Describe the role and functions of the Speaker of the House ——Part B The New Zealand Legal System Zhichuan Xiao
The Speaker of the House is the most important of the parliamentary officials.
The role of the Speaker of the House[1]]:
In New Zealand, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives (often also referred to as 'Parliament', figure[2]). The Speaker plays an important role both inside and outside the Chamber and must fulfil this role without bias to any political party.
The Speaker speaks for the House to the Crown, chairs meetings in the House, chairs three select committees, acts as landlord for Parliament’s buildings, and represents the House to international and other important visitors.
The functions of the Speaker of the House: 1) The chief duty of the Speaker is to chair the House, presiding over its deliberations, keeping order and determining points of procedure. 2) The Speaker was the House’s orator: The need for the amorphous mass of commoners who came to Parliament to have one person who could report their opinions to the King and the Lords – who could speak for them. The Speaker also presents to the Crown addresses that are adopted by the House, and reads messages from the Crown to the House. 3) The Speaker is chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission and has principal political responsibility for the services and facilities provided to members of Parliament. 4) Many of the House’s contacts with overseas parliaments are carried on by, or in the name of, the Speaker who is president, of the New Zealand branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the New Zealand group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 5) The Speaker also makes other formal communications to the House; for example, presenting reports to Parliament made by the officers of Parliament, and announcing and presenting any citizens’-initiated referendum petition that has been signed by at least 10 percent of registered electors.
6) The Speaker also has a number of statutory duties to perform in the case of vacancies in membership of the House and the granting of exemptions to members of Parliament from attending court proceedings. The courts are enjoined to take judicial notice of the Speaker’s signature on any document issued under the Speaker’s statutory or Standing Orders powers.
Describe the role and functions of the Speaker of the House
——Part B The New Zealand Legal System
Zhichuan Xiao
The Speaker of the House is the most important of the parliamentary officials.
The role of the Speaker of the House[1]]:
- In New Zealand, the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives (often also referred to as 'Parliament', figure[2]). The Speaker plays an important role both inside and outside the Chamber and must fulfil this role without bias to any political party.
- The Speaker speaks for the House to the Crown, chairs meetings in the House, chairs three select committees, acts as landlord for Parliament’s buildings, and represents the House to international and other important visitors.
The functions of the Speaker of the House:1) The chief duty of the Speaker is to chair the House, presiding over its deliberations, keeping order and determining points of procedure.
2) The Speaker was the House’s orator: The need for the amorphous mass of commoners who came to Parliament to have one person who could report their opinions to the King and the Lords – who could speak for them. The Speaker also presents to the Crown addresses that are adopted by the House, and reads messages from the Crown to the House.
3) The Speaker is chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission and has principal political responsibility for the services and facilities provided to members of Parliament.
4) Many of the House’s contacts with overseas parliaments are carried on by, or in the name of, the Speaker who is president, of the New Zealand branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and the New Zealand group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
5) The Speaker also makes other formal communications to the House; for example, presenting reports to Parliament made by the officers of Parliament, and announcing and presenting any citizens’-initiated referendum petition that has been signed by at least 10 percent of registered electors.
6) The Speaker also has a number of statutory duties to perform in the case of vacancies in membership of the House and the granting of exemptions to members of Parliament from attending court proceedings. The courts are enjoined to take judicial notice of the Speaker’s signature on any document issued under the Speaker’s statutory or Standing Orders powers.
[1] http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/HowPWorks/Speaker/SpeakersRole/
[2] http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/