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BRAZIL
Cámara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies)
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Congresso nacional / National Congress
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Cámara dos Deputados / Chamber of Deputies
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senado Federal / Federal Senate
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Chamber of Deputies
Term - duration: 2 years (half-term of House)
- expires on 31 January
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of mandate, death, dissolution of Parliament
Appointment - elected by all Deputies
- after validation of mandates and swearing-in
Eligibility - any Deputy who is formally a candidate may be elected
- notification of candidature 24 hours before the opening of the session
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot with an absolute majority, in 1 or 2 rounds
- certain candidatures must be withdrawn depending on the results of the second round
Procedures / results - the outgoing President (or the oldest parliamentarian, in case of vacancy) presides over the Chamber during the voting
- specially appointed parliamentarians supervise the voting
- the outgoing President announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of State, before the President of the Senate - is No. 2 in the list of personalities acting as interim Head of State
- joint sittings of both Chambers are presided over by the President of the Senate
- represents the Chamber with the public authorities and is ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Chamber in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the First Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions
Board - the Governing Board, the General Secretariat and the General Management assist the President and are regulated by the Standing Orders of the House
- the Board consists of 7 titular MP and 4 substitute Members who serve 2-year terms - the Secretariat and the Management are composed of 1 titular Member each who serves for an indefinite length of time
- the Board meets at least once a fortnight
Material facilities - fixed allowance of Cr$ 3000
+ special allowance of Cr$ 5000 (varies depending on frequency)
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- domestic personnel
- 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 provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures according to the provisions of the Standing Orders
- 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
- 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 Chamber
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
Special powers - presides over the Board which approves the proposed budget, prepared by the General Management
- approvals proposals for the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff and appoints the latter
- plays a specific role in overseeing foreign affairs and defence
- 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 Chamber
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates, by leaving his seat
- only takes part in voting in case of a tied vote by secret ballot
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

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