| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Seimas / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the Seimas |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Seimas
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Seimas
- the election is held at the opening sitting of the newly elected Seimas, 15 days after the legislative elections
- after mandates have been validated and Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member of the Seimas may be a candidate but his/her formal application must be supported by at least one-tenth of the Members of Parliament |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- a simple majority is required
several rounds may be held and the candidates who have obtained the least votes must withdraw
|
| Procedures / results |
- the senior Member presides over the Seimas during the voting
- the Vote-Counting Committee supervises the voting
- the outgoing Chairman announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of State
- can act as interim Head of State in certain cases
- represents the Seimas in international bodies
- in the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman can assume his/her role and functions in agreement with the Seimas
|
| Board |
- is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of the Chairman, three Vice-Chairmen and the Leaders of the parliamentary groups
- meets twice weekly at the initiative of the Chairman
- is in fact a collegiate presidency
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
+ expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- announces the bills and amendments adopted
- refers texts to a committee for study, in agreement with the Seimas
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees, in agreement with the Seimas
The Board of the Seimas convenes sessions
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Seimas
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- gives and withdraws permission to speak, alternating between majority and opposition MPs
- 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
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates, in agreement with the Seimas
|
| Special powers |
The Board of the Seimas:
- establishes the budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- 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 Seimas
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- may vote last
- proposes bills or amendments by leaving his seat
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for promulgation
- is empowered to nominate three justices to the Constitutional Court
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
