Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea Nacional / National Assembly |
Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
Title |
President of the National Assembly |
Term |
- duration: 2 years (the President is eligible for re-election)
- reasons of interruption of the term: resignation, recall at the request of two-thirds of the Members of Assembly, death, dissolution of Assembly
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Appointment |
- elected by all Members of Assembly
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Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate, but candidatures are usually presented by the leaders of parliamentary groups |
Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot
- an absolute majority of the Members is required
- if no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round, a second round is held between the two candidates who received the most votes
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Procedures / results |
- a Member designated by the Chamber prior to the vote presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the tellers supervise the voting
- the Director of the Preparatory Junta or the outgoing President announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
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STATUS |
Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of the State
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions
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Board |
- the Committee of the Board is regulated by the Standing Orders
- it consists of the President, the Vice-President and five Members, all of whom serve a one-year term
- it meets whenever necessary
- it assists and advises the President
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Material facilities |
- allowance
- remuneration for representational duties
- official car
- secretariat
- military protection
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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 through the intermediary of the secretariat
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
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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
- 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
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates with the Secretary General
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Special powers |
- the Committee of the Board establishes the budget, then submits it to the President
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff with the Committee of the Board
- 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
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Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
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