The mass media shall be free and act in accordance with law.

The State shall guarantee the freedom of the media to act and to exercise the right to seek, receive, use and disseminate information.

The mass media shall be responsible for the reliability of the information they provide.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the term of its powers shall elect from among deputies of the Legislative Chamber the committees for drafting laws, preliminary consideration and preparation of matters to be submitted to the Legislative Chamber, control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and decisions to be adopted by the Legislative Chamber.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the term of its powers shall elect from among senators the committees for preliminary consideration and preparation of matters to be submitted to the Senate, control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and decisions to be adopted by the Senate.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in case of necessity for the implementation of concrete tasks, shall organize commissions from among deputies, senators.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall elect from among its composition the Chairperson of the Senate and his deputies. The Chairperson of the Senate shall be elected upon the nomination of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

One of the Deputies of the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be a representative from the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his Deputies shall be elected by a majority of votes of the total number of senators by secret ballot for the term of powers of the Senate.

The same person may not serve as Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan more than two terms in a row.

The Chairperson and the Deputy of Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be recalled before the appointed time by decision of the Senate adopted by more than two thirds of votes of the total number of senators by secret ballot.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

1) convoke sittings of the Senate, preside at them;

2) exercise the general direction over a preliminary review of matters to be submitted for consideration by the Senate;

3) coordinate the work of the committees and commissions of the Senate;

4) organize the control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and resolutions of the Senate;

5) direct the work on interparliamentary relations and the activity of the groups of the Senate connected with the work of international parliamentary organizations;

6) represent the Senate in interrelation with the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other state bodies, foreign states, international and other organizations;

7) sign resolutions of the Senate;

8) exercise other powers provided for by this Constitution and legislative acts.

The Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall issue ordinances.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall elect from its composition the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber and the deputies of Speaker.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his deputies shall be elected by a majority of votes of the total number of deputies by secret ballot for the term of powers of the Legislative Chamber.

The same person may not serve more than two consecutive terms as Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Deputy of Speaker may be prematurely recalled by a decision of the Legislative Chamber, adopted by more than two thirds of votes of the total number of deputies of the Legislative Chamber by secret ballot.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall:

1) convoke sittings of the Legislative Chamber, preside at them;

2) exercise the general direction over a preliminary review of matters to be submitted for consideration by the Legislative Chamber;

3) coordinate the work of the committees and commissions of the Legislative Chamber;

4) organize the control over the implementation of laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and resolutions of the Legislative Chamber;

5) direct the work on antiparliamentary relations and the activity of the groups of the Legislative Chamber connected with the work of international parliamentary organizations;

6) represent the Legislative Chamber in interrelation with the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, other state bodies, foreign states, international and other organizations;

7) sign resolutions of the Legislative Chamber;

8) exercise other powers provided for by this Constitution and legislative acts.

The Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall issue ordinances.

Able-bodied children, who are of age, shall be obliged to care for their parents.

The law shall come into effect when it is adopted by the Legislative Chamber, approved by the Senate, signed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and issued in the official publications in specified by law procedure.

The law, adopted by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, not later than ten days from the date of adoption, shall be addressed to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The law shall be considered by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan within sixty days and, if approved, shall be passed to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signature and promulgation no later than ten days.

In the case that the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan does not make a decision on approval or rejection of the law within sixty days, it shall be sent to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signature and promulgation by the Legislative Chamber.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, within sixty days, shall sign the law and promulgate it.

The law, rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be returned to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of the second consideration of the rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan law and approval the law by the Legislative Chamber, by a majority in two thirds of votes of the total number of deputies, it shall be considered to be adopted by the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and addressed by the Legislative Chamber to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for signing and promulgation.

On the law rejected by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan the Legislative Chamber and the Senate, on a par with, may form from among deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate a conciliatory commission for overcoming the occured disagreements. At adoption by the chambers proposals of the conciliatory commission the law shall be subject to consideration in ordinary procedure.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to return the law with his objections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In case of approval of the law in the earlier adopted edition by a majority not less than two thirds of votes of the total number accordingly of deputies of the Legislative Chamber and members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the law shall be subject to signing by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan within fourteen days and promulgation.

Publication of laws and other normative-legal acts shall be an obligatory condition for their application.

