| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Sénat / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 6 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Senators who are present
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate or when a vacancy occurs
- following the validation of mandates
|
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority in the first round, relative majority in the second round, in the event of a tie in the second round, the oldest Senator is elected
|
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest Senator presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the two youngest Senators act as Secretaries until the President has been elected
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- in the absence of the President, the Vice Presidents (by order of their rank) can assume his/her role and functions
- It is the Board that :
* represents the Senate with public authorities
|
| Board |
- is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Senate
- consists of the President, six Vice President, six Secretaries and two Questors
|
| Material facilities |
NA (no information received) |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- establishes and modifies the agenda, within the framework of the Conference of the Presidents
- refers texts to a committee for study
- convenes the Conference of Presidents
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- 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
|
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the budget
- heads up and oversees all of the Senate Departments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
- appoints three members to the Constitutional Court and to the National Board of Communication
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates, provided that he leaves his/her seat and does not resume it until the debate has ended |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
