| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Las Cortes Generales / The Cortes |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Congreso de los Diputados / Congress of Deputies
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Senators at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate on 27/3/1996
- before validation of mandates and swearing-in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Senator may be a candidate, but formal notification of candidature is required |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority required in the first round, in the second round only the 2 candidates with the most votes are left, and election is by a majority of votes cast
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Seniority Board and the oldest Senator presides over the Senate during the voting
- the secretaries of the Seniority Board assisted by the parliamentary advisors supervise the voting
- a secretary announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fourth in the hierarchy of the State
- ranks after the President of the Congress of Deputies in the order of precedence
- represents the Senate with the authorities
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- presides ex officio over the Board, the Conferences of Spokesmen and the Standing Deputation
- may, if he or she so wishes, preside over any committee
- in the absence of the President, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
- is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Senate
- consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents and 4 secretaries
- members serve a four-year term
- meets weekly at the President's initiative
- constitutes a true collegial presidency
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
- official residence
- official car
- additional staff
- secretariat
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda, together with the Board
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
The Board:
- 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 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 only at the request of a parliamentary group or 10 Senators
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
The Board:
- establishes the budget of the Senate under the guidance of the President
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff, in agreement with the President
- appoints the Clerk, on a proposal by the President
- organizes the services of the Senate
- 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 |
- may take the floor in legislative debates by leaving his seat
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- may intervene in the parliamentary oversight procedure, but has never done so
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
