| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Kokkai / National Diet |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Shugiin / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Sangiin / House of Councillors
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the House
|
| Appointment |
- Elected by all members of the House
- The election is held at the first sitting of the new legislature
- after members' mandates have been validated
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required; if no candidate obtains a majority in the first round, a second round is held between the two candidates who obtained the largest number of votes; in case of a tie, lots are drawn
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Deputy Speaker or, in his or her absence, the Secretary General, presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Deputy Speaker or, in his or her absence, the Secretary General, supervises the voting
- the Deputy Speaker or, in his or her absence, the Secretary General announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks on a par with the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
- has precedence over the President of the House of Councillors
- represents the House with the public authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions, in the absence of the latter, he/she is replaced by an interim Speaker elected by the House |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- same salary as the Prime Minister
+ expense allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- may only call for a vote if at least one-fifth of the Members are present, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House basing itself on precedents
|
| Special powers |
- compiles annual estimates on revenues and expenditures of the House and presents the estimates to the Minister of Finance
- gives his/her agreement for the recruitment or dismissal of staff
- oversees the Clerk
- supervises the services of the House
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety and, in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may take the floor in legislative debates by leaving the podium
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure when members submit written questions to the Cabinet
- guarantees the proper enactment of laws
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
