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PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT |
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| Chamber: | |||||
| Senate | |||||
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| Title: | |||||
| President of the Senate | |||||
| Term: | |||||
| - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate, if he becomes a Minister, if he ceases to be a citizen of Belize or is disqualified by virtue of Section 58(1) of the Belize Constitution |
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| Appointment: | |||||
| - elected by all Senators - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate - before Members are sworn in |
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| Eligibility: | |||||
| - any citizen of Belize who satisfies the qualifications required may be a candidate | |||||
| Voting system: | |||||
| - formal vote by simple majority - one round by voice vote |
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| Procedures / results: | |||||
| - the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting - the Clerk supervises the voting - the Clerk announces the results without any delay - the results cannot be challenged |
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STATUS |
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| Status: | |||||
| - ranks sixth in the hierarchy of State - comes after the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the order of precedence - both Presiding Officers preside together over the joint sitting of both Chambers - in the absence of the President, the Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions |
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| Board: | |||||
| Material facilities: | |||||
| - salary of $ 11,520 p.a Bze dollars + special allowance of $ 2,808 p a Bze dollars |
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FUNCTIONS |
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| 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 request for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such committees - is entitled to appoint special select committees |
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| Chairing of public sittings: | |||||
| - can open, adjourn and close sittings by order of the Senate - 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 (the Member who catches the President's exe would have the floor) - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up (last amendments debated first) - calls for a vote (collection of voices and by division) - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate |
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| Special powers: | |||||
| - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate |
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| Speaking and voting rights, other functions: | |||||
| NA (no information received) | |||||
Choose one of the thematic modules below for further information grouped by category. Alternatively, you can access the full text of the PARLINE data about this parliament (downloading will take longer). |
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Last Elections | Parliamentary Mandate | Full text PARLINE database: new search |
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