The right of legislative initiative shall be entitled to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan in the person of its higher representative body of state authority, the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The right of legislative initiative also belongs to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan on issues within their jurisdiction.

The right of legislative initiative shall be exercised through the introduction of a bill by subjects of the right of legislative initiative to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the right to vote, in the amount of at least one hundred thousand people, the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman), the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall have the right, in the manner of a legislative initiative, to submit to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Republic of Uzbekistan legislative proposals.

The procedure for the introduction and consideration of bills, legislative proposals shall be determined by law.

The State shall ensure the protection of personal, political, economic, social, cultural and ecological rights of young people, and encourage their active participation in the life of society and the State.

The State shall create conditions for intellectual, creative, physical and moral formation and development of young people, the exercise of their rights to education, health care, housing, recruitment, employment and recreation.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on matters relating to their conducting, shall adopt resolutions.

Resolutions of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be adopted by a majority of votes of the total number of deputies of the Legislative Chamber or members of the Senate except for cases stipulated by the present Constitution.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, after expiry of their terms of powers, shall continue their activity until the beginning of the work accordingly of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of new convocation.

The first sittings of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be convoked by the Central Election Commission accordingly not later than in two months after the elections to the Legislative Chamber and not later than in one month after the formation of the Senate.

Sittings of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be convoked during sessions. Sessions shall be convoked, as a rule, since the first working day of September till the last working day of June of the next year.

Sittings of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be convoked as required, but not less often than three times a year.

Sittings of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be empowered if more than half of the total number of all deputies, senators paticipiate in their work.

At adoption of the constitutional laws, presence of not less than two thirds of the total number of all deputies, senators shall be obligatory.

The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, the chairmen of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council, the Prosecutor General of the Republic, the Chairperson of the Board of the Central Bank shall have the right to attend sittings of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as sittings of their bodies. The Chairperson of the Senate shall have the right to attend sittings of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and its bodies, the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber — sittings of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and its bodies.

The Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall convoke separately.

The joint sittings of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be convoked upon taking the oath by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, making speeches by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on major matters of social and economic life, home and foreign policies of the country, making speeches by heads of foreign states. As agreed by the chambers the joint sittings of the chambers may be convoked on other matters.

Children are equal before the law regardless of their parents' origin and civil status.

The State shall take responsibility to ensure and protect the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of the child and to create the best conditions for his or her full physical, mental and cultural development.

Motherhood, fatherhood and childhood shall be protected by the state.

The State and society shall attend to fostering in children and young people a commitment to national and universal human values, pride in the country and the rich cultural heritage of the nation, a sense of patriotism and love of the Motherland.

The exclusive powers of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall include:

1) election the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Judicial Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the head of the republican anti-corruption body and the head of the republican anti-monopoly body on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

2) consideration and approval of the candidates for the posts of theProsecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the chairperson of the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Uzbekistan on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

3) conducting consultations on the candidature proposed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the post of the chairperson of State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

4) on the nomination of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan appointment and dismissal of the heads of diplomatic missions and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign states and international organizations on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

5) appointment and relief of the Chairperson of the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

6) ratification of decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the establishment and abolition of ministries and other republican bodies of executive power;

7) adoption of amnesty acts on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

8) hearing the reports of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Chairperson of the Board of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

9) hearing the reports of the heads of diplomatic missions and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign states and international organizations on the issues of their activities;

10) submission of parliamentary inquiries to the officials of state bodies and carrying out other forms of parliamentary control;

11) assistance to the representative bodies of state power on the ground in the performance of their activities;

12) rescission of the decisions of representative bodies of state power on the ground in the case of their inconsistency with the norms of legislation;

13) election of the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and his deputies, chairpersons of committees and their deputies;

14) adoption of decisions on deprivation of a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan from immunity on the representation of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

15) adoption of decisions on the matters relating to the organisation of chamber's activities and its internal organisation;

16) adopting resolutions on certain issues in the field of political, social and economic life, as well as on issues of national and foreign policy;

17) exercising the powers of the Oliy Majlis to legislate, with the exception of the Constitution and constitutional laws, during the dissolution of the Legislative Chamber;

18) exercising other powers stipulated by the Constitution and laws.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be entitled to dissolve itself by the majority of not less than two-thirds of the total number of senators.

