Every existing Officer of the Provisional Government who has been transferred to that Government from the British Government and every existing Officer of the British Government, who, at the date of the coming into operation of this Constitution, is engaged or employed in the administration of public services which on that date become public services of the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann (except those whose services have been lent by the British Government to the Provisional Government) shall on that date be transferred to and become an Officer of the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann and shall hold office by a tenure corresponding to his previous tenure, and shall be entitled to the benefit of Article 10 of the Scheduled Treaty. ARTICLE 76. As respects departmental property, assets, rights, and liabilities, the Government of the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann shall be regarded as the successors of the Provisional Government, and, to the extent to which functions of any department of the British Government become functions of the Government of the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann, as the successors of such department of the British Government. ARTICLE 77. After the date on which this Constitution comes into operation the House of the Parliament elected in pursuance of the Irish Free State (Agreement) Act, 1922 (being the constituent assembly for the settlement of this Constitution), may, for a period not exceeding one year from that date, but subject to compliance by the Members thereof with the provisions of Article 17 of this Constitution, exercise all the powers and authorities conferred on the Chamber/Dail Eireann by this Constitution, and the first election for the Chamber/Dail Eireann under Articles 26 and 27 hereof shall take place as soon as possible after the expiration of such period. ARTICLE 78. The first Senate/Seanad Eireann shall be constituted immediately after the coming into operation of this Constitution in the manner following, that is to say:-- (a) The first Senate/Seanad shall consist of two members elected by each of the Universities in the Irish Free State/Saorstat Eireann and fifty-six other members, of whom twenty-eight shall be elected and twenty-eight shall be nominated. (b) The twenty-eight nominated members of the Senate/Seanad shall be nominated by the President of the Executive Council who shall, in making such nominations, have special regard to the providing of representation for groups or parties not then adequately represented in the Chamber/Dail. (c) The twenty-eight elected members of the Senate/Seanad shall be elected by the Chamber/Dail Eireann voting on principles of Proportional Representation. (d) Of the University members one member elected by each University, to be elected by lot, shall hold office for six years, the remaining University members shall hold office for the full period of twelve years.