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ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Senate
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENTARY CHAMBER

Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module

Parliament name Parliament
Structure of parliament Bicameral
Chamber name Senate
Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) House of Representatives
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title President of the Senate
Term - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate
Appointment - elected by all the Senators
- election is held after a general election and before Members are sworn in
Eligibility - any Senator who is not a Minister or Parliamentary Secretary may be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot if there is more than one candidate
- by simple majority
- if no candidate obtains the required majority in the first round, several rounds are held until a candidate receives a majority. No new candidates are admitted if there is a succession of votes.
Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- no procedure is foreseen for challenging the results

STATUS
Status - ranks after the Governor General
- has precedence over the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- presides over joint sittings of both Houses
- represents the Senate with the public authorities
- is ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions

Board
Material facilities - salary
FUNCTIONS
Organization of parliamentary business - establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments
Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- 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
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate

Special powers - assists in the preparation of the Senate's budget
- organizes the services of the Senate
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate

Speaking and voting rights, other functions - provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs the bills passed by the Senate before submitting them to the Governor General for assent
- has an advisory role in ensuring the constitutionality of laws

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