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PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT |
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| Chamber: | |||||
| Ständerat - Conseil des Etats - Consiglio degli Stati | |||||
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| Title: | |||||
| President of the Council of States | |||||
| Term: | |||||
| - duration: 1 year - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death |
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| Appointment: | |||||
| - elected by the Members of the Council - the election is held every year at the beginning of the winter session, following validation of Members' mandates and swearing-in |
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| Eligibility: | |||||
| - all Members of the Council (barring the second cantonal MP elected in the canton of the outgoing President) | |||||
| Voting system: | |||||
| - formal vote by secret ballot - an absolute majority of the valid ballots cast is required - several rounds if no candidate obtains the required majority - the first two rounds are free - however, starting with the third round, the candidate with the fewest votes must withdraw |
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| Procedures / results: | |||||
| - the outgoing President presides over the Council during the voting - the tellers supervise the voting - the presiding officer of the sitting announces the results without delay - the results cannot be challenged |
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STATUS |
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| Status: | |||||
| - ranks fifth in the hierarchy of State, after the President of the Confederation, the Vice-President of the Federal Council, the five other federal councillors and the President of the National Council - ranks second in the order of precedence between the Presidents of the two Houses - is the Deputy Presiding officer of joint sittings of both Houses (Federal Assembly) - represents the Council of States in international bodies - presides ex officio over the Board, the administrative delegation, the Co-ordinating Conference and, at present, the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE - in case of absence, the President is replaced by the Deputy President or former President who is still an MP. Should a vacancy arise before the beginning of the summer session, the Council elects a new President without delay |
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| Board: | |||||
| - the Board is regulated by the Standing Orders of the Council of States - consists of 5 Members (President, Vice-President, 2 tellers, 1 substitute teller) - a term of five years, with each Member occupying successively the post of substitute teller, second teller, first teller, Vice-President and President, each post being held for one year - meets before each session and as need be during sessions at the President's initiative - is a decision-making body |
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| Material facilities: | |||||
| - allowance - additional allowance of SF 20,000 - official car - secretariat for the President's Office |
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FUNCTIONS |
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| Organization of parliamentary business: | |||||
| - establishes and modifies the agenda, while respecting the timetable laid down by the Board - organizes the debates and sets speaking time Chairing public sittings : - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Chamber - 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 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 Chamber |
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| 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 (e.g. reads out the agenda for the next sitting of the National Council - 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 Council |
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| Special powers: | |||||
| - takes part in the establishment of the Chamber's budget within the administrative delegation, together with the President of the other Chamber - confirms certain appointments made by the administrative delegation - takes part in the appointment of the Secretary General as part of the Co-ordinating Conference - is consulted with regard to the organization of the services of Parliament - is regularly briefed by the Government on the foreign relations situation, on planned projects within the framework of international organizations and on negotiations conducted with foreign States - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments, in agreement with the Co-ordinating Conference - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber |
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| Speaking and voting rights, other functions: | |||||
| - takes the floor in legislative debates (in which case he lets the Vice-President preside) - only votes in case of a tie - proposes bills or amendments |
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Choose one of the thematic modules below for further information grouped by category. Alternatively, you can access the full text of the PARLINE data about this parliament (downloading will take longer). |
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Last Elections | Parliamentary Mandate | Full text | Parliamentary Oversight PARLINE database: new search |
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