| Parliament name |
Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 3 years
- reasons for interruption of the term: death, resignation, end of term as a Senator |
| Appointment |
- elected by the Senate
- election takes place after newly elected Senators take their seats or whenever the office becomes vacant
- election is held after newly elected Senators are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be candidate
- nominations are received from the floor |
| Voting system |
- elected by secret ballot and absolute majority of the votes cast |
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting with the assistance of Senators appointed as scrutineers and counts the votes
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the result can only be challenged by the Senate |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third or fourth after the Head of State, depending on the seniority between the Presidents of both Houses
- the most senior presiding officer (by date of appointment) has precedence over the presiding officer of the other House. If both are elected on the same date, the President of the Senate has precedence
- for joint sittings of the Houses, the presiding officer is determined by rules as agreed in advance by each House.
- represents the Senate with the public authorities
- is ex officio Chairman of one committee but is ex officio member of other committees
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President performs his/her duties |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- remuneration as Senator
- other allowances
- office
- support staff
- official car |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions at the request of the Government or a majority of Senators
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- 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 and then any amendment may be debated
- 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 at the request of a Senator
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate, if necessary by referring to precedents |
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the Senate's budget
- approves the appointment of staff
- recommends the appointment of the Clerk to the Governor General
- organizes the services of Parliament
- represents the Senate in relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety and, in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may take the floor in legislative debates, but by convention, does not do so
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- may propose bills or amendments, but by convention, does not do so
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- continues to perform his/her duties between sessions and may call a session at the request of the Government or a majority of Senators |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
