DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF THE IRISH FREE STATE

SECTION V.—TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

Article 78

From The Irish Constitution Explained by Darrell Figgis 1922

The first Senate/Seanad Eireann shall be constituted immediately after the coming into operation of this Constitution in the manner following, that is to say:—

(a) The first Senate/Seanad shall consist of two members elected by each of the Universities in the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann and fifty-six other members, of whom twenty-eight shall be elected and twenty-eight shall be nominated.

(b) The twenty-eight nominated members of the Senate/Seanad shall be nominated by the President of the Executive Council who shall, in making such nominations, have special regard to the providing of representation for groups or parties not then adequately represented in the Chamber/ Dail.

(c) The twenty-eight elected members of the Senate/Seanad shall be elected by the Chamber/Dail Eireann voting on principles of Proportional Representation.

(d) Of the University members one member elected by each University, to be elected by lot, shall hold office for six years, the remaining University members shall hold office for the full period of twelve years.

(e) Of the twenty-eight nominated members, fourteen, to be selected by lot, shall hold office for the full period of twelve years, the remaining fourteen shall hold office for the period of six years.

(f) Of the twenty-eight elected members the first fourteen elected shall hold office for the period of nine years, the remaining fourteen shall hold office for the period of three years.

(g) At the termination of the period of office of any such members, members shall be elected in their place in manner provided by Article 31.

(h) Casual vacancies shall be filled in manner provided by Article 33.

(i) For the purpose of the election of members for any University under this Article, all persons whose names appear on the register for the University in force at the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution shall, notwithstanding anything in Article 14, be entitled to vote.

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