| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Vouli Ton Ellinon / Hellenic Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament, adoption of motion of censure, incapacity on any ground for the discharge of his/her duties |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Chamber
- election held at the beginning of each parliamentary term
- after the Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- any Members can be candidate
|
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority is required
- if no candidate is elected in the first round, only the two candidates with the largest number of votes are admitted in the second round |
| Procedures / results |
- the interim Speaker presides over theChamber during the voting
- 3 Members of the Parliament supervise the voting (2 of them belong to the majority party, the third to the opposition)
- the interim Speaker announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State
- may be called upon to replace the Head of State in the event of the latter's absence
- represents the Chamber with the public authorities
- represents the Chamber in international bodies
- is the President ex officio of the Standing Orders Committee, the Parliament's Finance Committee, the Committee for Public Enterprise, Banks and Public Benefit Organizations
- in the absence of the Speaker, a Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- the Bureau is composed of the Speaker, five Deputy Speakers, three Deans and six secretaries |
| Material facilities |
- same salary as the Members of the Chamber
+ special allowance (40% of the MP salary)
- official car
- secretariat
- police protection |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- 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
- proposes the setting up of committees of enquiry
- convenes the committees |
| 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
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- 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 Chamber
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- introduces the Chamber's budget for debate and adoption
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- 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 |
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- transmits to the competent Minister extracts of the ratified minutes that include the text of the adopted bill |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
