| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Inama Nkenguzamateka / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Inama Nshingamateka / National Assembly
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
Duration: 5 years
Reasons for interruption of the term:
Resignation, death, physical incapacity, permanent disability, absence without justification for more than one quarter of the meetings in a session |
| Appointment |
Elected by indirect vote by the senators at the first session of the legislature, which meets on the first working day following the seventh day after the decision by the Constitutional Court. |
| Eligibility |
- Adhere to the Charter of National Unity and pledge to uphold the fundamental principles of Burundi
- Any senator can be a candidate; the candidature is deposited in a sealed envelope at the Senate Secretariat and given to the presiding officer before the opening of the vote. |
| Voting system |
3-round personal vote, first-past-the-post system. |
| Procedures / results |
- The oldest senator is the Senate's presiding officer during the vote
- The oldest senator proclaims the results
- The results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- represents the Senate at public events
- third in the State hierarchy (after the President of the Republic and the President of the National Assembly)
- is replaced by one of the two Vice-Presidents in his / her absence. |
| Board |
1) The Senate Board is governed by the Senate standing orders and by the law. It has one president and two vice-presidents.
2) The Enlarged Board consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents and four standing committee presidents.
3) The Board meets on the President's initiative at variable intervals.
Some of the Board's powers are collegial in character; the rest are the personal responsibility of the President.
|
| Material facilities |
- Base pay and representation allowance
- Official residence
- Official car and drivers
- Administrative staff
- Security detail
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- Convenes the sessions in consultation with the Enlarged Board
- Refers texts to committee for review
- Examines the admissibility of bills
- Can set up a joint committee on amendments
- Can call to order, adjourn and close meetings
- Ensures respect for constitutional and regulatory provisions
- Reads the announcements concerning the Senate
- Can check the quorum and the records of debates
- Validates the texts adopted and records of debates |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- Is in charge of discipline in the Senate
- Has discretionary authority to give the floor to someone not speaking on an item of the agenda and to organize impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
1. Together with the Board, establishes the policy for relations with foreign parliaments
2. Puts forward the name of the Secretary General, who is appointed by the Board
3. Is in charge of security and can therefore call in the forces of law and order in the event of a disturbance within the Senate |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- Takes the floor during legislative debates
- Can intervene in parliamentary review proceedings to ensure respect for the regulations
- Must be consulted by the President of the Republic in certain circumstances
- Can raise oral or written questions
- Tables bills or amendments
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
