| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the National Assembly |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, President's responsibility called into question, death, dissolution of the National Assembly
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the National Assembly at the beginning of the legislature
- after Members' mandates have been validated and before Members are sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate but formal notification of candidature is required
- the deadline for such notification is one hour before voting.
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot for a single candidate; several rounds
- an absolute majority is required in the first and second rounds, but only a simple majority in the third
- in the event of successive votes, new candidates are admitted; some candidatures must be withdrawn depending on the results obtained during the previous vote
|
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the oldest and the youngest Members, each assisted by two tellers, supervise the voting
- the oldest Member announces the results without delay
- the election must be formally confirmed by the Constitutional Court
- the results may be challenged before the Constitutional Court
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of the State
- represents the Assembly with the authorities
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- presides over the Conference of Presidents
- in the absence of the President of Parliament, the First Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
- the Board is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents, two Questors and two Secretaries
- meets once weekly or when convened by the President
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
+ expense allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- domestic staff
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- 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 the 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 Assembly, based on precedents if necessary
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget, assisted by the Board
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff, assisted by the Board
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of the Assembly
- plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call in the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- is consulted by the Head of State with regard to the introduction of emergency powers
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
