| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the National Assembly |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: death, dissolution of Parliament, remove from office by a resolution of the Assembly supported by the two third of all the Members |
| Appointment |
- elected by the Members of the Assembly
- after Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- all Members of the Assembly and persons who are not Members, others than the President of the Republic, his Vice-President, Assistant Minister or Public Officer can be candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot
- the method of voting is one man one vote |
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State, after the President of the Republic, the Vice-President, the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Justice
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
if both are absent, the House will appoint one of the backbenchers to preside |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- basic salary: P 5251.00
- Speaker's allowance: P 615.00
- entertainment: P 212.00
- duty travel: P 615.00
- official residence
- official cars
- Clerk of the National Assembly's staff |
| 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
- is the Chairman of the Committee of Selection |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open and adjourn 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 and selects which amendments are to be debated, in accordance with the standing orders and rules of the House
- 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 adopted texts and the records of debates, through the Clerk's office
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly according to precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- appoints the Clerk and all senior staff
- 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 |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- is the Presiding Officer for the promulgation of laws
- is the Presiding Officer in ensuring the constitutionality of laws |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