The exclusive powers of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall include:

1) monitoring the execution of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

2) hearing the report of the Chamber of Accounts of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

3) consideration and approval of the candidature of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

4) hearing the reports of Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan on current issues of social and economic development of the country as well as the members of the Cabinet of Ministers on issues of their activities;

5) consideration and approval of the candidates to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on representation of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

6) hearing the annual report of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the most crucial issues of social and economic life of the country;

7) submission of parliamentary inquiries to the officials of state bodies and implementation of other forms of parliamentary control;

8) election of the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the deputies of Speaker, chairpersons of committees and their deputies;

9) addressing the issues of depriving a deputy of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan from immunity on representation of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

10) adoption of decisions on matters relating to the organization of the chamber's activities and its internal order;

11) adoption of the resolutions on certain issues in the field of political, social and economic life, as well as the issues of national and foreign policy of the state;

12) exercising other powers stipulated by the Constitution and laws.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan may be entitled to dissolve itself by the majority of not less than two-thirds of the total number of deputies.

The joint conduct of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall include:

1) adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, introducing amendments;

2) adoption of the Constitutional laws and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, introducing amendments;

3) ratification and denouncement of international treaties;

4) adoption of decision on holding a referendum of the Republic of Uzbekistan and designation the date of its holding;

5) determination of the guidelines of national and foreign policies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and adoption of strategic state programs;

6) determination of the structure and powers of the bodies of the legislative, executive and judicial authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

7) admission of new state formations into the Republic of Uzbekistan and approval of decisions to secede from the Republic of Uzbekistan;

8) legislative regulation of customs, currency and credit systems;

9) approval of the state budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, introducing amendments;

10) determination of the maximum size of government debt of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

11) determination of taxes and other compulsory payments;

12) legislative regulation of the administrative and territorial structure, and alteration of the boundaries of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

13) formation, annulment and renaming of districts, towns, cities and regions, and alteration of their boundaries;

14) institution of state awards and titles;

15) formation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan;

16) election of an Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) and the Deputy of Ombudsman;

17) ratification of decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on announcement of condition of war in case of attack on the Republic of Uzbekistan or necessity of implementation of contractual obligations on mutual defense from aggression;

18) ratification of decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on announcement of general and partial mobilization, introducing, prolongation or discontinuance of the state of emergency;

19) hearing the annual National Report on anti-corruption in the Republic of Uzbekistan;

20) conducting parliamentary investigation;

21) exercising of other powers specified by the Constitution and laws.

The matters on joint conduct by the chambers shall be considered, as a rule, first by the Legislative Chamber and then by the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Until the children are of age, parents and guardians shall be obliged to support them, take care of their upbringing, education and healthy, full and harmonious development.

The state and society shall ensure the maintenance, upbringing, education, and healthy, full and harmonious development of orphans and children deprived of the guardianship of their parents, and encourage charitable activities to this end.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall consist of one hundred fifty deputies elected in accordance with the law.

The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be the chamber of territorial representation and consist of members of the Senate (senators).

Members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be elected in equal quantity — in four persons — from the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and the city of Tashkent by secret ballot at relevant joint sessions of deputies of Zhokarghy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, representative bodies of state authority of regions, districts, cities and towns from among these deputies.

Nine members of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from among the most authoritative citizens with extensive practical experience and special merits in the sphere of science, art, literature, manufacture and other spheres of state and public activity.

A deputy of the Legislative Сhamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, may be a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who has reached on the date of the elections twenty five years of age and permanently residing on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan not less than five years. Requirements for candidates to be a deputy shall be determined by law.

One and the same person may not be simultaneously a deputy of the Legislative Chamber and a member of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The supreme state representative body shall be the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan that exercises legislative power.

The Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan consists of two chambers — the Legislative Chamber (the lower chamber) and the Senate (the upper chamber).

The term of powers of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan is five years.

Mutual relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, within the framework of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shall be regulated by treaties and agreements concluded by the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

Any disputes between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Karakalpakstan shall be settled by the way of reconciliation.

The Republic of Karakalpakstan shall have the right to secede from the Republic of Uzbekistan on the basis of a nation-wide referendum held by the people of Karakalpakstan.

Religious organizations and associations shall be separated from the state and equal before law. The state shall not interfere in the activity of religious organisations.

The State shall guarantee the freedom of activities of religious organizations functioning by the procedure prescribed by the law.