| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Kokkai / National Diet |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Sangiin / House of Councillors |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Shugiin / House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the House of Councillors |
| Term |
- duration: 6 years*
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death
*In accordance with Article 18 of the Diet Law, the term of office of the presiding officer and the deputy presiding officer of the House of Councillors shall coincide with their term of office (6 years) as Members of that House. In practice, however, the President of the upper House resigns when the ordinary session is convened after the half-renewal of the House of Councillors, which takes place every three years. The President can be re-elected.
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Councillors
- the election is held at the first sitting of the new legislature
- after members' mandates have been validated
|
| Eligibility |
- any Councillor may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required; if no candidate obtains a majority in the first round, a second round is held between the two candidates who obtained the largest number of votes; in case of a tie, lots are drawn
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Vice-President or, in his/her absence, the Clerk, presides over the House during the voting
- the Vice-President or, in his/her absence, the Clerk, supervises the voting
- the Vice-President or, in his/her absence, the Clerk, announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks on a par with the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
- follows the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the order of precedence
- represents the House with the authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions; in the latter's absence, he/she is replaced by an interim President elected by the House
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- same salary as the Prime Minister
+ expense allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- 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
- may only call for a vote if at least one-fifth of the Members are present, 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 House, basing itself on precedents
|
| Special powers |
- compiles annual estimates on revenues and expenditures of the House and presents the estimates to the Minister of Finance
- gives his/her agreement for the recruitment or dismissal of staff
- oversees the Clerk
- supervises the services of the house
- 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 House
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may take the floor in legislative debates by leaving his/her seat
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure when Members submit written questions to the Cabinet
- guarantees the proper enactment of laws
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
