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This page contains the full text of the PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary chamber, with the exception of Oversight and Specialized bodies modules which, because of their excessive length, can be only viewed and printed separately.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senatul / Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1891 - 1950 1954 - LEADERSHIP President Nicolae-Liviu Dragnea (M)  Notes Elected on 21 Dec. 2016. Secretary General Silvia-Claudia Mihalcea (F)  Notes Elected on 21 Feb. 2017. COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 329 / 329 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 68 (20.67%) Mode of designation directly elected 312 other 17 Notes Other: If a legally established national minority does not win any seats in either chamber of Parliament, the citizens' organization representing that national minority is entitled to one seat in the Chamber of Deputies (under certain conditions). There are 19 legally established national minorities; the Czech and Slovak minorities are represented by one person. A maximum of 18 seats can therefore be allocated to national minorities. Term 4 years Last renewal dates 11 December 2016 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Camera Deputatilor Palatul Parlamentului Str. Izvor 2-4, Sector 5 050563 BUCHAREST (Export mailing lists) Phone (40 21) 414 18 75 Fax (40 21) 414 21 49 E-mail dropi@cdep.ro Website http://www.cdep.ro

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senatul / Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 15 July 1992 Last updated on 20 July 2015 (Law no. 208/2015) Mode of designation directly elected 312 other 17 Constituencies - 41 constituencies at county level (one constituency per county) for 279 seats - 1 constituency in Bucharest for 29 seats - 1 constituency abroad for four seats There is one Deputy for every 73,000 inhabitants. Voting system Proportional: List Proportional Representation (List PR) Political parties contesting the election on their own must be above the following thresholds to win parliamentary representation: 5 per cent of the total number of valid votes cast at national level or 20 per cent of the total number of valid votes cast in at least four constituencies. The corresponding thresholds for political alliances are: 8 per cent for alliances of two parties, 9 per cent for alliances of three parties, and 10 per cent for alliances of four parties or more. Reserved seats for national minorities: A national minority is entitled to one seat in the Chamber of Deputies if the following conditions are met: - The minority has not won any seats in either chamber of Parliament, - The citizens' organization representing that minority has a seat on the Council of National Minorities, - The citizens' organization as a whole has obtained at least 5% of the average number of valid votes cast for an elected Deputy. Within 30 days after the date of the election, the organizations wanting to qualify for a reserved seat must submit to the Central Election Bureau a document that lists at least 15% of those who have declared themselves as belonging to that minority. There is no upper limit on the number of seats reserved for minority organizations. However, since there are 19 legally established national minorities, and the Czech and Slovak minorities are represented by one person, there is an effective maximum of 18 national minorities represented under the reserved seats. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled by unsuccessful candidates who have been declared as substitutes on the corresponding party list. By-elections can be held in exceptional situations. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - Age: 18 years - Romanian citizenship - Disqualifications: mentally deficient or alienated persons laid under interdiction and those disenfranchised pursuant to a final court decision CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - Age: 23 years - Romanian citizenship - Residence in Romania Incompatibilities - Public officers (except members of the Government) - Prefects, sub-prefects, heads of public services and other governmental authorities in a territorial administrative unit (but only in constituencies where one is exercising any of those functions) - Judges of the Constitutional Court - Advocates of the people - Magistrates - Members of the armed forces on active duty - Policemen - Other categories of civil servants established by organic law, who may not join political parties Candidacy requirements - Candidatures proposed on a list that may only be submitted by legally constituted parties and other political bodies - Support by at least 0.5% of the voters from a constituency in the case of independent candidates - Nominations must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to polling day

