| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of Parliament |
| Term |
- duration: 3 years (term of House); elected on 13 February 1997 after elections held on 8 February
- reasons for interruption of the term: removal by Parliament, resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Parliament
- election is held at the first meeting of the newly elected Parliament
- after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Member of the Parliament may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- if no candidate receives the majority of total votesin the first round, candidates with the lowest number of votes are eliminated, and a new vote is held |
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Parliament during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierachy of State
- represents the Parliament with the public authorities
- represents the Parliament in international bodies
- is ex officio Chairman of other committees
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- Speaker's allowance
- Member's allowance
+ entertainment allowance
- official residence
- official car
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions mostly on advice from the President of the Republic
- 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
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees 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
- makes announcements concerning the Parliament
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- 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
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Parliament according to precedents |
| Special powers |
- is Chairman of the House Committee which recommends the Parliament's budget
- 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 Parliament |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes only part in casting votes
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- authenticates by his certificate all bills passed by the Parliament |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
