2. The three principal languages spoken in Switzerland--German, French, and Italian--shall be considered national languages of the Confederation.[23] 3. The officials of the Confederation shall be responsible for their conduct in office. Federal law shall define this responsibility and the means of enforcing it. The third chapter directs the method by which the Constitution can be amended. CHAPTER III. 1. The Federal Constitution may at any time be amended. 2. Each revision shall take place by the ordinary method of Federal legislation. 3. If one branch of the Federal Assembly passes a resolution for amendment of the Federal Constitution and the other does not approve; or upon the demand of fifty thousand qualified voters, in either case, the question whether the Constitution ought to be amended must be submitted to a vote of the Swiss people, voting yes or no. If a majority of the citizens voting pronounce in the affirmative, there shall be a new election of both branches of the Federal Assembly for the purpose of preparing amendments. 4. The amended Constitution shall go into effect whenever it shall receive a majority of all the votes cast, and the approval of a majority of the Cantons. In determining the majority of the Cantons, the vote of a half-Canton shall be counted as half a vote. The result of the popular vote in each Canton shall be taken as determining the vote of the Canton.[24] The Constitution closes with five articles, styled _Temporary Provisions_: 1. The proceeds of the posts and customs shall be divided upon the existing basis until such time as the Confederation shall take upon itself the military expenses up to this time borne by the Cantons. The loss which may be occasioned to the finances of any Canton by the sum of the charges which result from certain articles of the Constitution shall fall upon such Canton only gradually. 2. The provisions of the Federal laws and of the Cantonal concordats, constitutions or Cantonal laws which are contrary to this Constitution cease to have effect by the adoption of the Constitution, or when the Federal laws passed in pursuance thereof, shall be published. 3. The new provisions in regard to the powers of the Federal Tribunal shall not take effect until the passage of the Federal laws relating to it. 4. The Cantons shall be allowed a period of five years within which to introduce the system of free instruction in primary public education. 5. Those persons who practise a liberal profession, and who before the publication of the Federal law provided for by the Constitution have obtained a certificate of competence from a Canton or a joint authority representing several Cantons, may pursue that profession throughout the Confederation.