Parliament name |
Parliament |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name |
National Assembly |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
Title |
Speaker of the National Assembly |
Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament, incapacity |
Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Parliament
- after Members are sworn in |
Eligibility |
- any one who is not a Member or any Member of the Parliament can be elected |
Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority is required |
Procedures / results |
- the Secretary to Parliament presides over the House during the voting
- the Secretary to Parliament supervises the voting
- the Secretary to Parliament announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
STATUS |
Status |
- position equivalent to a Cabinet Minister
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is president ex officio of the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders and the Parliamentary Library Committee
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
Board |
|
Material facilities |
- allowance
- official car
- secretariat
- body guards
- domestic staff |
FUNCTIONS |
Organization of parliamentary business |
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
|
Chairing of public sittings |
- 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
- 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
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
The Leader of the House:
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up - selects which amendments are to be debated |
Special powers |
- is consulted for the recruitment, assignment and promotion of the staff
- appoints the Clerk with the approval of the House
- appoints Internal Arrangements Committee
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments |
Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- issues a certificate to the President of the Republic indicating that the constitutional procedures have been complied with |