ARTICLE 35.—­The reasons for a Volksraad member’s non-appearance are:—­

(1) Indisposition and bodily infirmity, to be proved by the member chosen or summoned, by a signed declaration of the Landrost, Commandant, or Field-Cornet of his division.

(2) Such unforeseen circumstances, being actually proved, as make it impossible for him to be present, or to remain there.

ARTICLE 36.—­All objections, excuses, and notices mentioned in Articles 34 and 35 shall be sent into the President and be decided upon by the Executive Council.  Provision shall be made as soon as possible to fill in the places open in consequence.

ARTICLE 37.—­The members of the Volksraad shall, before taking up their official duties, be sworn by the members of the Volksraad who are present on the day of the session; their oath shall be of the nature of the following:—­

“As elected member of the Volksraad of this Republic, I declare, believe, and swear solemnly, that I have neither made nor promised gifts to anyone to reach this office; that I shall be faithful in this office to the people; that I shall act in accordance with the Constitution and other laws of this country, according to the best of my knowledge and conscience, and consider only the furtherance of the happiness and welfare of the public at large.”

ARTICLE 38.—­The members of the Volksraad present choose their Chairman after the opening of the session, and before the annual business.

ARTICLE 39.—­All deliberations shall be settled by a bare majority of the votes of the members voting.

ARTICLE 40.—­The Volksraad does not separate before all matters of business which must be treated of are finished, and the session is closed by the President of the Volksraad.  A member can obtain leave of absence from the Volksraad, if he is in such case as mentioned in No. 2, Article 35.

ARTICLE 41.—­The members of the Volksraad doing service as such shall be free from military service, without being free from the costs which the military authorities may exact from them:  they shall enjoy remuneration for the period of their stay during the cessation of their private business.

ARTICLE 42.—­The meetings are held with open doors, unless the Volksraad decide that the discussions upon some proposition be taken in secret.  The persons present who have no seat in the Volksraad may only speak when they answer a question of the President.

ARTICLE 43.—­The President shall bring forward for discussion the proposals for laws which have come in before the Volksraad, whether the latter have been made known to the public three months before the commencement of the session, or whether the same have come in during the session of the Volksraad.

ARTICLE 44.—­When the notices of laws and Government notices to the public have not been given in time, the President shall examine with whom the blame of that delay lies.  A Landrost found guilty hereof shall have a fine of Rds. 50 inflicted, and a Field-Cornet or lesser official of Rds. 25.