| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Conseil national / National Council |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the National Council |
| Term |
- duration: 1 year, renewable; re-elected on 19/02/1998
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, dissolution of the National Council |
| Appointment |
elected by the Members on the eleventh day following the election of the National Council and after validation of Members' mandates |
| Eligibility |
- any Member may be a candidate
- notification of candidature must be made during the public sitting during which the election takes place |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required in the first round, a relative majority in the second - in case of a tie, the oldest candidate is declared elected
- in the second round, new candidates are admitted |
| Procedures / results |
- the oldest of the Members present presides over the Council during the voting
- the two youngest Members supervise the voting
- the oldest Member announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks third in the hierarchy of State, after the Prince and the State minister
- represents the Council in various national and international bodies (eg the OSCE)
- in case of absence, the Speaker is replaced by the Deputy Speaker |
| Board |
- is set up under the Constitution and regulated by the Standing Orders of the National Council - it is renewed annually
- consists of a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman - the National Council can appoint several of its members to assist the Board, but in practice, the Board is made up of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Committee Chairmen
- meets at the initiative of the Speaker or one of the members of the Board
- decides on the structure and functioning of Parliament's adminstrative services and ensures the application and execution of the Standing Orders as well as the administration of the funds budgeted by the Council |
| Material facilities |
- allowance |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes extraordinary sessions when at least two-thirds of the Members so request
- establishes and modifies the agenda
- organizes the debates
- refers texts to a committee for study in certain cases
|
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Council
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote, with the Council's agreement, in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates |
| Special powers |
- prepares requests for budgetary allocations for the functioning of the Council, with the agreement of the Chairman of the Finance Committee
- the recruitment, assignment and promotion of staff is subject to his agreement
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of Parliament
- is traditionally President of the Monaco-France Friendship Group
- 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, like the other Members
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion, like the other Members
- takes part in voting, like the other Members
- proposes bills or amendments, like the other Members
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure |
