| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the National Assembly |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation |
| Appointment |
- elected by the Members of the Assembly
- an election is held after a renewal of the Assembly, a resignation or a death
- after validation of members' mandates |
| Eligibility |
- any Member of the Assembly must formally announce his candidature
- notification of candidature must be made one hour before the vote |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority required in the first round, relative majority in the second - in case of a tie, the oldest Member is declared elected |
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the two youngest Members and the oldest member supervise the voting
- the oldest Member announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged in the Constitutional Court |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of the State
- in the absence of the Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker and possibly the Second Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of a Chairman, 2 Vice-Chairman, 1 Secretary/Questor, 1 Secretary
- members are eligible for re-election |
| Material facilities |
NA (no information received) |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments, with the Board's agreement
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees, together with the members of the Board
- appoints ad hoc committees |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, together with the Secretary of the Board, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up, together with the members of the Board
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote, together with the Secretary of the Board, in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum, together with the Secretary of the Board
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates, together with the Secretary of the Board |
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the budget, together with the Secretary/Questor
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk, with the agreement of the members of the Board
- organizes the services of Parliament, together with the members of the Board
- plays a specific role in overseeing foreign relations and defence matters
- 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
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments, through other Members of the Assembly
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- nominates two of the six members of the Constitutional Counci |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
