appointed to the Halk Maslahaty. Every ex-president of Turkmenistan shall be a member of the Halk Maslahaty, unless he renounces the use of this right. The Mejlis shall consist of 125 deputies; they shall be elected by electoral districts with approximately equal number of voters. A citizen of Turkmenistan who has reached the age of 25 and has been permanently residing in Turkmenistan for the previous ten years may be elected a deputy of the Mejlis. The term of office of members and deputies of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan shall be five years. The same person cannot simultaneously be a member and deputy of two chambers of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan. Article 79. The chambers of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan may be prematurely dissolved in the following cases: 1) based on the decision of the national referendum; 2) on the basis of a resolution adopted by a majority of at least two-thirds of the total number of its members and deputies (self-dissolution); 3) by the President of Turkmenistan in case of non-formation within six months of the leadership of the chambers of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan. Article 80. The Halk Maslahaty shall elect from its membership the Chairperson of the Halk Maslahaty, his deputy, form committees and commissions. The Mejlis shall elect from its membership the Chairperson of the Mejlis, his deputy, shall form committees and commissions. Members of the Halk Maslahaty and deputies of the Mejlis of the previous convocation shall retain their powers until the opening of the first sessions of the Halk Maslahaty and the Mejlis of the new convocation. The chambers of the Milli Gengesh of Turkmenistan shall adopt their own regulations and address issues of internal regulations of their activities. Article 801. The meetings of the Halk Maslahaty and the Mejlis shall be held separately. The meetings of the Halk Maslahaty and the Mejlis shall be open. In cases stipulated by their regulations, closed meetings may also be held. The chambers may also hold joint meetings to hear the messages of the President of Turkmenistan, speeches by the heads of foreign states and consider other issues.