Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Libandla / Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name |
House of Assembly |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
Title |
Speaker of the House of Assembly |
Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
|
Appointment |
- elected by all the Members of the Assembly
- the election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs
- after validation of mandates
|
Eligibility |
- any Member of the Assembly or any qualified person can be a candidate
- candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the Assembly
- candidatures must be seconded by another Member of the Assembly
|
Voting system |
- if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate
- if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected.
|
Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
|
STATUS |
Status |
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker or any other Member elected by the Assembly can assume his/her role and functions |
Board |
|
Material facilities |
NA (no information received) |
FUNCTIONS |
Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions, in exceptional case only
- organises the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments
|
Chairing of public sittings |
- can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders
- can suspend sittings for short periods
- 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
- establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the Speaker's eye would have the floor) 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 of other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
|
Special powers |
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly |
Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes part in voting, only if he/she has been elected at the Assembly and only in the case of a tied vote |