What do speakers do in parliament

The Speaker has ultimate responsibility for the administration of the House of Representatives and, with the President of the Senate, for the administration of services provided jointly to Members and Senators and the operation of Parliament House. The Department of the House of Representatives provides the administrative machinery for the efficient conduct of the House of Representatives and its committees and a range of services and facilities for Members in Parliament House.

The department provides information and research services to Members and Senators and reports the debates and proceedings of both Houses Hansard and their committees. It also provides computer and telecommunication services to Parliament House as well as radio and television broadcast and closed circuit facilities. It maintains Parliament House and its grounds, provides housekeeping and catering services as well as guide services for visitors.

The Parliamentary Precincts Act gives the Presiding Officers responsibility for control and management of Parliament House and its immediate surroundings the precincts.

They have overall responsibility for security services and may, subject to any order of either House, take any action they consider necessary for the control and management of the precincts. In respect of the ministerial wing these powers are subject to any limitations and conditions agreed between the Presiding Officers and the Executive Government. Other functions and duties. At the beginning of each Parliament the Speaker is authorised by the Governor-General to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to any Member not present at the opening of parliament and to Members elected during the course of a parliament.

The Speaker is responsible for the issue of writs for by-elections. In addition to this constitutional function the Speaker has a variety of specific duties laid down by a number of laws, and in particular by the Commonwealth Electoral Act The process for choosing the Speaker is set down in detail in the standing orders of the House.

These provide for the Speaker to be elected by Members, if the election is contested, by secret ballot. The Speaker is elected for the duration of a Parliament. In practice the office of Speaker is normally filled by the nominee of the governing party or parties.

The Speaker remains a member of their political party, and may choose to attend party meetings. Speakers also need to contest their seat in an election.

On taking office the Speaker continues to carry out their duties as an ordinary Member of Parliament and continues to represent and assist constituents. An election for Speaker is conducted at the beginning of each parliament even if the previous Speaker is still available.

At the dissolution of the House before a general election Members of the House, including the Speaker, technically cease to be Members. Turn on Animations. Legislative Assembly. Home Legislative Assembly. The role of the Speaker. Page Content. The office of the Speaker is recognised in section 31 of the Constitution Act. The Speaker is described as the Legislative Assembly's "independent and impartial representative".

As regards recognition of parliamentary parties, it is the Speaker who lays down the necessary guidelines for such recognition. Following the 52nd Constitution amendment, the Speaker is vested with the power relating to the disqualification of a member of the Lok Sabha on grounds of defection. The Speaker makes obituary references in the House, formal references to important national and international events and the valedictory address at the conclusion of every Session of the Lok Sabha and also when the term of the House expires.

Though a member of the House, the Speaker does not vote in the House except on those rare occasions when there is a tie at the end of a decision. Till date, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha has not been called upon to exercise this unique casting vote.

Speaker and the Committees. The Committees of the House function under the overall direction of the Speaker. Speaker and Members. The Speaker is at once a member of the House as also its Presiding Officer. It is always the Speaker's task to ensure that parliamentary decorum is maintained under all circumstances. The Speaker's position in such situations is certainly unenviable. It is indeed a delicate task which calls for diplomacy, firmness, persuasion and perseverance of a high order.

The Speaker also keeps open a variety of informal channels of communication with individual members and the Leaders of Parties and Groups in the Lok Sabha. The Speaker has to see to it that Parliament functions the way that it is intended to under the Constitution. All in all, it is always a tight-rope walk for the Speaker.

Speaker and Inter-Parliamentary Relations. The Speaker has certain other functions to perform as the head of the Lok Sabha. Most often, the Speaker leads such Delegations. The major parliamentary parties nominate a panel of Acting Deputy Speakers to share the load of chairing the House of Representatives throughout the day. When not in the House, the Speaker works in an office in the House of Representatives and has several responsibilities, including:. The Speaker does not usually participate in debates.

In accordance with section 40 of the Australian Constitution , they do not vote unless there is a tie, in which case the Speaker has the casting vote. The Speaker's Chair is located at one end of the House of Representatives facing the U-shaped seating. It is the focus of parliamentary meetings, positioned so the Speaker can see and hear everything that happens, and so everyone in the House can see the Speaker.

The Speaker's microphone is always switched on, unlike those of other members of the House. This means that the Speaker can always be heard and so is able to maintain order.

The Mace is the symbol of the Speaker's authority to preside over meetings of the House of Representatives.