prescribed oath. Provision should be made that where a Member fails or refuses or declines to take the oath of allegiance within a period not exceeding six months from the date of the first meeting of the Legislature, his seat should be declared vacant, provided that before the expiry of the above mentioned period the Chairman may on good cause shown extend the period.
44.Voting in Houses and Quorum
Except for cases in which a specific majority is provided such as the removal of the Head of the State, all decisions in each of the Houses of the Central Legislature should be taken in accordance with rules framed by the House concerned. The presiding officer of any House of the Legislature should not exercise any vote except the casting vote in case of a tie. The Houses of the Legislature should be entitled to conduct their business even if there as a vacant seat and the proceedings should not be invalidated on that account.
The quorum for a meeting of each House, or for a joint meeting of both the Houses, should be one-seventh of the total number of the Members of each House or of both the Houses as the case may be.
45. Ordinances by the Head of the state
Ordinances passed by the Head of the State during the period the Legislature is not sitting should be laid before the Legislature at its next meeting. Some period should be fixed to restrict the operation of ordinances.
46.Joint Sittings of both Houses
Rules for joint sittings of the two Houses should be framed by a joint sitting of both Houses.
47. Assent to Bills
(1) When a Bill has been passed by the Central Legislature it should be presented to the Head of the State for his assent.
(2) The Head of the State should, within ninety days of the presentation of a Bill. either declare his assent or return the Bill, with or without message, to the Legislature concerned. In case the Legislature passes the Bill again, with or without any amendment, it should be assented to within thirty days.
(3) In the case of money Bills the Head of the State should either assent or return them for reconsideration to the House within three days. If the House sends them back. his assent must be given within three days.
48. Annual Financial Statement
There should not be any formal recommendation by the Head of the State regarding the annual financial statement. Such proposal should be placed before the Legislature only at the instance and on behalf of the Government.
