| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: if the President ceases to be a Commonwealth citizen; if he is nominated as a candidate for the House of Representatives' elections; if he is absent of the sittings of the Senate (in certains circumstances quoted in the Rules of procedure of the Senate) and in the case of dissolution of the Senate or death, |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Senators
- election is held when the Senate first meets after general elections, when the office of the President is vacant
- after Members'mandates are validated and before Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be a candidate, except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary |
| Voting system |
- formal vote (if there are several candidates) by secret ballot
- simple majority is required
- if nocandidate obtains the majority of votes in the first round, several roundsand the candidate who obtains the smallest number of votes have to withdraw until one candidate obtains the required majority |
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- no procedure is foreseen for challenging results |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State
- may be called upon as acting Head of State in the event of the latter's absence
- precedes the President of the House of Representatives in the order of precedence
- both Presidents preside together over joint sittings of both Chambers
- is a joint President of the Granada Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
- in the absence of the President, the Vice President can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- monthly salary
- travelling allowance |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes other sessions than those which are regularly scheduled
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn 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
- calls for a vote
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate according to precedents |
| Special powers |
The President of the Senate has a consultative role in:
- establishing the Senate's budget
- recruiting, assigning and promoting staff
- appointing the Clerk
- organizing the services of the Senate
- 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 enate |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes part in voting, if the votes are equally divided |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
