Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional / Plurinational Legislative Assembly |
Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies |
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Senadores / Chamber of Senators
|
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
Title |
President of the Chamber of Deputies |
Term |
- duration: 1 year
- reasons for interruption of the term: death, resignation, dissolution of Parliament |
Appointment |
- elected by all Deputies
- election is held after validation of mandates and swearing-in |
Eligibility |
- any Deputy may be a candidate |
Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- a two-third majority of the members is required |
Procedures / results |
- the outgoing President, the outgoing Vice-President or the oldest Member presides over the Chamber during the voting
- an appointed commission supervises the voting
- the outgoing President announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged |
STATUS |
Status |
- ranks fourth in the hierarchy of State
- ranks second in the order of precedence between the Presidents of the two Houses
- represents the Chamber with the public authorities
- represents the Chamber in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions |
Board |
- the Governing Board is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of the President, two Vice-Presidents and 4 Secretaries
- meets once weekly
- exercises a collegial presidency |
Material facilities |
- MP's allowance
- official car
- secretariat and advisers
- bodyguards |
FUNCTIONS |
Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- refers texts to a committee for study
Chairing of public sittings :
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Chamber
- is responsible for discipline inside the Chamber
- 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 Chamber
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Chamber
- is responsible for discipline inside the Chamber
- 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 Chamber
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
Special powers |
- is responsible for establishing the Chamber's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of the Chamber
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments and inter-parliamentary committees
- 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 |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- transmits laws to the Executive for promulgation |