| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Il Parlamento / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senato della Repubblica / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Camera dei Deputati / Chamber of Deputies
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, cessation of mandate, temporary functional incapacity if he/she must serve as Acting Head of State, death, dissolution of the Senate
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Senators
- the election is held at the start of the new legislature
- before the members' mandates have been validated
|
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority of votes is required for the first and second rounds; an absolute majority of the votes cast by those present for the third round. If no one obtains the required majority in the third round, a run-off is held between the two candidates who obtained the most votes. In case of a tie, the eldest candidate is declared elected
|
| Procedures / results |
- the eldest Senator presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Board supervises the voting
- the eldest Senator announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of the State, and is first in line to serve as Acting Head of State
- in the order of precedence, the eldest President of the two Houses comes first
- the President of the Chamber of Deputies presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- in the absence of the President, one of the four Vice-Presidents designated by the President of the Senate can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
- the Board of the Presidency is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Senate
- consists of the President, four Vice-Presidents, 3 Questors and 8 secretaries
- meets at the initiative of the President
|
| Material facilities |
- no reply given |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and may increase allotted speaking time, in consultation with the President of the Chamber of Deputies, the Committee Chairmen and the Government
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- appoints the Chairmen of certain special committees
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and lift 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
- decides which amendments are inadmissible
- 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 texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate, basing itself on precedents
|
| Special powers |
The Board of the Presidency:
- approves the Senate's budget
- appoints the Secretary General on a proposal by the President 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 Chamber
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may take the floor in legislative debates on procedural issues only
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- proposes the appointment of holders of office characterized by their autonomy and independence, in agreement with the President of the Chamber of Deputies
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, appointment of the Head of Government)
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
