| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Consell general / General Council |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker (Syndic General) of the General Council |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, annulment of the elections by the courts, appointment to a post incompatible with that of Speaker, death, dissolution of the Council |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Council 15 days after proclamation of the election results
- after Members' mandates have been validated
- before Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate, but formal notification of candidature is required
- deadline for notification is 24 hours before the opening of the sitting during which the election takes place
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required in the first round; in the second round only the two candidates who obtained the most votes in the first round may stand; in case of a tie in the second round, the oldest candidate is elected.
|
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest Member presides over the Council during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the oldest Member announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged when the vote is held
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of the State
- represents the Council with the authorities
- is ex officio President of committees
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
- the Board is regulated by the Standing Orders
- it consists of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and two Secretaries elected for the duration of the legislature
- it meets at the initiative of the Speaker, every 10 days on average
|
| Material facilities |
- yearly allowance: FF 260,000 (approx.)
+ representation allowance
- official car
- secretariat
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda, in agreement with the leaders of the parliamentary groups
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments with the Board
- refers texts to a committee for study, in agreement with the leaders of the parliamentary groups
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, 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 Council, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk, at the Syndicate's recommendation
- organizes the services of the Council
- 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 Council
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion, solely when technical matters are involved
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- countersigns laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation
- ensures the constitutionality of laws
- appoints one member of the Higher Court of Justice
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
