# Title X: Criminal Responsibility of Government Members
**Articles: 68-1 to 68-3**

## Core Idea
Title X establishes the criminal responsibility of members of the Government for acts committed in the exercise of their functions. It distinguishes between the High Court of Justice for the President and the Court of Justice of the Republic for other Government members.

## Frameworks Introduced

### Jurisdiction (Article 68-1)
- **Court of Justice of the Republic**: The members of the Government shall be criminally responsible for acts accomplished in the exercise of their functions and qualifying as crimes or misdemeanors at the time they were accomplished
- **Procedure**: Such responsibility shall be determined by the Court of Justice of the Republic
- **Composition**: The Court of Justice of the Republic shall be bound, for two-thirds of its members, by the composition of Parliament and, for one-third, by the composition of the Supreme Judicial Court

### Indictment Procedure (Article 68-2)
- **Initiation**: An indictment may not be issued against a member of the Government, except by a vote of the two Assemblies in identical terms or by a decision of the High Court of Justice
- **Majority**: Such vote or decision shall be taken by the majority provided for in the last paragraph of Article 68

### Immunity During Term (Article 68-3)
- **Suspension**: In no case may a member of the Government be the subject, before the jurisdictional authority, of a coercive measure, in the course of the investigation or the prosecution, without the authorization of the court which is competent by virtue of the preceding paragraphs

## Mental Models
- Use **Court of Justice as accountability mechanism** — Government members can be held criminally responsible
- Think of **parliamentary filter** — requires parliamentary vote or High Court decision for indictment
- Apply **immunity during term** — protection from coercive measures without court authorization

## Anti-patterns
- **Political prosecution**: Court of Justice handles criminal offenses, not political disputes
- **Automatic prosecution**: Requires parliamentary vote or High Court decision
- **Unlimited immunity**: Immunity does not prevent investigation, only coercive measures

## Key Takeaways
1. Government members are criminally responsible for acts in official capacity
2. Court of Justice of the Republic has jurisdiction over Government members
3. Indictment requires vote of both Assemblies or High Court decision
4. Members enjoy immunity from coercive measures without court authorization
5. Court composition includes parliamentary members and supreme judges

## Connects To
- **Title II (President)**: President has separate accountability through High Court of Justice
- **Title III (Government)**: Government members' responsibility
- **Title VII (Constitutional Council)**: Council cannot try Government members