| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Assembleia da Republica / Assembly of the Republic |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic |
| Term |
- duration: 4 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament |
| Appointment |
- elected by all the Members
- elected at a special sitting
- elected prior to the validation of Members' mandates |
| Eligibility |
- any Member who has formally announced that he is a candidate may be elected
- notification of candidatures is made to the sitting Speaker at least two days before the date set for the election |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- an absolute majority is required
- in case of a second round, only the two candidates who have required the greatest number of votes and who have not withdrawn their candidatures may participate. If no candidate is elected, a new election is held following the same procedure |
| Procedures / results |
- the sitting Speaker presides over the Assembly during the voting
- the sitting Speaker and the Board supervise the voting
- the sitting Speaker announces the results without delay
- the results cannot be challenged |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- ranks second in the hierarchy of State
- can serve as acting Head of State
- represents the Assembly with the public authorities
- is an ex officio member of the Council of State
- represents the Assembly in international bodies
- presides ex officio over the Board, the Standing Committee and the Conference of representatives of parliamentary groups
- in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speakers can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
- is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Assembly
- consists of the Speaker, four Deputy Speakers, four secretaries and four deputy secretaries elected for the term of the legislature |
| Material facilities |
- allowance (equivalent to 80% of the salary of the President of the Republic and 40% of his expenditure on representation)
- official residence
- official car
- secretariat and additional staff
- 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
- proceeds to set up 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
- 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 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 |
- appoints the Clerk
It is the Clerk who:
- is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- organizes the services of Parliament
- plays a specific role in overseeing foreign relations and in defence
- 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 |
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- transmits bills of the Assembly to the President of the Republic for promulgation
- can ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the constitutionality of a law |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
