| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso Nacional / National Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, decision of the Senate to end the President's term |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Senators
- election takes place during the first constituent meeting of the Senate, after the Members' mandate has been validated and after they are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be candidate |
| Voting system |
- elected by a 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 Senators 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 presides over the Senate during the voting (in his absence, the Deputy President, former Presidents, Vice-Presidents or the oldest Member of the Senate)
- the Secretary General supervises the voting
- the former President announces the results immediately
- the result cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second after the Head of State
- takes precedence over the President of the Chamber of Deputies
- presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- represents the Senate with the public authorities
- is ex officio member of the National Security Council
- represents the Senate in international bodieswith the agreement of the Senate
- is ex officio President of the Committee on Internal Affairs of the Senate
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- Allowance as a Senator
- Official car
Organisation 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 |
| 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 Senate. 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 Senate
- 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 in agreement with the Senate
- organises the services in agreement with the Senate
- plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence in his/her capacity of member of the National Security Council
- is responsible for relations with foreign parliaments
- is responsible for safety and discipline and, in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates in his capacity of Senator
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion with the assistance of the Secretary General
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments in his capacity of Senator
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure in his capacity of Senator
- intervenes in verifying the constitutionality of laws by declaring a bill unconstitutional |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
