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NEW ZEALAND
House of Representatives
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name House of Representatives
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the House of Representatives
Term - duration: 3 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, disqualification from membership of the House, death

Appointment - elected by all Members of the House, at the first sitting of a new Parliament
- after Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Member may be candidate
Voting system - usually the Government candidate is elected unopposed; there is a formal vote when two or more candidates are proposed
- if more than 2 candidates are proposed, Members vote from their seats in the Chamber and Members are asked to state which nominee they vote for, until only two candidates remain
- absolute majority is required
Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the House during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the election must be confirmed by the Governor-General who could refuse to do so; however, this has never occured

STATUS
Status - ranks third after the Governor-General; the Speaker does not act as Head of State
- represents the House with the public authorities
- is chairperson of the Parliamentary Services Commission
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy-Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities - salary equivalent to a Government Minister
+ expense allowance
- official residence
- additional staff

FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments in certain circumstances
- chairs Business Committee of the House of Representatives
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
- gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- does not call for a vote, but verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, according to precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus can organize impromptu debate on a matter of urgent public importance
Special powers - approves draft budget for Parliamentary Services and Office of the Clerk
- is consulted concerning policy decisions relating to recruitment and promotion of staff
- recommends appointment of the Clerk, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments, as ex officio president of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and IPU
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber, with the Serjeant-at-Arms
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

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