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LESOTHO
Senate
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) National Assembly
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Senate
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House); elected on 16 June 1998
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate
Appointment - elected by all Senators
- at the first sitting of a new Parliament
- after Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Senator or any other person can be candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- one round, by simple 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
- the results can be challenged
STATUS
Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of State
- the President of the Senate has precedence over the Speaker of the National Assembly
- the President of the Senate and the Speaker preside alternatively in the event of joint sittings of both Chambers
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is a member of the Council of State
- represents the Assembly in international bodies connected with Parliaments (Commonwealth Parliamentary Association...)
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities - allowance
- official residence
- official car
- body guards
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in consultation with the Government Secretary
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- may refer texts to a committee for study
- nominates the Business Committee
The Business Committee:
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- 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
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate usually on precedents
Special powers - 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 assisted by the Sergeant-at-Arms
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- ensures that proper procedures is followed at all stages of bills, until they become law

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