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IRAN (ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF)
Majles Shoraye Eslami (Islamic Consultative Assembly)
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

Parliament name (generic / translated) Majles Shoraye Eslami / Islamic Consultative Assembly
Structure of parliament Unicameral
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly
Term - duration: 1 year (election takes place in late May)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly
Appointment - elected by all Members of the Assembly
- the election is held before the official opening of the Assembly
- after members' mandates have been validated and they have been sworn in
Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly may be a candidate
Voting system - formal vote by secret ballot
- absolute majority required in the first round; simple majority in the second
Procedures / results - the provisional Presiding Board presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the provisional Presiding Board supervises the voting
- the provisional Speaker announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged
STATUS
Status - represents the Assembly with the authorities
- is an ex officio member of bodies outside Parliament
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- is ex officio Chairman of executive committees
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Vice-Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
- the Presidium is regulated by the Standing Orders
- consists of 11 Members with a one-year term
- meets once weekly
- is a genuine collegiate presidency
Material facilities - allowance
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat
- domestic staff
- bodyguards
FUNCTIONS
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 requests for setting up committees and/or committees of enquiry, proposes or decides on the setting up of such 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
- 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
- has the Secretaries check the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates
Special powers - supervises the establishment of the Assembly's budget
- supervises the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- plays a specific role in supervising foreign affairs or defence matters
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber
Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates
- provides guidelines for interpretating or supplementing the text under discussion
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- signs laws before transmitting them to the Head of State for enactment
- must be consulted in certain circumstances (dissolution, etc.)

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