Chapter VI: The Ministers

ARTICLE 78

The Council of Ministers shall consist of the Prime Minister andof the Ministers whom the King deems fit to appoint at theproposal of the Prime Minister.

ARTICLE 79

Before assuming office the Prime Minister and Ministers shall takethe following oath before the King:- “I swear by Almighty God to beloyal to the country and to the King, to observe the Constitutionand the laws, and fully consider the interests of the People.”

ARTICLE 80

The King may appoint Ministers without portfolio in case of necessity.

ARTICLE 81

No non-Libyan may be a Minister.

ARTICLE 82

No member of the Royal Family may be a Minister.

ARTICLE 83

A Minister may at the same time be a Member of the Parliament.

ARTICLE 84

The Council of Ministers shall be responsible for the direction of all the internal and external affairs of the State.

ARTICLE 85

For the signatures of the King concerning the affairs of the State to be effective, they must have the countersignature of the Prime Minister and of the competent Ministers. The Prime Minister shall be appointed and relieved by Royal Decree, but the ministers shall be appointed and relieved of office by Decrees signed by the King and countersigned by the Prime Minister.

ARTICLE 86

The Ministers are collectively responsible before the House of Representatives for the general policy of the State and each of them individually is responsible for the activity of his ministry.

ARTICLE 87

If the House of Representative by a majority of all its members passes a vote of no confidence in the Council of Ministers, the Council of Ministers must resign. If the decision concerns one of the Ministers, he must resign. The House of Representatives shall not consider the request for a vote of no confidence unless it has been presented by fifteen or more of the Deputies. Such request may not be discussed except after eight days from the date of its presentation and shall not be voted upon except after two days from the completion of the discussion therein.

ARTICLE 88

Ministers shall have the right to attend the meetings of both Chambers and must be heard whenever they so request; they may not take part in the voting unless they are members. They may have the assistance of any officer they choose of their Ministry or may appoint any such officer as a deputy to represent them. Each Chamber may when necessary request any Minister to attend its meeting.

ARTICLE 89

In the event of the dismissal or resignation of the Prime Minister all the Ministers are considered thereby to have been dismissed or to have resigned.

ARTICLE 90

The Ministers may not while holding office assume any other public office, excercise any other profession or purchase or rent any property belonging to the State, or let or hire or sell directly or indirectly, take part in the undertakings concluded and tenders invited by the Public Administration of the Institutions falling under the administration or control of the State. They may not be members of the Board of Directors of any company nor may they take an active part in any commercial or financial enterprise.

ARTICLE 91

The salaries of the Prime Minister and the other Ministers shall be determined by law.

ARTICLE 92

A law shall prescribe the civil and criminal responsibilities of the Ministers and the Manner in which they may be charged and tried in respect of offences committed by them in the excercise of their duties.