20 Jul 91
FE/1129 C1/6
Article 71. The term of office of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR will be four years, except the first term, which will be stipulated in another document.
Article 72. If the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR is dissolved by the Chief Executive in accordance with the provisions of this Law, it must, within 90 days, be reconstituted by election in accordance with Article 70 of this Law.
Article 73. The Legislative Council of the Macao SAR will exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) To enact, amend or repeal laws in accordance with the provisions of this Law and legal procedures;
(2) To examine and approve budgets introduced by the government and to examine and approve audit reports introduced by the government;
(3) To approve taxation introduced by the government; (4) To receive and debate policy addresses by the Chief Executive;
(5) To debate any issue concerning public interests;
(6) To receive and handle complaints from Macao residents;
(7) If a motion initiated jointly by a quarter of all the members of the Legislative Council charges the Chief Executive with serious breach of law or dereliction of duty, and if he or she refuses to resign, the Council may, after passing a motion for investigation, give a mandate to the president of the Court of Final Appeal to form an independent investigation committee which will be responsible for carrying out the investigation. If the committee considers the evidence sufficient to substantiate such charges, the council may pass a motion of impeachment by a two-thirds majority of all its members and report it to the central people's government for decision; and
(8) To summon, as required when exercising the above- mentioned powers and functions, persons concerned to testify or give evidence.
Article 74. The President and Vice-President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR will be elected by the members of the Legislative Council. The President and Vice-President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR will be Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the region and have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of not less than 15 years.
Article 75. When the positions of President or vice-President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR are vacant, elections will be held.
When the President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR is absent, the Vice-President will be acting president.
Article 76. The President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR will exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) Preside over meetings;
(2) Decide on the agenda, giving priority to government bills for inclusion in the agenda in accordance with the demands of the Chief Executive;
(3) Decide on the time of meetings;
(4) Call special sessions during the recess; (5) Call emergency meetings or emergency sessions on the request of the Chief Executive; and
(6) Exercise other powers and functions as prescribed in the rules of procedure for the Legislative Council.
Article 77. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR may introduce bills in accordance with the provisions of this Law and legal procedures. Bills which do not relate to public expenditure, political structure or the operation of the government may be introduced individually or jointly by members. The written consent of the Chief Executive will be required before bills relating to government policies are introduced.
Article 78. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR have the right to raise questions on the work of the government in accordance with legal procedures.
Article 79. The quorum for meetings of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall be not less than one half of all its members. With the exception of those specified by other provisions of this Law, all bills and motions of the Legislative Council shall be passed by not less than half of all its members.
The rules of procedure of the Legislative Council shall be made by the Council itself, provided they do not contravene this Law.
Article 80. A bill passed by the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR may take effect only after it has been signed and promulgated by the Chief Executive.
Article 81. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall be immune from legal action in respect of their statements and votes at meetings of the Council.
Article 82. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall not be subjected to arrest without the approval of the Council, with the exception of being caught in, before or immediately after an act of criminal offence.
Article 83. The President of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall declare, according to the decision of the Council, that a member of the Council is no longer qualified for the office under any of the following circumstances:
(1) When he or she loses the ability to discharge his or her duties as a result of serious illness or other reasons;
(2) When he or she concurrently assumes a job not allowed by the laws;
(3) When he or she, for no valid reason, is absent from five consecutive meetings or 15 meetings intermittently without the consent of the President of the Legislative Council;
(4) When he or she violates his or her pledge;
(5) When he or she is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 30 days or more for a criminal offence committed within or outside the Macao SAR.
Section 4: The Judiciary
Article 84. The courts of the Macao SAR shall exercise the judicial power of the region.