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BARBADOS
House of Assembly
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name House of Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the House of Assembly
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs
- after Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Member of the House of Assembly (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) can be a candidate
- candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the House of Assembly
- candidatures must be seconded by another Member of the House of Assembly
Voting system - if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate
- if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected.
Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the House of Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
STATUS
Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker (or any other Member elected for that sitting) can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities NA (no information received)
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only
- organises the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments
Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders
- can suspend sittings for short periods
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House of Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the President's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak
- 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 adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House of Assembly
Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House of Assembly
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only in the case of a tied vote

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