Chapter XI: General Provisions

ARTICLE 186

Arabic shall be the official language of the State.

ARTICLE 187

Cases in which a foreign language may be used in official transactions shall be determined by law.

ARTICLE 188

The Kingdom of Libya has two capitals: Tripoli and Benghazi.

ARTICLE 189

he extradition of political refugees shall be prohibited. International treaties and the laws shall prescribe the grounds for the extradition of ordinary criminals.

ARTICLE 190

Foreigners shall be deported only in accordance with the provisions of the law.

ARTICLE 191

The legal status of foreigners shall be prescribed by law in accordance with the principles of International Law.

ARTICLE 192

The State shall guarantee respect for the systems of personal status of non-Moslems.

ARTICLE 193

General amnesty shall not be granted except by law.

ARTICLE 194

A law shall determine the manner in which the land, sea and air forces are established and organised.

ARTICLE 195

No provision of this Constitution may be suspended under any circumstances except where such suspension is temporary in time of war or during the operation of martial law and is in accordance with law. In any event a parliamentary session may notbe suspended when the conditions prescribed by this Constitution for the holding of such a session exist.

ARTICLE 196

The King or either of the two Chambers may propose the revision of this Constitution either by the amendment or decision of one or more of its provisions or by the insertion of additional provisions.

ARTICLE 197

No proposal may be made to review the provisions relating to the monarchal form of government, the order of succession to the throne, the representative form of government or the principles of liberty and equality guaranteed by this Constitution.

ARTICLE 198

For the purpose of reviewing this Constitution, each of the two Chambers shall, by an absolute majority of all its members, adopt a resolution stating the necessity for the review and prescribing the subject thereof. The two Chambers shall, after discussing the matters subject to review, adopt their decisions in respect thereof. Discussion and voting in each of the two Chambers shall not take place unless three-quarters of its members are present. The resolution to be valid must be adopted by a majority of three-quarters of the members present in each of the two Chambers and must be sanctioned by the King.

ARTICLE 199

Article 199 is repealed by Law No. 1 of 1963.

ARTICLE 200

Immigration into Libya shall be regulated by law.