CHAPTER VIII THE PARTY ETHICS COMMITTEE, POLITICAL ETHICS HEARING COMMITTEE and OTHERS

CHAPTER VIII
THE PARTY ETHICS COMMITTEE, POLITICAL ETHICS HEARING COMMITTEE and OTHERS

Article 65
There shall be established a Party Ethics Committee in order to maintain Party discipline and promote Party spirit.
1. The Party Ethics Committee shall consist of eighteen Members. The Members shall be chosen at the Party Convention as stipulated below:
  1. Eight Members from the House of Representatives;
  2. Four Members from the House of Councillors;
  3. Two Members drawn from among former LDP Diet Members and recommended by the President;
  4. Four knowledgeable persons of distinction (who do not belong to any of the above mentioned three groups) shall be recommended by the President.
2. The Party Ethics Committee shall have a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman elected mutually from among its Members.
3. The Chairman shall preside over the meetings of the Committee
4. The Deputy Chairman shall assist the Chairman and assume his functions in the event the Chairman is unable to perform his duties.
Article 66
The Party Ethics Committee shall examine matters concerning the upholding of Party discipline, as well as Party Members' possible commendation or punishment.
1. At the conclusion of such an examination, the Party Ethics Committee shall dispose of the matter according to provisions contained in Article 92.
2. In order to promote Party spirit, the Party Ethics Committee may, if necessary, examine Party committees and other groupings inside the Party's Headquarters, Branches, and Prefectural Federations.
3. Procedures necessary for the management of the Party Ethics Committee shall be stipulated in the Party Discipline Rules.
Article 67
There shall be established a Political Ethics Examination Committee in order to secure ethical political conduct.
1. In the event that a Party Diet Member is thought to have violated a provision of the Ethics Charter as fixed by the Party Discipline Rules, the Political Ethics Hearing Committee shall independently conduct an investigation. If the results of said investigation lead the Committee to deem it appropriate for the Party Ethics Committee to conduct an examination, the Political Ethics Hearing Committee shall advise the Secretary General that he request convening the Party Ethics Committee.
2. The Secretary General of the Party shall give considerable regard to recommendations presented by the Political Ethics Examination Committee.
3. Procedures necessary for the organization and management of the Political Ethics Hearing Committee shall be stipulated in the Party Discipline Rules.
Article 67-2

There shall be established a compliance office in order to ensure that the Party and Party Diet members abide by the laws that regulate their political activities.