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Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1973 - LEADERSHIP President Choe Thae Bok (M)  Notes Re-elected on 9 Apr. 2009 and on 9 Apr. 2014. Secretary General Hong Son Ok (F)  Notes Elected on 9 Apr. 2014. COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 687 / 687 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 112 (16.30%) Mode of designation directly elected 687 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 9 March 2014 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Presidium Supreme People´s Assembly Mansoudong Central District PYONGYANG (Export mailing lists) Phone (850 2) 18 111 18 222 18 333 Fax (850 2) 381 4410 381 4427 E-mail Website

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 9 March 2006 Loi N° 06/006 Mode of designation directly elected 687 Constituencies 687 single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Two-round System (TRS) The candidate who has received the majority of all votes cast in a constituency is declared elected. The election is valid only when more than 1/2 of the voters in a given constituency take part in it. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 17 years - DPRK citizenship - disqualifications: insanity, persons disfranchised by court decision CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 17 years - DPRK citizenship Incompatibilities (data unavailable) Candidacy requirements - nomination by electors, political parties or social organisations (jointly or individually) - each candidate must be nominated at a meeting of at least 100 electors; more than 1/2 of these must support his/her candidacy.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 9 March 2014 Timing and scope of renewal The March 2014 elections were the first to be held under the country's new leader, Mr. Kim Jong Un. He had succeeded his father, Kim Jong-il, who passed away in December 2011. The new leader himself was seeking a parliamentary seat, in addition to his posts as First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK, Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army and Supreme Leader of the Workers' Party of Korea. According to the Central Electoral Committee, 99.97 per cent of registered voters participated in the elections. Around 55 per cent of serving parliamentarians were reportedly renewed in 2014. High-ranking officials re-elected to the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) included its Chairman Mr. Choe Thae Bok and Mr. Kim Yong-nam, Chairman of the SPA Presidium. The Ambassador to China Ji Jae Ryong joined the SPA for the first time along with Mr. Kim Jong Un. In April, the SPA re-elected Mr. Choe Thae Bok as Chairman. It also elected Mr. Pak Pong Ju as Premier of the Cabinet (head of government) and re-confirmed Mr. Kim Jong Un as First Chairman of the National Defence Commission. Date of previous elections: 8 March 2009 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: March 2019 Number of seats at stake: 687 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 687 (575 men, 112 women) Percentage of women candidates: 16.3% Number of parties contesting the election: Not available Number of parties winning seats: Not available Alternation of power: No Number of parties in government: 1 Names of parties in government: Workers' Party of Korea Date of the first session of the new parliament: 9 April 2014 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Choe Thae Bok (Workers' Party of Korea) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 9 March 2014 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Workers' Party of Korea Korean Social Democratic Party Chondoist Chongu Party Independents Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Number of women Workers' Party of Korea 607 90 Korean Social Democratic Party 50 12 Chondoist Chongu Party 22 9 Independents 8 1 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 575 112 16.30% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note: The independents comprise five members representing the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and three members representing religious associations. Source: Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva (30.05.2014, 03.07.2014)

Parliament name (generic / translated) Choe Go In Min Hoe Ui / Supreme People's Assembly Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the Supreme People's Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, prosecution for crime, vote of no confidence, transfer to another post, lack of capability, Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly Eligibility - any Deputy may be candidate Voting system - formal vote by public ballot (by a show of hands) - simple majority is required - several rounds may be held if the required majority is not obtained Procedures / results - a Deputy chosen by the Presidium presides over the Assembly during the voting - all Deputies supervise the voting - the Deputy chosen by the Presidium announces the results without any delay - the results can be challenged STATUS Status - represents the Assembly with the public authorities - represents the Assembly in international bodies - is ex officio Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly - in the absence of the Presidentr, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - 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 request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees - the Standing Committee establishes and modifies the agenda Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - may take 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 adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - appoints the Clerk - organizes the services of Parliament - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion - takes part in voting in his/her capacity of Deputy - proposes bills or amendments - intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure

This page was last updated on 30 August 2018
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