| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Il-Kamra Tad-Deputati / House of Representatives |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| 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, in the case of a Speaker elected from among the Members of the Parliament: if he ceases to be a Member, if he is appointed Minister or Parliamentary Secretary, or in case of resignation, dissolution of Parliament, and death
- reasons for interruption of the term in the case of a Speaker elected from among persons who are not Members of the Parliament: if for any reasons he is disqualified for the elections of the House of Representatives, if he is considerated as mentally disabled by a court, if he is serving a sentence of imprisonment exceeding 12 months, if he is disqualified for registration as a voter because he has been convicted of an offence connected with the election of the Members of the Parliament, or in case of resignation, dissolution of the Parliament and death |
| Appointment |
- elected by all Members of the House
- election is held when the new House first meets after the general elections, or after the resignation of the Speaker
- after Members' mandates are validated and before Members are sworn in |
| Eligibility |
- Any member of the House of Representatives (who is neither a Minister nor a Parliamentary Secretary) and persons who are not members but who qualify for the election may stand as a candidate
- In cases where the person elected as Speaker is not a member of the House, he/she shall become a member of the House ex officio. However, the Speaker shall not be treated as a member of the House for purposes of establishing the number of votes required to support a bill on constitutional amendments. |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by public ballot
- one round
- simple majority |
| Procedures / results |
- the Clerk presides over the House during the voting
- the Clerk supervises the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay
- the results can be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State after the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop, the Chief Justice
- represents the House with the public authorities
- represents the House in international bodies
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- salary (similar to a Minister's salary)
- official car and driver
- private secretary |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions in exceptional circumstances with the Deputy Speaker
- examines the admissibility of bills and amendments with the Deputy Speaker |
| Chairing of public sittings |
In collaboration with the Deputy Speaker:
- 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
- gives and withdraws permission to speak
- establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated
- decides how the vote 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 House
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- in practice, approves the House's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments
- is responsible with the Deputy Speaker for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House
Participation:
- takes part in voting if a casting vote is necessary
- guarantees the democratic process throughout the succeeding stages and signs every act before sending it to the President of the Republic for his assent
- oversees that the procedures and rules mentioned specifically in the Constitution are followed |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
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