Parliament name |
National Assembly - Assemblée nationale |
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: resignation, Speaker's responsibility called into question, death
|
Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the National Assembly at the beginning of the legislature
- before Members have been sworn in
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Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate |
Voting system |
- formal, one-round vote by secret ballot
- a simple majority is required
|
Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
STATUS |
Status |
- ranks fifth in the hierarchy of the State
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- is ex officio President of the Committee on Selection
- is ex officio President of the Committee on Standing Orders
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions, and in the case of absence or illness, a Member elected by secret ballot for the sitting only |
Board |
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Material facilities |
- Rs. 38,000/month
- representation allowance: Rs. 6,000/month
+ expense allowance: Rs. 5,000/month
- official residence
- official car with chauffeur
- secretariat
- domestic staff
- bodyguards
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FUNCTIONS |
Organization of parliamentary business |
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
- appoints standing committees and their presidents
- appoints ad hoc committees
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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
- 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, only at Members' request
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly, based on precedents
- exceptionally has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
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Special powers |
- supervises the budget of the Assembly
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
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Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes part in voting in case of a tie |