FIJI

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT
 
Chamber:
  House of Representatives


APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE

Title:
  Speaker of the House of Representatives
 
Term:
  - duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
 
Appointment:
  - elected by all the Members of the House
- election is held at the first meeting of the newly elected House or when a vacancy occurs
- After Members are sworn in
 
Eligibility:
  - a person who is not a member of the House but who is qualified to be a candidate
- the candidate must be proposed by a Member
 
Voting system:
  - formal vote by secret ballot
- simple majority
 
Procedures / results:
  - the Clerk presides over the House during the voting
- any Member who has proposed a person as Speaker may act as a scrutineer and observe the count at the Table
 

STATUS
 
Status:
  - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
 
Board:
 
 
Material facilities:
  NA (no information received)

FUNCTIONS
 
Organization of parliamentary business:
  - convenes sessions, in exceptional cases only
- organizes the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of bills
- refers texts to a committee for study
- is entitled to appoint Committees and their presiding officers
 
Chairing of public sittings:
  - can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the House
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
 
Special powers:
  - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House
 
Speaking and voting rights, other functions:
  NA (no information received)


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