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FRANCE
Assemblée nationale (National Assembly)
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlement / Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name (generic / translated) Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Sénat / Senate
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the National Assembly
Term - duration: duration of the legislature (max 5 years)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of parliamentary seat, death
- in case of dissolution, the President and the Questors assume general administrative powers until the new Assembly has taken up its functions
Appointment - elected at the first sitting of the legislature, before the Constitutional Court has ruled on petitions contesting electoral operations
Eligibility Any MP may be a candidate and no notification of candidature is required
Voting system - vote by secret ballot
- if no candidate has obtained an absolute majority in the first two rounds, a relative majority is sufficient in the third round; in case of a tie, the senior candidate is declared elected
Procedures / results - the senior Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- tellers drawn by lot count the votes
- the senior Member announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks fourth in the order of precedence, after the President of the Senate
- presides over sittings of the National Assembly
- represents the Assembly in general
- convenes and presides over the Bureau of the Conference of Presidents
- represents the Assembly when it participates in international bodies
- is de facto President of the French Chapter of the AIPLF (International Assembly of French Speaking Parliamentarians) and Joint President of the French IPU Group
- in case of vacancy, is replaced by one of the Vice-Presidents
- presides over the sittings of the Congress (joint meeting of the National Assembly and Senate)
Board - consists of 22 Members: 1 Chairman, 6 Vice-Chairmen, 3 Questors and 12 Secretaries elected at the beginning of each legislature and (apart from the Chairman) renewed every year at the opening sitting of the ordinary session
- meets once a month, on average, and whenever necessary
- has all powers to regulate the deliberations of the Assembly and to organize and manage all services in the conditions laid down in the Standing Orders

Material facilities - allowance (received by all MPs)
+ expense allowance (FF 58,000/mo
- official residence (Hôtel de Lassay) + official suite (Château de Versailles)
- administrative personnel, secretariat, service officers
- official cars + chauffeurs
- police officers
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes public sittings of the Assembly (the timetable for sessions is laid down in the Constitution)
- decides which standing committee bills and amendments are to be referred to
- is competent to assess the admissibility of amendments
- passes judgement on the legislative admissibility of amendments
The Conference of Presidents may:
- establish a supplementary agenda
- decide on how to organise the general discussion by the Assembly of the texts submitted
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
- establishes the order of speakers, gives and withdraws the floor
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure
- calls for a vote
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates by signing them, together with two Secretaries
- may be led to interpret the Rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
Special powers The Board is responsible with regard to:
- the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- appointments, particularly that of the Clerk
- the organization of the services of Parliament
- the questors, under the Board's authority, are responsible for the administrative and financial services
- has broad powers to take an initiative or give an impetus in the international field, but a five-Member delegation of the Board is responsible for relation with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
- is empowered to seize the Constitutional Council to settle a dispute between himself/herself and the Administration with regard to the admissibility of a bill or amendment,
- when he/she deems that an international commitment contains an unconstitutional clause,
- when he/she deems that a law which has been adopted but not yet promulgated is unconstitutional
- appoints the members of the Constitutional Council, the High Council of the Magistrature, the High Audiovisual Board and other extra-parliamentary bodies
Speaking and voting rights, other functions Like any member of the Assembly, he may take the floor in legislative debates, take part in voting, propose bills or amendments (but rarely does so)
- appoints three members of the Constitutional Council
- can bring matters before the Constitutional Council
- must be consulted by the President of the Republic in certain circumstances

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