| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Senators
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate or when a vacancy occurs
- after the Senators are sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Senators can be a candidate (except Ministers)
- the candidate must be proposed by a Senator
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- simple majority
|
| Procedures / results |
- The Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- any Senator who has proposed a person as President may act as a scrutineer and observe the count at the Table
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- in the absence of the President, the Vice President can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
NA (no information received) |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions, in exceptional cases only
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills
- refers texts to a committee for study
- is entitled to appoint Committees and their presiding officers
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
|
| Special powers |
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
NA (no information received) |
