| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Riigikogu / The Estonian Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Riigikogu |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, entering upon other office, enforcement of conviction, resolution of the Supreme Court about the continuous incompetence in fulfilling his/her duties, death |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Members of the Riigikogu during the first sitting of the Parliament
- after Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
any Member may be a candidate but formal notification is required |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- if no candidate obtains the required majority in the first ballot, the voting will be repeated: the candidates must get more than 50% of valid votes in the 1st and in the 2nd ballots, there will be a drawing of lots in the 3nd ballot |
| Procedures / results |
- the Chairman (or the Vice-Chairman) of the Election Committee of the Republic presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Election Committee of the Republic supervises the voting
- the Chairman of the Election Committee of the Republic announces the results without any delay
- the results must be confirmed by the resolution of the Election Committee of the Republic
- the results can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks 2nd in the hierarchy of State, after the Head of State
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- in the absence of the President, one of the 2 Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Board of the Riigikogu consists of the President and 2 Vice-Presidents
- meets at the initiative of the President, usually every week of the plenary sitting
- it is a collegiate presidency where there are equal rights for all |
| Material facilities |
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- may convene extraordinary sessions
- gives the floor according to the law and may give permission for extending or interrupting the speeches
- refers texts to a committee for study, together with the other Members
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees, like the other Members of the Parliament |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open and close sittings, only the 2/3 majority can interrupt the sitting
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- may interrupt the speech by switching off the microphone, if a speech is longer than permitted or does not correspond to the parliamentary etiquette
- will put the questions to the voting, but the order of voting is regulated by law
- checks the quorum
- signs the adopted legal acts, does not endorse the shorthand reports
- the Board interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly |
| Special powers |
- has equal rights with other Members for establishing the budget
- the Board is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible together with the other Members of the Board- for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendment
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs the laws adopted by the Assembly, and transmits it to the President of the Republic for promulgation |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
