| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parliament / Parlement |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Sénat / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- Duration: 5 years (term of the Senate) |
| Appointment |
- The Speaker is elected by members of the Senate. |
| Eligibility |
- Only members of the Senate are eligible. |
| Voting system |
- There is formal notification process for the candidate.
- The Speaker is elected by secret ballot.
- A candidate who receives more than 50% of the votes is declared elected in the first round of voting. If no candidate is elected in the first round, a second round will be held. |
| Procedures / results |
- The President of the interim Board presides over the Chamber during the voting.
- The President of the interim Board supervises over the Chamber during the voting.
- The President of the interim Board announces the results.
- The result cannot be challenged. |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- The President ranks second in the hierarchy of State.
- The Speaker of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate alternately preside joint sittings of a bicameral Parliament.
- The Speaker may act as the Head of State.
- In the absence of the Speaker, the first Vice-President assumes his/her role and duties. |
| Board |
- The Speaker is assisted by the Board.
- The Board is primarily an advisory body.
- The Board is elected for 5 years (term of the Senate).
- The Board consists of a President, a first Vice-President, a second Vice-President, a rapporteur, an assistant rapporteur, a quaestor and an assistant quaestor. |
| Material facilities |
- A special allowance due to his/her position dont le montant est fixé par la loi de finances
- Official residence
- Official car
- Security protection
- Additional staff
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
The Speaker may:
- convene sessions,
- establish and modify the agenda, i.e. the programme and time-table of work,
- organize the debates and set speaking time. |
| Chairing of public sittings |
The Speaker may:
- open, adjourn and close sittings,
- interpret the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate,
- ensure respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders,
- take disciplinary measures in the event of a disturbance and lift such measures,
- establish the list of speakers,
- give and withdraw permission to speak,
- select which amendments are to be debated,
- establish the order in which amendments are taken up,
- call for a vote,
- decide how a vote will be carried out,
- verify the voting procedure,
- check the quorum,
- authenticate the adopted texts and the records of debates,
- give the floor outside the agenda and thus organize impromptu debates. |
| Special powers |
The Speaker may:
- participate in establishing the Chamber's budget,
- represent the Senate in relations with foreign Parliaments and bodies. |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
The Speaker may:
- take the floor in legislative debates,
- take part in voting. |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
