| Parliament name |
- |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Sejm |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senat / Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Marshal of the Sejm |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House);
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dismissal |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Assembly
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Sejm
- after the Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Member of the Sejm supported by at least 15 Deputies may be candidate
- formal notification of candidature has to be submitted to the most Senior former Marshal when the vote is called for |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot (by show of hands or roll call)
- absolute majority of votes of at least half of the Members of the Sejm is required
- if there are more than one candidate and if no candidate obtains the required majority in the first round, several rounds are held. The candidate having received the smallest number of votes does not take part in subsequent rounds of voting. |
| Procedures / results |
- the most senior former Marshal presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Members-Secretaries and the most senior former Marshal supervise the voting
- the most senior former Marshal announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of State ; may be calld upon as acting Head of State in his/her absence
- has precedence over the Marshal of the Senate
- presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the Marshal, one of the two Vice-Marshals can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Presidium of the Sejm is regulated by Standing Orders of the Sejm
- consists of 3 to 5 Members appointed for 4 years
- convenes at least once a week
- is in fact a collegiate presidency |
| Material facilities |
- daily allowance as a Member of the Sejm
- salary: PLZ 15,000 per month in 2009
- special allowance
- right to travel by plane and by train
- suite in the Sejm's hotel
- official car
- secretariat
- protection by the Government Security Bureau
- right to use planes and helicopters of the special transport section of the Air Force Squadron |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- presents the agenda to the Sejm for approval
The Presidium of the Sejm:
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- examines the admissibility of request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees
The Sejm:
- refers texts to a committee for study |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- 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
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly according to precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- takes part in voting on the Sejm's budget, as any other Member
- appoints the Clerk, in consultation with the Deputies Affairs Committee
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the Parliament Guard (Sejm Police) in the event of disturbance in the Chamber |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting as any other Member
- proposes bills or amendments as any other Member of the Sejm
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure by reviewing interpellations
- is consulted by the Head of State in the event that the latter wants to dissolve the Sejm |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
