Armenia 1995 Constitution (reviewed 2015)

CHAPTER 12. THE TELEVISION AND RADIO COMMISSION

Article 196. Functions and Powers of the Television and Radio Commission

1. The Television and Radio Commission is an independent state body, which shall ensure the freedom, independence, and plurality of the broadcast media, and oversee the activities of television companies and radio companies.
2. The Television and Radio Commission shall allocate air frequencies by public and competitive procedure.
3. The Television and Radio Commission shall supervise the expression, in public television and radio, of the plurality of information programs, educational programs, cultural programs, and entertainment programs.
4. The Television and Radio Commission shall present to the National Assembly an annual communication about its activities and about the freedom of information situation in television and the radio.
5. In the cases and manner stipulated by law, the Television and Radio Commission shall adopt sub-legislative normative legal acts.
6. The powers, as well as procedure and safeguards of activities of the Television and Radio Commission shall be stipulated by law.

Article 197. Formation Procedure and Composition of the Television and Radio Commission

1. The Television and Radio Commission shall consist of seven members.
2. The members of the Television and Radio Commission shall, upon nomination by the competent standing committee of the National Assembly, be elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term by at least a three-fifths majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians. From among its members, the Television and Radio Commission shall elect the Commission chairman. The same person may not be elected as a member, including chairman, of the Television and Radio Commission for more than two consecutive terms.
3. Anyone who has higher education, meets the requirements prescribed for a parliamentarian, and is a reputed specialist in the field of mass news media, may be elected as a member of the Television and Radio Commission. Additional requirements may be prescribed by law for the Commission members.
4. The incompatibility requirements stipulated for parliamentarians shall apply to the members of the Television and Radio Commission. Additional incompatibility requirements may be stipulated for them by law.
5. During their term in office, the members of the Television and Radio Commission may not be members of any party or otherwise engage in political activities. In public speeches, they shall exercise political restraint.
6. In case of violating any requirement of Paragraphs 4 or 5 of this Article, the powers of a member of the Television and Radio Commission shall be terminated by the National Assembly by at least a three-fifths majority vote of the total number of parliamentarians.