However, at the request of the President of the Republic, such time-limit may be reduced to 8 (eight) days.

Article 50

(1) Rulings of the Constitutional Council shall not be subject to appeal. They shall be binding on all public, administrative, military and judicial authorities, as well as, on all natural persons- and corporate bodies. (2) A provision that has been declared unconstitutional may not be enacted or implemented.

Article 51

1. The constitutional council shall comprise 11 (eleventh) members designated for a non renewable term of office in (9) nine years. These members shall be chosen from among personalities of established professional renown. They must be of high moral integrity and proven competence

(2) Members of the Constitutional Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic. They shall be designated as follows: three, including the President of the Council, by the President of the Republic;

- three by the President of the National Assembly after consultation with the Bureau;

- three by the President of the Senate after consultation with the Bureau;

- two by the Higher Judicial Council.

Besides the eleven members provided for above, former Presidents of the Republic shall be

ex-officio members of the Constitutional Council for life.

In case of a tie, the President of the Constitutional Council shall have the casting vote.

(3) In the event of the death or resignation of a member or any other cause of incapacity or inability duly established by the competent bodies provided for by law, a replacement shall be designated by the competent authority or body concerned and appointed to complete the term of office.

(4) Members of the Constitutional Council shall take the oath of office as laid down by law before Parliament meeting in congress.

(5) The duties of member of the Constitutional Council shall be incompatible with those of member of Government, of Member of Parliament or of the Supreme Court. Other incompatibilities and matters relating to the status of members, namely obligations, immunities and privileges shall be laid down by law

Article 52

A law shall lay down the organization and functioning of the Constitutional Council, the conditions for referring matters to it as well as the procedure applicable before it.