None of the counfellors, either fenators, minifters, or thofe
of the equeftrian order, fhall be prefent at the dietines, or
at the opening of the tribunals.
No counfellors ihall accept any other public charges
than thofe which appertain to their office.
No member of the council ihall oppofe the fignature of
privileges, relolutions, or acts decided by the majority ; and
i f either the king, the fenior fenator, or the marfhal, ihould
refufe to fign, in that cafe, each member ihall fubfcribe for
himfelf, and the names of the majority ihall render the a£t
valid.
In cafe of death, the vacancy ihall be filled up within the
fpace of ten weeks by ballot, in the manner above-mentioned.
If the deceafed be a bifhop or lay-fenator, his fucceffor
ihall be taken from the biihops or lay-fenators; i f a minifter,
from the boards of the faid minifler’s office; if a perfon of
the equeitrian order, either from the candidates prefented
at the laft diet, or from thofe propofed upon this accafion.
A r t i c l e III.
Power, authority, and duties'of the Permanent Council.
. i.. Without enjoying the leaft authority,; leg-illative or
judicial, the council orders the execution of the laws'; and,
being the center of public affairs, as well foreign as domeftic,
is bound to determine according to the laws of its prefent
eftablilhment.
2.. It ihall iffue affignments for the payment of fums referved
to the public treafury, and fpecified in the general
table of expences unprovided for in extraordinary circum-
-ftances; and the members of the council cannot, during the
holding of their office, partake of the faid affignments.
P E R M A N E N T CO UN Cl E. 79
' 3. It fhall receive all projects beneficial to the ftate, decide CTAP-
upon the admiffion of thofe which are confonant to law, -— ,— 1
and muft lay thofe which appear advantageous, but which
have not the fandtion o f law, before the firft diet for the determination
of the ftates.
4. It fhall.form. plans for the reformation of the laws, and
ihall prefent them, before the next diet.: it ihall frame
a new code of laws, public,.civil, and criminal, to-be approved
by the diet.
5. It ihall fend embaffadors and minifters to foreign courts -
from the perfons nominated by the king. The permanent
council-ihall give them the neceflary inftrudtions, excepting
in all cafes referved for the diet.
| 6. The permanent council fhall appoint, by ballot, in the
manner above-mentioned,- three, candidates for the vacant
charges, excepting thofe'which are in the king’s gift, or are
chofen by the nobility in the Palatinates.
7 ..It fhall take the moil effectual methods to preferve the
alliances and .treaties -of the republic..
A r t i c l e IV.
Limits o f the Permanent-Council’s authority..
The council has-no power in all matters referved to the
ftates aflembled in diet,, and can ena£t nothing contrary to
any liberties and prerogatives-jnftly conferred. .
It muft not uilirp to itfelf-the legiilative or judicial power,
nor in any degree take into confideration thofe affairs whofe
deciiion is referved to the diet' alone..
If the council fhould exceed its power, the members fhall
be liable to be cited and tried'.at the diet for high trealbn,
and, if guilty, to be punifhed according to the antient laws
eftablifhed upon tliis-article. The permanent;council ihall
2 remain