| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Majlis Al-Chaab / People's Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| NATURE |
| Nature of the mandate |
· Free representation (Art. 52 of the Constitution of 13.03.1973) |
| Start of the mandate |
· When the MPs take the oath (Art. 7 and 63 of the Constitution; see also Art. 51 of the Constitution). Procedure. |
| Validation of mandates |
· Validation only in case of challenge, by the People's Council following a report by the Constitutional High Court (Art. 62 of the Constitution)
· Procedure (Art. 62 and 144 of the Constitution, Art. 47 of the Electoral Code)
|
| End of the mandate |
· On the day when the legal term of the House ends - or on the day of early dissolution (see Art. 51 of the Constitution) |
| Can MPs resign? |
Yes |
· Yes, of their own free will
· Procedure (Art. 47 of the Electoral Code): written, justified request addressed to the People's Council, which decides by an absolute majority of its members
· Authority competent to accept the resignation (Art. 71 (7) of the Constitution): the People's Council
|
| Can MPs lose their mandate? |
Yes |
(a) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter: invalidation of mandates (Art. 62 and 144 of the Constitution, Art. 47 of the Electoral Code; see Validation of mandates)
(b) Death (Art. 47 of the Electoral Code)
|
| STATUS OF MEMBERS |
| Rank in hierarchy |
· Within Parliament:
1. The President
2. The Vice-President
3. The two Secretaries
4. The two Auditors
5. The Presidents of the 12 standing committees
|
| Indemnities, facilities and services |
· Diplomatic passport for the President and Vice-President. The other members hold official passports.
· Basic salary: (see also Art.64 of the Constitution) SYP 9,120
+ Additional allowance: SYP 18,000/ per session
· Exemption from tax for the additional allowance but not for the basic salary.
· No pension scheme
· Other facilities:
(a) Secretariat for Board members
(b) Assistants for Board members
(c) Official housing for Board members
(d) Official car for Board members
(e) Security guards for Board members (Art. 69 (2) of the Constitution)
(f) Postal and telephone services for Board members
(g) Travel and transport
|
| Obligation to declare personal assets |
No |
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability |
· The concept exists (Art. 66 and 67 of the Constitution).
· Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament.
· Derogations:
· Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins and offers, after the expiry of the mandate, protection against prosecution for opinions expressed during the exercise of the mandate.
|
| Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability |
· The concept exists (Art. 67 of the Constitution).
· It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences and protects MPs from arrest and from being held in preventive custody, from the opening of judicial proceedings against them and from their homes being searched.
· Derogations: in cases involving flagrante delicto, the authorisation of the Council or President of the Council is not required.
· Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal.
· Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate and also covers judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election.
· Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 67 of the Constitution):
- Competent authority: the People's Council; the President of the People's Council (when Parliament is in recess)
- Procedure (Art. 20 to 26 of the Standing Orders of Parliament). In this case, MPs can be heard. They do not have means of appeal.
· Parliament can suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members
- Competent authority: the People's Council
- Procedure
· In the event of preventive custody or imprisonment, the MPs concerned cannot be authorised to attend sittings of Parliament.
|
| EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE |
| Training |
· There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. Nor is there a handbook of parliamentary procedure |
| Participation in the work of the Parliament |
· It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, committee meetings and any other activity.
· Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation: fines
|
| Discipline |
· Disciplinary measures foreseen:
- Point of order with entry in the record
- Ban on speaking during the sitting
- Other to withdraw from the sitting
· Specific cases:
- Offence or insult
· Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties:
- Point of order with entry in the record: the President
- Ban on speaking during the sitting, order to withdraw from the sitting: the People's Council
· Procedure
|
| Code (rules) of conduct |
· This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system but there is one relevant provision (Art. 68 (1) of the Constitution).
· Penalties foreseen for violation of the rules of conduct: none
|
| Relations between MPs and pressure group |
· There are no legal provisions in this field.
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Mandate module
