Papers and Documents relating to the Foreign Relations of Hungary, Volume 1, 1919–1920 (Budapest, 1939)

Appendix II. Statutes

937 decree. Until action has been taken in this respect by the Council of Ministers, the measures enacted by the organs of the so-called people's republic shall remain in force temporarily, provided that in substance such measures are not contrary to the Constitution, to the laws in force or to customary law, or that they have not been repealed. The Council of Ministers is further empowered, until further action by the legislature, to provide by executive decree all measures necessary to put an end to the conditions created by the measures of the organs of the so-called soviet republic and to restore the legal order. The Council of Ministers is further instructed, in case further legislative action is necessary to carry out the provisions of the section, to submit to the legislature as soon as possible appropriate bills. § io. The National Assembly hereby recognizes the validity of decrees issued by the Governments constituted since August 7, 1919, with a view to the re-establishment of the constitutional legal order and the security of legal transactions; however, the Council of Ministers is hereby empowered to repeal, modify or amend such decrees according to necessity. The Council of Ministers is hereby instructed to submit to the legislature as soon as possible appropriate bills whenever such decrees relate to matters which properly belong to the legislative authority. § 11. Since relations with the kingdonjs and lands represented in the Austrian Empire Council have been dissolved, Law No. XII of 1867, and other legal rules governing those relations cease to be in force and the freedom of action of the Hungarian State, derived from its ancient independence shall be deemed to be fully regained. The National Assembly reserves hereby all claims of the Hungarian State, arising out of the dissolution of all ties with the kingdoms and lands above referred to, with respect to institutions or property owned in common or in any other respect. Chapter II. The Powers of the Regent. § 12. The National Assembly, pending the definitive regulation of the exercise of the supreme executive power and until the Head of State occupies his post pursuant to such regulation, will elect by secret ballot from Hungarian nationals a Regent to perform temporarily the functions of the Head of State. § 13. The Regent is empowered to exercise in accordance with the Constitution the royal prerogatives, subject to the following limitations: