| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Knesset / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the Knesset |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: dissolution of the Assembly, death |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Members of the Knesset
- the election is held the same day or a few days after the installation of the new Parliament
- after the Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote, by public ballot (by show of hands), by simple majority |
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest Member of Parliament presides the election
- the Secretary General supervises the voting
- the oldest Member announces the results immediatly after the ballots have been counted
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- is acting Head of State when the President of Israel is out of the country
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, one of the Deputy Speakers is appointed by resolution of the House Committee to assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Praesidium is composed of 7 Deputy Speakers whose term of office is the same as the Speaker |
| Material facilities |
- allowance (same scale as Prime Minister)
- official car
- official residence
- domestic staff
- secretariat
- additional staff
- protection on official occasions
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- 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 case of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- proposes the Knesset's budget to a joint body consisting of the Committee of the House and to the Finance Committee
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- organizes the services of Parliament
- 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 Chamber |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
