| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso Nacional / National Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senado / Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Chamber of Deputies |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation or decision of the Chamber of Deputies to end the President's term, death |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Deputies
- election takes place during the first constituent meeting of the Chamber of Deputies, after the Members' mandate has been validated and after they are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Deputy may be candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- several rounds are held in the event of a tie or if no candidate obtains an absolute majority of votes of Deputies present
- the second and subsequent rounds are held between the two candidates who have obtained the largest number of votes in the previous round |
| Procedures / results |
- the former President or Vice-President of the House, in their absence, the Deputy who has served must often as President, presides over the Assembly during the voting. Should two candidates have served identical lengths of time, the choice shall be made by alphabetical order of the names
- The Secretary General supervises the voting
- the former president announces the results of the election
- the result cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fourth in the hierarchy of State
- the President of the Senate takes precedence over the President of the Chamber of Deputies
- represents the Chamber of Deputies with the public authorities
- represents the Chamber of Deputies in international bodies
- is ex officio President of the Committee on Internal Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance as a Deputy
- official car |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organises the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly. The Secretary General may also make announcements in relation to procedural matters.
- 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 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, together with the Secretary General
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly with the agreement of the House
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organises impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- makes proposals to the President of the Republic for establishing the budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- organises the services of Parliament
- 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 in his/her capacity of Deputy
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion together with the Secretary General
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments in his/her capacity of Deputy
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure in his/her capacity of Deputy
- ensures the constitutionality of laws by declaring a bill unconstitutional |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
