Article 68

The sittings of the Chambers of Parliament shall be public. The full record of debates shall be published in the Bulletin Officiel of Parliament. Each Chamber may sit in secret committee, at the request of the Head of Government or of one third of its members. Meetings of the Commissions of Parliament shall be secret. The rules of procedure of the two Chambers of Parliament shall fix the cases and rules permitting these Commissions to hold public sittings. Parliament shall hold joint meetings of its two Chambers, in particular in the following cases: - the opening by the King of the parliamentary session, on the second Friday of the month of October, and the delivery of Royal messages intended for Parliament; - the adoption of the revision of the Constitution, in accordance with the provisions of Article 174; - the declarations of the Head of Government; - the presentation of the annual finance bill; - the speeches of foreign Heads of State and Government. The Head of Government may also request the President of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councillors to hold joint meetings of the two Chambers, for the presentation of information concerning matters of important national character. Joint meetings shall be held under the presidency of the President of the House of Representatives. The rules of procedure of the two Chambers shall determine the modalities and rules for the holding of these meetings. In addition to joint sittings, the permanent Commissions of Parliament may hold joint meetings to hear information concerning matters of important national character, in accordance with the rules fixed by the rules of procedure of the two Chambers.