Prohibition of foreign ownership and foreign military purposes 251. (a) No foreign party, shall own or be given ownership of any part of the territory of the Maldives. (b) A foreign party shall not receive a lease of, or be given in any other way, any part of the territory of the Maldives for a period exceeding ninety nine years. (c) No part of the territory of the Maldives shall be used for foreign military purposes without the approval of the majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis. Legal actions in the name of the State 252. Except where specified in this Constitution as the responsibility of another party, the Executive may sue or be sued on behalf of the State, and may defend any action against the State, in any court of the Maldives, in any foreign court, or in any other place. CHAPTER XI STATE OF EMERGENCY Declaration of a state of emergency 253. In the event of natural disaster, dangerous epidemic disease, war, threat to national security, or threatened foreign aggression, the President may declare a state of emergency in all or part of the country for a period not exceeding thirty days. 87