CHAPTER VI. Finance
Art 62
The imposition of a new tax or the modification of the rates (of an existing one) shall be determined by law.
However, all such administrative fees or other revenue having the nature of compensation shall not fall within the category of the above clause.
The raising of national loans and the contracting of other liabilities to the charge of the national treasury, except those that are provided in the budget, shall require the consent of the Imperial Diet.
Art 63
The taxes levied at present shall, in so far as they are not remodeled by a new law, be collected according to the old system.
Art 64
The expenditure and revenue of the State require the consent of the Imperial Diet by means of an annual budget.
Any and all expenditures exceeding the appropriation set forth in the titles and paragraphs of the budget, or that are not provided for in the budget, shall subsequently require the appropriation of the Imperial Diet.
Art 65
The budget shall first be laid before the House of Representatives.
Art 66
The expenditures of the Imperial House shall be defrayed every year out of the national treasury, according to the fixed amount for the same, and shall not require the consent thereto of the Imperial Diet, except in case an increase thereof is necessary.
Art 67
Those expenditures already fixed and based upon the powers belonging to the Emperor by the Constitution, and such expenditures as may have arisen by the effect of law, or that relate to the legal obligations of the government, shall neither be rejected nor reduced by the Imperial Diet, without the concurrence of the government.
Art 68
In order to meet special requirements, the government may ask the consent of the Imperial Diet to a certain amount as a continuing expenditure fund, for a previously fixed number of years.
Art 69
In order to supply deficiencies, which are unavoidable in the budget, and to meet requirements unprovided for in the same, a reserve fund shall be provided in the budget.
Art 70
When the Imperial Diet can not be convoked, owing to the external or internal condition of the country, in case of urgent need for the maintenance of public safety the government may enact all necessary financial measures, by means of an imperial ordinance.
In the case mentioned in the preceding clause, the matter shall be submitted to the Imperial Diet at its next session, and its approbation shall be obtained thereto.
Art 71
When the Imperial Diet has not voted on the budget or when the budget has not been brought into actual existence the government shall carry out the budget of the preceding year.
Art 72
The final account of the expenditures and revenue of the State shall be verified and confirmed by the Board of Audit, and it shall be submitted by the government to the Imperial Diet, together with the report of verification of the said board.
The organization and competency of the Board of Audit shall be determined by a special law.
