| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Asamblea General / General Assembly |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Senadores / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Representantes / House of Representatives
|
| APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE |
| Title |
President of the General Assembly & of the Senate |
| Term |
- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- normal date of expiry: the 14th of February preceding the inauguration of the new Chamber
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Senate |
| Appointment |
- the Vice-President of the Republic is ex officio President of the Senate
- last Sunday of November every five years
- prior to validation of mandates and swearing-in |
| Eligibility |
- any citizen over 30 years of age, of Uruguayan nationality or naturalized at least 7 years ago may be a candidate (except for judges, prosecutors, police officers and servicemen)
- notification of candidature: 30 days prior to elections |
| Voting system |
- formal vote by secret ballot
- simple majority, one round |
| Procedures / results |
NA (no information received) |
| STATUS |
| Status |
- as both President of the Senate and Vice-President of the Republic, he ranks second in the order of precedence after the President of the Republic
- presides over joint meetings of both Houses
- represents the Senate with the public authorities
- represents the Senate in international bodies
- in the absence of the President, the Senator representing the party with the most votes in the last national elections can assume his/her role and functions |
| Board |
|
| Material facilities |
- salary double that of the other MPs
- official car
- secretariat
- bodyguards
- military attaché |
| FUNCTIONS |
| Organization of parliamentary business |
- convenes sessions
- refers texts to a committee for study |
| Chairing of public sittings |
- can open, adjourn and close sittings
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate, as does the Legislative Secretary
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the texts adopted and the records of debates, together with the Legislative Secretary
- interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Senate, relying on precedents |
| Special powers |
- presents a draft budget to the Senate
- recruits, assigns and promotes staff
- appoints the Clerk
- organizes the services of the Senate
- 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 Senate |
| Speaking and voting rights, other functions |
- takes the floor in legislative debates, by leaving his seat
- provides guidelines for the interpretation or completion of the text under discussion, like any Senator
- takes part in voting
- proposes bills or amendments
- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure
- can propose members of the Supreme Court, the Tribunal for Administrative Disputes, the Audit Office and the Electoral Court, like the other Senators |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Presidency module
