Senate (Cambodia)

Senate of Cambodia ព្រឹទ្ធសភានៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា
3rd Legislature
Type
Type	Upper house
Leadership
President	Chea Sim, CPP Since July 1999
First Vice President	Say Chhum, CPP
Second Vice President	Tep Ngorn, CPP
Secretary General	Oum Sarith, CPP
Structure
Seats	61
Political groups	CPP (46)      CNRP (11) Royal appointees (2) Other appointees (2)
Elections
Last election	29 January 2012
Meeting place
Website
www.senate.gov.kh

The Senate (Khmer: ព្រឹទ្ធសភានៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា, Protsaphea) is the upper house of the Parliament of Cambodia.

According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia,

Article 99-New: The Senate is a body that has legislative power and performs its duties as determined in the constitution and law in force. The Senate consists of members whose number shall not exceed half of the members of the National Assembly.

Article 100-New: The King shall appointed two Senators. The National Assembly shall elect two Senators by majority vote. Other Senators shall be elected through a non-universal election.

Article 110-new: The President of the Senate shall chair the Senate, sessions, receive draft bills and resolutions approved by the Senate, ensure the implementaion of the Internal Regulation and organise the international relations of the Senate.

Cambodia’s first Senate Election was held on January 22, 2006. The election was non-universal in nature because only commune councilors and members of the National Assembly were allowed to participate, voting on behalf of their constituents.

Term and session

Article 102: The term of the Senate is six years and ends on the day when the new Senate takes office.

Article 107: The Senate holds its ordinary sessions twice a year. Each session shall last at least three months. If requested by the king or Prime Minister, or at least one-third of all the senators, the Senate shall convene in an extraordinary session.

An absolute majority vote of all senators is used in the following cases:

• Election of the President, Vice Presidents of the Senate and all members of the commissions or special commission
• Adoption of organic laws
• Adoption of the internal regulations of the Senate
• Adoption of laws or issues

A two-third-majority vote of all senators is used for the following cases:

• Adoption of the Constitution law
• The vote pertaining to decision to indict, arrest, detent, confinement disciplinary action, parliamentary immunity, incompatibility, loss of membership, or abandonment of post.
• A three-fourth-majority vote of all senators is to be used to decide on suspension of detention or indictment of any senator.

Leadership

The President of the Senate is assisted by two Vice Presidents which leads the Senate. If the President is unable to perform his/her duties due to illness or due to fulfilling the functions of Acting Head of State or as a Regent, or due to being on a mission abroad, a vice President shall replace him. (Article 110-New of the Constitution)

The Permanent Committee of the Senate consists of:

• The President of the Senate
• Two Vice Presidents of the Senate
• The Chairman of the nine Commissions of the Senate

Current composition

• In addition to the general election, the King and National Assembly each choose two Senators, bringing the total to 61 members.
• On July 17, 2012, the Sam Rainsy Party and Human Rights Party formed an electoral alliance called the Cambodian National Rescue Party with a total of 29 seats.

List of Senators

References

See also

• National Assembly (Cambodia)
• Parliament of Cambodia
• Politics of Cambodia
• List of legislatures by country

Related external links

• List of Senators
• Ruling party wins Cambodia poll
• Senate of the Kingdom of Cambodia
• Senate Homepage
• Official Results of the 2007 Commune Councils Election