Gylian Senate
Senate Sénat (French) | |
|---|---|
| 13th Parliament | |
| Type | |
| Type | of the Gylian Parliament |
Term limits | No consecutive terms |
| Leadership | |
Speaker | Þene Lamlyn, Independent |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 300 |
 | |
Senate political groups | |
Joint committees | 28 |
| Elections | |
| Sortition and appointment by the President based on advice | |
| Meeting place | |
| Parliament Building, Mişeyáke, Mişeyáke | |
| Website | |
| http://www.parliament.gls/senate/ | |
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|---|
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Gylias |
The Senate (French: Sénat) is the upper house of the bicameral federal Gylian Parliament. It has 300 part-time senators, who are chosen by sortition and appointed by the President based on advice.
It performs a largely consultative and revising role within Gylian politics, similar to a citizens' assembly.
Formerly elected from 1962 to 1995, its current form was determined by a succesful parliamentary reform project, supported by the New Alliance for the Future and approved by referendum.
Membership
Membership of the Senate is overseen by Elections Gylias through the Senate Commission.
Sortition is the main mechanism for choosing Senators. Only those who express interest are considered for sortition. Ways to do so include participation in communal assemblies, municipal and regional advisory councils, Committees for the Advance of the Revolution, or online canvassing for volunteers.
The President also appoints certain notable persons from outside politics, in recognition of their contributions and service to the country. These appointments are made with the advice of civil society and are assessed by the Senate Commission. Appointed members cannot exceed half the Senate.
In practice, the majority of Senators since 2000 have been chosen through sortition.
Term of office
Senators serve terms of three months. There is no lifetime term limit, but they may not serve consecutive terms. Terms are considered to begin with the four calendaristic seasons: 1 December for winter, 1 March for spring, 1 June for summer, and 1 September for autumn.
Senate sessions take place throughout the year. Sessions scheduled outside of the constitutionally-stipulated regular sessions are legally considered extraordinary sessions.
Location
The Senate meets in the Parliament Building in Mişeyáke. Its sessions take place in a separate chamber than the Chamber of Deputies'.
Speaker
The Speaker of the Senate is chosen every three months, and presides over the Senate's sessions.
The current Speaker is Þene Lamlyn.