| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of Parliament |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of Parliament at their first sitting after elections
- after Members' mandates have been validated
- after Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate, but formal notification is required one day before voting |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- a simple majority is required; several rounds are only held in case of a tie
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Chief Justice of the High Court presides over the Parliament during the voting
- the Chief Justice of the High Court, assisted by the Clerk, supervises the voting
- the Chief Justice of the High Court announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged at the requests of MPs
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of the State
- represents the National Parliament in international bodies
- is ex officio President of the Committee on Appointments and the Committee for Welfare of Members
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- additional staff
- domestic staff
- bodyguards
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda, assisted by the Clerk
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time, assisted by a parliamentary committee
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study at the request of a member who submits a motion
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees at a request of a member who submits a motion
- appoints committees and their presidents
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Parliament
- 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
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of Parliament, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- may be consulted with regard to the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- can indirectly influence the appointment of the Clerk
- can indirectly influence the organization of the services of Parliament
- 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 Parliament
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- consults the Judiciary before a bill is presented to Parliament
- is consulted by the Head of State in the event of dissolution of the Parliament
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
