| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Barlaman / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majliss-annouwab / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis al-Mustacharin / House of Councillors
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 2 and a half years
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Members of the House of Representatives
- elected at the start of the legislature and subsequently in the third year for the rest of the legislature
- after validation of Members' mandates |
| Eligibility |
- any Member who has formally announced his candidature is eligible
- notification of candidature may be made at the first plenary sitting devoted to the election |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority in the first and second rounds, relative majority in the third round |
| Procedures / results |
- the provisional Bureau chaired by the oldest Member and seconded by the four youngest Members presides over the House during the voting
- the youngest Members of the Bureau supervise the voting
- the provisional Chair announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of the State immediately after the Head of the Government
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is a member of the Consultative Council for Human Rights
- represents the Assembly in international bodies (IPU, AIPU, UAP)
- presides over the Board and the Conference of Speakers
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- is set up and regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of the Speaker (term of two and a half years), eight Deputy Speakers, two quaestors, and three parliamentary secretaries (term of two and a half years)
- meets once weekly at the Speaker's initiative
- constitutes a true collegial presidency |
| Material facilities |
- allowance |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or commissions of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures within the House
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- 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
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House in the light of precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- supervises the establishment of the budget which is prepared by the quaestor's office
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff with the Board's agreement
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament together with the Board and the Clerk
- plays a specific role in overseeing foreign relations and defence
- 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 |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- may take part in voting - however, his/her duties call for neutrality
- appoints four of the nine members of the Constitutional Court
- may be consulted if the Head of State decides to introduce exceptional powers |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
