| 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 |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
