| Parliament name |
Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 2 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the House of Representatives on the first day of session of a new Congress
- after mandates have been validated and before Members have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal public vote by roll call
- an absolute majority is required
- if there are several rounds, new candidates are admitted
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the House during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State
- may act as pro tempore Head of State in case of the absence of the latter and of that of the Vice-President
- the President of the Senate has precedence over the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate co-chair joint sittings of both Chambers
- is an ex officio member of certain advisory boards and certain committees according to the Standing Rules
- is an ex officio member of the House Intelligence Committee
- in case of vacancy, can be replaced by a pro tempore speaker
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- Speaker's allowance: US $ 171,500/yr
- MP's allowance of US$ 600,000/yr
- special allowance for staff salaries, etc.: US$ 1,444,000
- allowance for leasing and equipping of office : US$ 200,000
- mail allowance: US$ 108,000
allowance for travel to and from the Home district and Washington D.C.
- official car whose chaffeur is a bodyguard
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments in a few very specific cases
- refers texts to a committee for study
- designates ad hoc committees
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can only open, adjourn and close sittings on the order of the House
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak in accordance with the Committee on Rules
- 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 in specific cases set out in the Standing Orders
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda
|
| Special powers |
- 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 House
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates as a Member of the House
- takes part in voting as a Member of the House
- proposes bills or amendments
- takes the floor in legislative debates as a Member of the House
- takes part in voting as a Member of the House
- proposes bills or amendments
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
