Speaker of the House

The **Speaker of the House of Representatives** (Speaker of the House or Speaker for short) in Voices of Democracy holds a crucial position, presiding over the House of Representatives and ensuring the smooth functioning of legislative proceedings. This wiki page provides a comprehensive overview of the duties, responsibilities, and the process of electing and removing the Speaker within Voices of Democracy.

## Role and Responsibilities

1. Presiding Over the House: The Speaker of the House is responsible for maintaining order and decorum in the chamber. They ensure that debates and votes are conducted in an orderly manner and provide all Members of Parliament (MPs) with an opportunity to voice their opinions.

2. Vote Counting and Declaration: The Speaker is responsible for keeping a tally of MPs' votes. Once a piece of legislation has reached a majority of the House of Representatives, it immediately passes or fails in that chamber. It is primarily a tradition for the Speaker to declare the result of the vote, though the actual passage or failure of the legislation is determined by the majority support it receives from MPs.

3. Speaker Election Process: At the beginning of each new parliamentary term, following the formation of a new government, the Speaker is elected by a majority of Parliament. MPs have a 24-hour window for casting their votes, separate from the 24-hour nomination period. During the voting period, MPs can cast their votes for the nominated candidates. The candidate who receives a majority of MPs' votes within the 24-hour voting period becomes the official Speaker of the House.

4. Setting Sponsor Threshold for Bills: Once elected, the Speaker may set a required number of sponsors to put a bill up for a vote in the House of Representatives. This sponsor threshold must be at least one MP but less than the absolute majority of the chamber. The Speaker and the Prime Minister are the only ones who can override this threshold. The Prime Minister can "super sponsor" legislation, which allows a bill to be put to an immediate vote without needing the usual sponsor requirements.

5. Determining Legislation Voting Time: The Speaker has the authority to determine when legislation has been adequately debated and discussed, making it ready for a vote. This ensures that each bill receives sufficient consideration before reaching a decision.

6. Passing Legislation On: The Speaker is responsible for sending legislation passed by the House to the Senate Majority Leader. The exception to this is if the House passes legislation that has already gone through the Senate, in which case the bill would immediately become law.

## Removal of the Speaker

The Speaker of the House can be removed from their post through three possible ways:

1. Elections at the Start of the Term: At the beginning of each new parliamentary term, the Speaker's position is up for election. This provides MPs an option to either re-elect the incumbent Speaker or vote for someone new.

2. Vote of No Confidence: During a parliamentary term, MPs may initiate a vote of no confidence against the Speaker. If the majority of MPs vote in favor of no confidence, the Speaker is removed from the post.

3. Resignation: The Speaker may also choose to resign from their position voluntarily.

## Conclusion

The Speaker of the House in Voices of Democracy plays a critical role in overseeing legislative proceedings, ensuring order, and facilitating the functioning of the House of Representatives. Through a democratic election process, the Speaker is elected by a majority of Parliament and is expected to remain impartial in their decisions. Their authority in setting sponsor thresholds and determining the readiness of legislation for a vote helps maintain a balanced legislative process. Whether through elections, a vote of no confidence, or resignation, the removal of the Speaker is also governed by democratic principles, reinforcing the core values of Voices of Democracy.