| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congresso nacional / National Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado Federal / Federal Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara dos Deputados / Chamber of Deputies
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the Federal Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 2 years (term expires on 31 January)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of mandate, death, dissolution of the Senate |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Senators following validation of mandates and swearing-in |
| Eligibility |
- any Senator who is formally a candidate may be elected
- notification of candidature 24 hours before the opening of the session |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot requiring an absolute majority in 1 or 2 rounds
- certain candidatures must be withdrawn depending on the results of the 1st round |
| Procedures / results |
- the outgoing President (or the oldest Senator, in case of vacancy) presides over the Senate during the voting
- specially appointed parliamentarians supervise the voting
- the outgoing President announces the results without delay
- the results may be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fourth in the hierarchy of State, after the President of the Chamber of Deputies - is No. 3 in the list of personalities acting as interim Head of State
- presides over joint meetings of both Houses
- represents the Senate with the public authorities and is ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the First Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Governing Board, the General Secretariat and the General Management assist the President and are regulated by the Standing Orders of the Senate
- the Board consists of 7 titular MP members and 4 substitutes who serve 2-year terms - the Secretariat and the Management are composed of 1 titular member each who serves for an indefinite length of time
- the Board meets at least once a fortnight |
| Material facilities |
- fixed allowance of Cr$ 3000
+ special allowance of R$ 5000 (varies depending on frequency)
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- domestic personnel
- 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
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting-up of such committees
Chairing of public sittings :
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures according to the provisions of the Standing Orders
- 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
- 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 Senate
- 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
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures according to the provisions of the Standing Orders
- 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
- 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 |
- presides over the Board which approves the proposed bodget, prepared by the General Management
- approves proposals for the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff and appoints the latter
- plays a specific role in overseeing foreign affairs and defence matters
- 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 |
- takes the floor in legislative debates, by leaving his seat
- only takes part in voting in case of a tied vote by secret ballot
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- promulgates a law if the President of the Republic has not done so within the set time limit |
