| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement fédéral - Federaal Parlement - Föderales Parlament / Federal Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Chambre des Représentants / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Sénat - Senaat - Senat / Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the House of Representatives |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year (appointed for 1 session)
- reasons for interruption of the term: dissolution of the Assembly, resignation or death
- in case of dissolution, the outgoing President continues to serve until the new President has been appointed. If however the outgoing President has not stood for election or if he has not been re-elected as an MP, this role goes, starting from the day of the election and up until the appointment of the new President, successively, to the First Vice-President, the Second Vice-President or the most senior Vice-President of the dissolved House who has been re-elected as an MP
|
| Appointment |
- elected by the House at the beginning of each session
- after the Members' mandates have been validated and the Members have been sworn in at the beginning of the legislature
|
| Eligibility |
- elected by the House at the beginning of each session
- any Member may be a candidate, but his notification of candidature must be formally provided before the election
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot and absolute majority in the first and second rounds; in the third round, a relative majority suffices
- in the event of a tie, the most senior candidate is appointed
|
| Procedures / results |
- the most senior Member presides over the House during the voting
- the youngest Members of the House acting as secretaries check the number of voters; four teller's offices count the votes
- the most senior Member announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third or fourth (the oldest President has precedence) after the King and the royal family, and the cardinal
- joint sittings of both Chambers are presided over by the oldest President
- the President participates qualitate qua in international meetings
- the President chairs the Board and the Conference of Presidents
- in the President's absence, he/she is replaced by one of the five Vice-Presidents, in the order of protocol
|
| Board |
- The Board of the House
- composed by the House at each session
- consists of the President, the Vice-Presidents and the secretaries
- meets during the last week of every month
|
| Material facilities |
- a normal MP's salary (BEF 2,479,516 gross annually at the current index)
- a special allowance as President of the House (BEF 2,546,678 gross annually at the current index)
- remuneration for representational duties, 72% of the normal remuneration for an MP (BEF 1,785,252 gross annually at the current index)
- a normal MP's salary (BEF 2,479,516 gross annually at the current index)
- a special allowance as President of the House (BEF 2,546,678 gross annually at the current index)
- remuneration for representational duties, 72% of the normal remuneration for an MP (BEF 1,785,252 gross annually at the current index)
- official car
- secretariat consisting of 12 staff members
- official residence: President's mansion
- bodyguards from the House's own staff
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions of the House
- proposes the order of the agenda after having sought the advice of the Conference of Presidents
- judges the admissibility of texts
- refers texts to a committee for study
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- opens, adjourns and closes sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- 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
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly in consultation with the latter
|
| Special powers |
- presides over the Accounting Committee which fixes the budget proposed by the questors
- 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 Chamber
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may take the floor in legislative debates by leaving the podium
- takes part in voting
- judges the admissibility of instruments of parliamentary oversight (interpellation, oral or written questions, petitions)
- is consulted after elections and in periods of political crisis by the Head of State
- continues to serve as President between sessions
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
