| Parliament name |
National Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the National Assembly |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of legislature)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
|
| Appointment |
- elected by the members of the Assembly
- election is held at the start of the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly
- before taking the oath
|
| Eligibility |
- any member duly presented can be a candidate |
| Voting system |
- formal vote in public ballot by raising of hands
- simple majority
|
| Procedures / results |
-the Chief Justice presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the Independent Electoral Commission supervises the voting
- the Chief Justice announces the results immediately
- the results cannot be challenged
|
| STATUS |
| Status |
- hold equivalent rank to minister
- State figure
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is de facto member of bodies outside Parliament
- is de facto President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Defence and Security
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
|
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- allowance + expense allowance
- official car
- secretariat
|
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organises 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
- can designate committees
|
| 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
- is responsible for discipline within the Assembly: if necessary takes disciplinary measures and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up
- 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 Assembly, based on precedents
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organise impromptu debates
|
| Special powers |
- gives advice for establishing the budget of the Assembly
- gives advice for recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- the Secretary General is responsible for organisation of the Assembly's services
- has specific role in supervising foreign affairs and defence matters as President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and as President of the Committee on Defence and Security
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for security and in this capacity can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
|
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- has casting vote
-intervenes in parliamentary oversight procedures
- supervises constitutionality of laws
- must be consulted by the Head of State in certain circumstances (dissolution, application of emergency measures)
|
