Saeima of the Republic of Latvia Which Are Not Covered by the Rules of Procedure
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Saeima of the Republic of Latvia which are not covered by the Rules of Procedure. This Council is composed of the Presidium and one MP from each parliamentary group and political bloc. The work of the Saeima is organised in sessions. Each year the Saeima holds three regular sessions: an autumn, win- ter, and spring session. Extraordinary sessions may be convened during the recess. Plenary sittings are usually held once a week on Thursdays. Live broad- casts of plenary sittings and sittings devoted to answering parliamentary questions can be heard on the radio and viewed on the Saeima website. In accor- dance with the Rules of Procedure, the Saeima may hold a closed plenary sitting Main building of the Saeima if at least two-thirds of the MPs present Latvia is an independent democratic term of office. The Presidium consists vote to do so; however, this has never happened so far. republic, and the sovereign power is of five MPs – the Speaker, two Deputy vested in the people of Latvia. Speakers, the Secretary and the Deputy The working language of the Saeima is Latvian. The Saeima is composed of 100 repre- Secretary. sentatives of the people – members of Each committee specialises in a par- Legislation parliament (MPs). The Constitution ticular area of legislation or fulfils other sets forth the main functions of the functions – for example, assesses the va- The Saeima has several functions, the Saeima, and the Rules of Procedure lidity of public expenditures, considers most important of which is the adoption drafted by the Saeima sets forth its in- violations of the principles of ethics or of laws. Draft laws may be submitted to ternal rules and regulations. reviews Latvia’s positions on EU issues. the Saeima by the President of Latvia, the government, sectoral committees of The Saeima is elected for a term of four Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, the Saeima, not fewer than five MPs or years in general, equal and direct elec- there are 17 standing committees in not less than one-tenth of the electorate. tions conducted by secret ballot and the Saeima. The Saeima is entitled to make amend- based on proportional representation. At least five MPs belonging to the same ments to the Constitution. The most All citizens of Latvia who enjoy full political party or list of candidates lively and thorough debates concerning rights of citizenship and who on elec- may form a parliamentary group. If draft laws take place in the committees, tion day have attained 18 years of age an MP leaves a parliamentary group, which consider matters that are then de- are entitled to vote. he/she retains the mandate of an MP bated at the plenary sittings. Any citizen of Latvia who enjoys full and is then considered an unaffiliated rights of citizenship and who is more member of parliament. Parliamentary Adoption of the than 21 years of age on election day may groups may form political blocs. national budget be elected to the Saeima. a person elect- The Council of Parliamentary Groups Before the beginning of each fiscal ed to the Saeima acquires the mandate is formed in order to determine and year, the Saeima decides on the an- of an MP upon giving the oath of office. coordinate the activities and strate- nual revenues and expenditures of the The work of the Saeima is managed by gies of parliamentary groups and po- state. The government submits a draft the Presidium elected from among the litical blocs within the Saeima and its state budget to the Saeima, and a vote MPs at the beginning of the Saeima’s committees, as well as to resolve issues on the state budget is actually a vote of Fact Sheet 1 v01.14 ENG; 10.01.20. Saeima of the Republic of Latvia • Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811, Latvia • phone: +371 67087321 • www.saeima.lv • e-mail: [email protected] Mass Media, the Director of the Con- stitution Protection Bureau, judges, the Ombudsman, the Auditor General and other officials as stipulated in the leg- islation. The government may commence its duties after it has received Saeima’s vote of confidence. The President of Latvia nominates the Prime Minister. The Saeima takes a vote of confidence in the new government after the nomi- nated Prime Minister has presented the government’s platform to the Saeima. Ratification of Plenary sitting of the Saeima international agreements and confidence in the government. Con- to hold a vote of no confidence in the international sideration of the draft state budget and relevant minister or in the entire gov- related draft laws usually results in the ernment. Committees have the right to activity lengthiest debates at plenary sittings. request information necessary for their In accordance with Article 68 of the Con- stitution, all international agreements After the end of the fiscal year, the work and explanations from specific which pertain to matters that must be Cabinet of Ministers submits an over- ministries, institutions subordinated to decided according to legislative proce- view of the national budgetary imple- them, and local governments; they also dure require ratification by the Saeima. mentation to the Saeima for approval. have the right to invite relevant public officials to provide information in per- Along with their work in the plenary Parliamentary son at committee meetings. sittings, committees and parliamentary scrutiny Parliamentary investigative commit- groups, MPs also meet foreign officials tees, in cooperation with experts, have and delegations. The Saeima is a mem- The Saeima supervises the everyday ber of international parliamentary or- work of the government; the govern- the right to scrutinise the work of state and municipal institutions, as well as ganisations, and it actively cooperates ment as a whole and each minister in- with parliaments of other countries. dividually are politically accountable to private agencies and companies which the Saeima. directly or indirectly receive state sub- Administration of sidies, loans or government contracts Once a year at a plenary sitting, the or participate in the privatisation of the Saeima Prime Minister reports on the govern- national or municipal property. Par- The parliament has a total of about 550 ment’s performance and its planned ac- liamentary investigative committees staff members. Organisational units of tivities. Furthermore, the Saeima hosts have the right to invite and question the Administration, the Legal Bureau, the annual foreign policy debate, which public entities on the matter they are the Interparliamentary Relations Bu- is attended by experts on foreign affairs. investigating. reau, the Public Relations Department The Ombudsman also gives an annual and the Analytical Service provide report on the work of the Ombudsman’s Appointment of technical assistance to MPs in their Office at a plenary sitting. public officials daily work and during plenary sittings, The Saeima holds sittings devoted to an- as well as fulfil other tasks related to The Saeima uses the open ballot pro- the functioning of the Saeima. swering parliamentary questions. Dur- cedure for electing, approving and ap- ing these sittings, MPs hear answers to pointing many public officials of this their questions submitted to the Prime country, as well as accepting their res- INTERESTING Minister, line ministers or the Gover- ignation or dismissing them. These • Saeima has been the name of the nor of the Bank of Latvia about matters public officials include the President within the competence of these officials. parliament of the Republic of Latvia of Latvia, the Prosecutor General, the since 1922. The Latvian etymological If MPs are dissatisfied with the work Director of the Corruption Preven- dictionary defines the word saeima of a ministry, they may submit an in- tion and Combating Bureau, the Gov- as gathering, assembly, with the quiry to the government. If the Saeima ernor of the Bank of Latvia, members root derived from the word iet (to go in Latvian). accepts this inquiry, it may also decide of the National Council of Electronic Fact Sheet 1 v01.14 ENG; 10.01.20. Saeima of the Republic of Latvia • Jēkaba iela 11, Rīga, LV-1811, Latvia • phone: +371 67087321 • www.saeima.lv • e-mail: [email protected].