| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Parlement / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Assemblée nationale / National Assembly |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Sénat / Senate
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the National Assembly |
| Term |
- duration: duration of the legislature (max 5 years)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, loss of parliamentary seat, death
- in case of dissolution, the President and the Questors assume general administrative powers until the new Assembly has taken up its functions |
| Appointment |
- elected at the first sitting of the legislature, before the Constitutional Court has ruled on petitions contesting electoral operations |
| Eligibility |
Any MP may be a candidate and no notification of candidature is required |
| Voting system |
- vote by secret ballot
- if no candidate has obtained an absolute majority in the first two rounds, a relative majority is sufficient in the third round; in case of a tie, the senior candidate is declared elected
|
| Procedures / results |
- the senior Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
- tellers drawn by lot count the votes
- the senior Member announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fourth in the order of precedence, after the President of the Senate
- presides over sittings of the National Assembly
- represents the Assembly in general
- convenes and presides over the Bureau of the Conference of Presidents
- represents the Assembly when it participates in international bodies
- is de facto President of the French Chapter of the AIPLF (International Assembly of French Speaking Parliamentarians) and Joint President of the French IPU Group
- in case of vacancy, is replaced by one of the Vice-Presidents
- presides over the sittings of the Congress (joint meeting of the National Assembly and Senate) |
| Board |
- consists of 22 Members: 1 Chairman, 6 Vice-Chairmen, 3 Questors and 12 Secretaries elected at the beginning of each legislature and (apart from the Chairman) renewed every year at the opening sitting of the ordinary session
- meets once a month, on average, and whenever necessary
- has all powers to regulate the deliberations of the Assembly and to organize and manage all services in the conditions laid down in the Standing Orders
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance (received by all MPs)
+ expense allowance (FF 58,000/mo
- official residence (Hôtel de Lassay) + official suite (Château de Versailles)
- administrative personnel, secretariat, service officers
- official cars + chauffeurs
- police officers |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes public sittings of the Assembly (the timetable for sessions is laid down in the Constitution)
- decides which standing committee bills and amendments are to be referred to
- is competent to assess the admissibility of amendments
- passes judgement on the legislative admissibility of amendments
The Conference of Presidents may:
- establish a supplementary agenda
- decide on how to organise the general discussion by the Assembly of the texts submitted |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Assembly
- takes disciplinary measures
- establishes the order of speakers, gives and withdraws the floor
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure
- calls for a vote
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates by signing them, together with two Secretaries
- may be led to interpret the Rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
|
| Special powers |
The Board is responsible with regard to:
- the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- appointments, particularly that of the Clerk
- the organization of the services of Parliament
- the questors, under the Board's authority, are responsible for the administrative and financial services
- has broad powers to take an initiative or give an impetus in the international field, but a five-Member delegation of the Board is responsible for relation with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly
- is empowered to seize the Constitutional Council to settle a dispute between himself/herself and the Administration with regard to the admissibility of a bill or amendment,
- when he/she deems that an international commitment contains an unconstitutional clause,
- when he/she deems that a law which has been adopted but not yet promulgated is unconstitutional
- appoints the members of the Constitutional Council, the High Council of the Magistrature, the High Audiovisual Board and other extra-parliamentary bodies
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
Like any member of the Assembly, he may take the floor in legislative debates, take part in voting, propose bills or amendments (but rarely does so)
- appoints three members of the Constitutional Council
- can bring matters before the Constitutional Council
- must be consulted by the President of the Republic in certain circumstances
|
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