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senatul / Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 11 December 2016 Timing and scope of renewal The Social Democratic Party (PSD), led by former Deputy Prime Minister Liviu Dragnea, became the largest force in both chambers of parliament but fell short of an outright majority. The PSD nevertheless took twice as many seats as the next largest party, the National Liberal Party (PNL). During the election campaign, the major parties focused on the economy, tax reform and job creation. On 4 January 2017, parliament approved the formation of a coalition government comprising the PSD and the Liberal-Democrat Alliance (ALDE, led by Senate President Calin Popescu-Tariceanu). President Klaus Iohannis subsequently swore in the new government, headed by Mr. Sorin Grindeanu (PSD). The 2016 elections were held under the new electoral system adopted in 2015. The previous Mixed Member Proportional System had frequently resulted in numerous overhang seats. All members in both chambers are now elected under the proportional representation system. As a consequence, the number of members in both chambers decreased following the 2016 elections: 329 members (including 17 ethnic minorities) in the Chamber of Deputies, down from 412; and 136 senators, down from 176. Date of previous elections: 9 December 2012 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: Not applicable Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: December 2020 Number of seats at stake: 329 (full renewal): 312 directly elected members and 17 members representing ethnic minorities*. *If a legally established national minority does not win any seats in either chamber of Parliament, the citizens' organization representing that national minority is entitled to one seat in the Chamber of Deputies (under certain conditions). There are 19 legally established national minorities; the Czech and Slovak minorities are represented by one person. A maximum of 18 seats can therefore be allocated to national minorities. In 2016, 17 members representing ethnic minorities entered the Chamber of Deputies since the Hungarian Minorities are represented in the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). Number of candidates: 4,250 Percentage of women candidates: Not available* *A total of 6,476 candidates ran in the 2016 elections. They included 1,797 women, or 27.7%. Number of parties contesting the election: 11 Number of parties winning seats: 6 Alternation of power: Not applicable* *A technocrat government was formed before the elections. Number of parties in government: 2 Names of parties in government: Social Democratic Party (PSD), Liberal-Democrat Alliance (ALDE) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 21 December 2016 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Nicolae-Liviu Dragnea (Social Democratic Party, PSD) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 11 December 2016 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 18'403'044 7'323'368 (39.79%) Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Social Democratic Party (PSD) National Liberal Party (PNL) Save Romania Union (USR) Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) Liberal-Democrat Alliance (ALDE) Popular Movement Party (PMP) Members representing ethnic minorities Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Social Democratic Party (PSD) 154 National Liberal Party (PNL) 69 Save Romania Union (USR) 30 Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) 21 Liberal-Democrat Alliance (ALDE) 20 Popular Movement Party (PMP) 18 Members representing ethnic minorities 17 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 261 68 20.67% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: Chamber of Deputies (19.12.2016) http://parlamentare2016.bec.ro http://www.robert-schuman.eu/en/doc/oee/oee-1678-en.pdf http://www.euronews.com http://www.voanews.com https://seenews.com/ https://www.nineoclock.ro/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parlamentul României / Parliament of Romania Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Camera Deputatilor / Chamber of Deputies Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senatul / Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Chamber of Deputies Term - duration: 4 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, removal, death, dissolution of the Chamber Appointment - elected by all Members of the Chamber - election is held at the beginning of the legislature - after Members' mandates are validated Eligibility - any Member of the Chamber may be a candidate; each parliamentary group proposes a candidate Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot - absolute majority is required in the first round, relative majority in the second round - if no candidate obtains the required majority of votes in the first round, a second round is held and the candidate obtaining the relative majority of votes is elected - if there is a succession of votes, no new candidate is admitted Procedures / results - the oldest Member presides over the Chamber during the voting - a committee including a representative from all the parliamentary groups supervises the voting - the oldest Member announces the results without any delay - the results cannot be challenged STATUS Status - ranks third in the hierarchy of State - represents the Chamber with the public authorities - represents the Chamber in international bodies - may be called upon as acting Head of State, after the President of the Senate - both Presidents preside the joined sittings at the Chambers by turns - in the absence of the President, the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions by turns Board - the standing Bureau consists of 13 Members: one Chairman, four Vice-Chairmen, four secretaries and four questors; it is presided by the President of the Chamber - the term of the Members' mandate is one year, except that of the President - meets twice a week at the convocation of the President or of at least 4 of its Members Material facilities - monthly allowance - official car - secretariat - a group of councillors - body guards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - 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 Chamber - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates from the rostrum - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

This page was last updated on 9 May 2017
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