| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sanghiya Sansad / Federal Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Pratinidhi Sabha / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Rastriya Sabha / National Assembly
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, vote of no confidence, death, dissolution of the House
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the House
- the election is held at the start of the new legislature
- after the Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate, but a formal notification of candidature is required
- notification of candidature must be made at the latest by 5 p.m. on the day preceding the election
- any Member may give notice addressed to the Secretary-General of a motion that another Member be chosen as the Speaker; all motions are discussed in plenary in order of the filing of motions
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot
- an absolute majority is required
|
| Procedures / results |
- the eldest Member presides over the House during the voting
- the Table Section of the Parliamentary Secretariat supervises the voting
- the eldest Member announces the results without delay
- the results can be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fourth in the hierarchy of the State
- has precedence over the Chairperson of the National Council
- represents the House with the authorities
- is an ex officio member of certain constitutional bodies outside Parliament
- represents the House in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
+ expense allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- domestic staff
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- may modify the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- 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
- 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
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- makes recommendations for the appointment of the Secretary-General
- plays an important role in organizing 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 House
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- only has the casting vote
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
