| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Althingi / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the Althingi |
| Term |
- duration: 1 session (from 1 October to 30 September), renewable. In practice, the President of the Althingi is usually re-elected during the legislature.
- reasons for interruption of the term: the President may resign his office if permitted by the majority, or be discharged by a two-thirds majority of members of parliament
- in the period between the election and the convening of a new Parliament, he/she is the highest authority in administrative matters. |
| Appointment |
- Any member of parliament can nominate another member for the presidency, so long as the latter does not object. To be duly elected, the president must receive more than half of votes cast at the meeting. The election takes place at the beginning of each session, after the members' mandates have been validated and they have been sworn in. |
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be candidate and formal notification of candidature is required before the election |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- in order to win in the first round, the candidate must obtain more than half of the votes cast
- should no candidate receive the required number of votes in the first round of voting, a second round of voting is held between the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes.
Should both candidates receive an equal number of votes, the President is chosen by lot.
- if more than two candidates receive the same number of votes, two candidates are selected from among them by lot. |
| Procedures / results |
- the longest-serving member of parliament presides over the Assembly during the voting. If two or more members have served for an equal number of years, the oldest has seniority.
- the longest-serving member supervises the voting and announces the result immediately after the election
- the result can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- According to practice, the President of the Althingi ranks third in the hierarchy of the State, after the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister
- the President of the Althingi, the Prime Minister and the President of the Supreme Court exercise presidential authority jointly if the President of the Republic is unable to perform his duties
- the President of the Althingi presides at meetings of the above
- the President represents the Assembly to the public authorities
- the Vice-President replaces the President in his/her absence |
| Board |
- the Presidium is regulated by the Standing Orders of Althingi (Althingi Procedure Act)
- it is composed of the President and his/her 6 Vice-Presidents
- it meets once a week, except during the summer recess and Christmas holiday - the President can also call extraordinary meetings
- the Presidium works as a collegiate body - in the event of disagreement in the Presidium, the President has the deciding vote |
| Material facilities |
- allowance similar to a Cabinet Minister
- official car
- assistance of the Secretary General's staff |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- 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, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly according to precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- makes a proposal of budget to the Praesidum
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff with the recommendations of the Secretary General
- makes a proposal to the Praesidium which appoints a Secretary General for a term of 6 years
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates as a Member and the Vice-President chairs the Assembly
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- sends bills adopted by the Assembly to the Government |
