| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso / Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Senadores / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year (expires on 30th June each year)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, sub-standard discharge of duties, death, dissolution of the Senate
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Senators
- the election is held on the 30th of June of each year
- after the Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal public vote by roll call
- an absolute majority is required for the first round, a simple majority for following rounds
|
| Procedures / results |
- the outgoing President presides over the Senate during the voting
- two Senators appointed by the Senate supervise the voting
- the outgoing President announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of the State
- has precedence over the President of the Chamber of Deputies
- represents the Senate with the authorities
- is an ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
- representation allowance
- official car with chaffeur
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- 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 requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
- appoints Committees and their Chairmen
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- 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 Senate based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the Senate's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- organizes the services of the Senate
- plays a specific role in the conduct of foreign affairs or defence matters
- 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 Senate
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- signs laws
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
