| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
National Council |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
National Assembly
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Chairperson of the National Council |
| Term |
- duration: 6 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly
|
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the Council
- the election is held on the first sitting day of the newly elected Council
- after Members' mandates have been validated and they have been sworn in
|
| Eligibility |
- any Member of the Council can be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- secret ballot
- simple majority
|
| Procedures / results |
- the Secretary General presides over the Council during the voting
- the clerks supervises the voting
- the Secretary General announces the results without any delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State
- represents the Council in international bodies
- presides over joint sessions of the Chambers
- in the absence of the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance
- official car
- household 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
- refers texts to a committee for study
- examines the admissibility of requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides to set up such bodies
- may appoint committees and their Chairmen
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Council
- 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
- 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
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Council
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- recommends the budget of the National Council
- recommends the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- appoints the Secretary General
- organizes the services of the Council
- 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 Council
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- may not take part in voting but has a casting vote
- signs laws and transmits them to the Head of State for enactment
- ensures the constitutionality of laws
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
