21 Mar 92
FE/1335 C2/6
Article 64. The principal officials of the Macao SAR shall be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents and have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of 15 years. The principal officials shall declare their assets to the president of the Final Court of Appeal of the Macao SAR and put them on record when they assume duties.
Article 65. The government of the Macao SAR shall exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) Formulate and implement policies;
(2) Manage various administrative affairs;
(3) Manage external affairs as authorized by the central people's government under this law;
(4) Draw up and present budgets and final accounts;
(5) Introduce bills and motions and draw up administrative regulations; and
(6) Send officials to the meeting of the Legislative Council to listen to the views or speak on behalf of the government.
Article 66. The executive authorities of the Macao SAR must abide by the law and shall be accountable to the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR in the following aspects: They shall implement laws passed by the Legislative Council and already in force; they shall present regular reports on their work to the council; and they shall answer questions raised by members of the council.
Article 67. The executive authorities of the Macao SAR may establish advisory bodies in light of their needs.
Section 3: (?Legislative Bodies)
Article 68. The Legislative Council of the Macao SAR is the legislature of the region.
Article 69. The legislative councillors of the Macao SAR shall be permanent residents of the region.
The majority of the legislative councillors shall be elected. The methods for forming the Legislative Council are prescribed in Annex II: "Method for Constituting the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR."
Article 70. With the exception of the first term, which has been provided for separately, the term of office of members of the Legislative Council of the the Macao SAR shall be four years.
Article 71. If the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR is dissolved by the chief executive in accordance with the provisions of this law, it shall be reconstituted within 90 days as prescribed by Article 69 of this law.
Article 72. The Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) Enact, amend, temporarily suspend or repeal laws in accordance with the provisions of this law and legal procedures;
(2) Examine, verify and approve budgets and audit reports submitted by the government;
(3) Decide on taxation and approve the liabilities assumed by the government;
(4) Hear and debate the work reports of the chief executive;
(5) Decide on issues of public interest;
(6) Hold debates on any issue concerning public interest; (7) Receive and deal with complaints from Macao residents;
(8) In the event that the chief executive is unwilling to resign after being accused of serious breach of law or dereliction of duty by a motion jointly initiated by one-third of the members of the Legislative Council, and passed by the Legislave Council, an independent investigation committee may be formed by the president of the Final Court of Appeal to carry out investigations. If the committee considers the eveidence sufficient, the council may pass a motion of impeachment with a two-thirds majority and report it to the central people's government for decision; and
(9) While exercising the above-mentioned powers and functions, if need be, relevant persons may be subpoenaed to testify and give evidence.
Article 73. The president and vice-president of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall be elected from among the members of the Legislative Council. The president and vice- president of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall be Chinese nationals who are permanent residents of the region and have ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of 15 years.
Article 74. The vice-president shall act for the president of the Legislative Council of the Marcao SAR in the absence of the latter. In case of absence of the president or the vice-president of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR, an election for the relevant post shall be held. Article 75. The president of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall exercise the following powers and functions:
(1) Preside over meetings;
(2) Decide on the agenda, giving priority to government bills at the request of the chief executive;
(3) Decide on the date of meetings;
(4) Call special meetings during the recess;
(5) Call emergency meetings, or call emergency meetings at the request of the chief executive; and
(6) Other powers and functions as prescribed in the rules of procedure of the Legislative Council.
or
Article 76. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR may, in accordance with the provisions of this law and legal procedures, introduce bills. Bills which do not relate to public revenue and expenditure, political structure, government operation may be introduced individually or jointly by members of the council. Bills which relate to government policies shall have the written consent of the chief executive prior to their introduction.
Article 77. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR have the right to raise questions concerning government work according to legal procedure.
Article 78. The quorum for the meeting of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall be no less than one-half of its members. Unless otherwise provided for in this law, the passage of any bill or motion in the Legislative Council requires the votes of more than one-half of its members
present.