Article III-330 (#)

1. A European law or framework law of the Council shall establish the necessary measures for the
election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a
uniform procedure in all Member States or in accordance with principles common to all Member
States.
The Council shall act unanimously on initiative from, and after obtaining the consent of, the
European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component members. This law or
framework law shall enter into force after it has been approved by the Member States in accordance
with their respective constitutional requirements.
2. A European law of the European Parliament shall lay down the regulations and general
conditions governing the performance of the duties of its Members. The European Parliament shall
act on its own initiative after seeking an opinion from the Commission and after obtaining the
consent of the Council. The Council shall act unanimously on all rules or conditions relating to the
taxation of Members or former Members.

Article III-331 (#)

European laws shall lay down the regulations governing the political parties at European level
referred to in Article I-46(4), and in particular the rules regarding their funding.

Article III-332 (#)

The European Parliament may, by a majority of its component Members, request the Commission to
submit any appropriate proposal on matters on which it considers that a Union act is required for the
purpose of implementing the Constitution. If the Commission does not submit a proposal, it shall
inform the European Parliament of the reasons.

Article III-333 (#)

In the course of its duties, the European Parliament may, at the request of a quarter of its component
Members, set up a temporary Committee of Inquiry to investigate, without prejudice to the powers
conferred by the Constitution on other institutions or bodies, alleged contraventions or
maladministration in the implementation of Union law, except where the alleged facts are being
examined before a court and while the case is still subject to legal proceedings.
The temporary Committee of Inquiry shall cease to exist on submission of its report.
A European law of the European Parliament shall lay down the detailed provisions governing the
exercise of the right of inquiry. The European Parliament shall act on its own initiative after obtaining
the consent of the Council and of the Commission.

Article III-334 (#)

In accordance with Article I-10(2)(d), any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person
residing or having its registered office in a Member State, shall have the right to address, individually
or in association with other persons, a petition to the European Parliament on a matter which comes
within the Union's fields of activity and which affects him, her or it directly.

Article III-335 (#)

1. The European Parliament shall elect a European Ombudsman. In accordance with Articles I-10
(2)(d) and I-49, he or she shall be empowered to receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or
any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State concerning
instances of maladministration in the activities of the Union's institutions, bodies, offices or agencies,
with the exception of the Court of Justice of the European Union acting in its judicial role.
In accordance with his or her duties, the Ombudsman shall conduct inquiries for which he or she
finds grounds, either on his or her own initiative or on the basis of complaints submitted to him or
her direct or through a member of the European Parliament, except where the alleged facts are or
have been the subject of legal proceedings. Where the Ombudsman establishes an instance of
maladministration, he or she shall refer the matter to the institution, body, office or agency
concerned, which shall have a period of three months in which to inform him or her of its views. The
European Ombudsman shall then forward a report to the European Parliament and the institution,
body, office or agency concerned. The person lodging the complaint shall be informed of the
outcome of such inquiries.
The Ombudsman shall submit an annual report to the European Parliament on the outcome of his or
her inquiries.

2. The Ombudsman shall be elected after each election of the European Parliament for the duration
of its term of office. The Ombudsman shall be eligible for reappointment.
The Ombudsman may be dismissed by the Court of Justice at the request of the European Parliament
if he or she no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his or her duties or if he
or she is guilty of serious misconduct.
3. The Ombudsman shall be completely independent in the performance of his or her duties. In the
performance of those duties he or she shall neither seek nor take instructions from any institution,
body, office or agency. The Ombudsman shall not, during his or her term of office, engage in any
other occupation, whether gainful or not.
4. A European law of the European Parliament shall lay down the regulations and general
conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties. The European Parliament shall
act on its own initiative after seeking an opinion from the Commission and after obtaining the
consent of the Council.

Article III-336 (#)

The European Parliament shall hold an annual session. It shall meet, without requiring to be
convened, on the second Tuesday in March.
The European Parliament may meet in extraordinary part-session at the request of a majority of its
component members or at the request of the Council or of the Commission.

Article III-337 (#)

1. The European Council and the Council shall be heard by the European Parliament in accordance
with the conditions laid down in the Rules of Procedure of the European Council and those of the
Council.
2.
The Commission may attend all the meetings of the European Parliament and shall, at its
request, be heard. It shall reply orally or in writing to questions put to it by the European Parliament
or by its members.
3. The European Parliament shall discuss in open session the annual general report submitted to it
by the Commission.

Article III-338 (#)

Save as otherwise provided in the Constitution, the European Parliament shall act by a majority of the
votes cast. Its Rules of Procedure shall determine the quorum.

Article III-339 (#)

The European Parliament shall adopt its Rules of Procedure, by a majority of its component
members.
The proceedings of the European Parliament shall be published in the manner laid down in the
Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament.

Article III-340 (#)

If a motion of censure on the activities of the Commission is tabled before it, the
European Parliament shall not vote thereon until at least three days after the motion has
been tabled and shall do so only by open vote.
If the motion of censure is carried by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority
of the component members of the European Parliament, the members of the Commission shall
resign as a body and the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall resign from duties that he or she
carries out in the Commission. They shall remain in office and continue to deal with current business
until they are replaced in accordance with Articles I-26 and I-27. In this case, the term of office of the
members of the Commission appointed to replace them shall expire on the date on which the term of
office of the members of the Commission obliged to resign as a body would have expired.