First session of the parliament
26 April 2008
The first session of the parliament under the new government has tentatively been fixed on May 8.
The members of parliament will discuss and endorse the five bills of Election, Constitution, National Assembly, National Council and Parliamentary Entitlement.
Bills will be passed in three stages; it will go to the National Council from the National Assembly for consent. If there is no disagreement between the two houses, the bills will then be submitted to His Majesty. Once whetted through the two houses and presented to His Majesty the King, the bills will become an Act, explained the National Assembly Secretary, Nima Tshering.
Starting this session, there will not be any readymade agendas apart from the bills to be tabled for discussion.
The agendas will be put forward by the parliamentarians during the session. The points to be tabled, known as ‘motions,’ will have to be put in the house for consensus if they deserve discussion. The motions will be included in the agenda once there is majority consent.
Some issues, if need be, will be referred to the committees formed by the parliament to deal with different issues, for review.
There are ten committees, namely disciplinary, environment,land and urban, GNH and culture, labour and employment, legislative, foreign relations, finance, women, children and sports, private sector and poverty reduction.
In the past, the National Assembly used to get in advance agendas for discussion submitted from all 20 dzongkhags.
According to the Draft Constitution, the Prime Minister shall present an annual report on the state of the nation, including legislative plans and the annual plans and priorities of the government.
As for the duration of the session, Nima Tashering said that it will be determined by the volume of issues for discussion.
The parliamentarians are expected to manage their own offices like in other parliaments. “We would like to provide them with offices in the parliament building provided sufficient rooms are available,” the secretary said.
However, a small office with computers that will accommodate about six people will be arranged for the parliamentarians by the National Assembly Library. Not all are expected to work simultaneously and they will have to make adjustments, he said.
To entertain the visitors, a call-on room will be arranged. For the National Council members, the NC Secretary, Tshewang Norbu, said that there will be seven committee rooms in the Banquet Hall complex where the members can work.
The speaker, deputy speaker, opposition leader and the chairman of the committees will be provided with an office each.
The parliamentarians are expected to visit their respective constituencies twice a year.
Meanwhile, the parliament hall will also wear a new look. The new parliament will have, unlike in the past, modern amenities along with the traditional grandeur of the august hall.
The floor will accommodate 100 people and the public gallery about 200 people. Each MP will have an individual chair and desk equipped with microphone and provisions for laptops and a voting button on the desk. They will meet at least twice a year.
It will also have voting display screens, security surveillance equipment and fire alarms.
By Sonam Pelden
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[...] First session of the parliamentThe first session of the parliament under the new government has tentatively been fixed on May 8. The members of parliament will discuss and endorse the five bills of Election, Constitution, National Assembly, National Council and Parliamentary Entitlement. Bills will be passed in three stages; it will go to the National Council from the National Assembly for […] [...]
[...] First session of the parliamentThe first session of the parliament under the new government has tentatively been fixed on May 8. The members of parliament will discuss and endorse the five bills of Election, Constitution, National Assembly, National Council and Parliamentary Entitlement. Bills will be passed in three stages; it will go to the National Council from the National Assembly for […] [...]