Key Benefits:
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DRAFT RESOLUTION NO. 206 /X
AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC,
(RESOLUTION NO. 4/93, WITH THE AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED BY THE
RESOLUTIONS NO. 15/96, 3/99, 75/99 AND 2/03)
Justification note
It was established that by the end of the month of April all parliamentary groups
would present the proposals they considered to be discussing with a view to further improvement
of parliamentary work and of the functioning of the Assembly of the Republic.
This draft resolution connates the proposals of the Parliamentary Group " The
Greens " which imply amendment to the Regiment of the Assembly of the Republic. " The
Greens " present still, in the overall package, other proposals, formulated in another
draft resolution and others of simple recommendation to Parliament.
As to those that imply amendment to the regiment, here substantiated, we make
followed by a summary accompanied by a justification of the proposal:
Monthly debate with the Prime Minister
'The Greens' propose that these monthly debates will take a form that
allow you to assume your true purpose, that is, that the 1º Minister is confronted
with the issues of the different parliamentary groups.
Thus, it would make much more sense that there would be no initial intervention from the
Prime Minister, usually dedicated to a specific theme, to which the different
parliamentary groups end up having to devote a portion of their time of intervention.
It would make more sense for the debate to start soon for the first round of issues of the
parliamentary groups, with the answers one to one of the Prime Minister, followed by
replica and rejoinder.
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'The Greens' then propose that the monthly debate keeps the current moulds, with the
three rounds, withdrawing from it only the initial intervention of the Prime Minister and
consequently also a topic of debate.
Interpellation to the Government
In an interpellation to the Government, it has logic for the interpellant party to start the session,
explaining the purpose of the same and framing the topic of discussion, and that the Government
talk next.
What has no logic is that it is not the interpellant party to shut down the session by withdrawing,
thus, the conclusions due from the initiative it took. In effect, currently the
regiment gives the final say to the Government.
The experience has shown already, in some interpelations, that some members of the
Government announces some measures in the closing sessions of the interpelations, in
time to do so in the interpellation debate period, thus staying the groups
parliamentarians, and specifically the interpellant, with no opportunity to speak out
on the "novelties" that the member of the Government leaves for the end.
The proposal of the Greens is that in the closing session continue to have the floor
Government and the interpellant party, but instead of being the Government to shut down should be the
interpellant party to take the last word in the "his" initiative.
Response to requirements
When an MP makes an application it is because he considers that the information to be obtained
is important for the exercise of your mandate and for the realization of your work
parliamentarian.
The requirements are the only way for an MP to be able to drive quickly by
written to a member of the Government, seeking to get a written answer.
Some responses to applications arrive illuminating and in good time, others
they take so long that when they arrive they no longer have useful effect for the deputy, others
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nor do they come to be provided. In effect, it varies greatly from government to government and, within
of these, from ministry to ministry.
'The Greens' then propose that a uniform regime should be found that will guarantee that a
of the powers conferred on Members by the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic not
is outlawed by the lack of response from the Government, or other entities
required.
We thus propose that the scheme currently envisaged in the regiment (of which the entity
required to respond with the urgency that the answer justifies, which is too much
subjective), be replaced, by enshrining a 45-day deadline for response to
requirements. In the event that the required entity understands that it has no conditions for
reply within the time limit, it informs of the extension of that time limit (which cannot
exceed another 45 days) and has to justify that act, i.e., point out the reason that leads it
a not to be able to respond within the appropriate time.
We propose that you want the applications, you want the answers, you want the justification of
adjournment of response are published in the Journal of the Assembly of the Republic.
Duty of information of the Government
'The Greens' propose that when the Government submits to Parliament a proposal
of law, should provide MPs with all possible information that allows them to
know of the sustainment of the presentation of that proposal.
Thus, it should be understood that in the formal requirement for the submission of the proposals for law,
which translates into the explanation and justification of the proposal, whether to integrate the presentation
of studies, opinions or other documents that support the advanced initiative.
Places in the plenary
In the plenary, it is often the need for a parliamentary group to have a need for
point out in a speedy manner at the table of the Assembly of the Republic an any record,
or to the support services to the plenum, or even to the direction of the other groups
parliamentarians. Also the right to the aparties is instituted in the context of the debates
parliamentarians.
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Everything makes itself difficult and sometimes becomes even impractical if the parliamentary groups
do not have a seat in the front row of the Chamber, where the directions of the
groups.
Thus, for a matter of visibility, necessary for the exercise of the work
parliamentarian in plenary, it is important to stipule the principle that all the
parliamentary groups are entitled to take place in the front row of the Chamber and that
right do not stay at the discretion of the good or bad political will of the parliamentary majorities.
Session of the April 25
The plenary meeting that takes place in Parliament every year to mark the 25 of
April 1974, must have regimental consecration, by the importance it has, by the
particular characteristic that it has as to the presence of guests, among which the
President of the Republic who also in it takes the floor, and for being the only one who during
the year takes place on a holiday day.
Thus, "The Greens" propose that in the Regiment to sign up for this plenary meeting
special, with the allocation of the word to all parliamentary groups, for no time
greater than 10, followed by interventions dThe President of the Assembly of the
Republic and, at the invitation of this, dO President of the Republic.
Reports of the petitions
It is very common that a petition, after admitt and of having been named your
reporter, be subjected to one or more interim reports, which often postpones your
ready condition of climbing the plenum.
Thus, "The Greens" propose to establish a time limit, not extended 60 days
for the conclusion of the final report of the petition, without prejudice to the reporting
intercalares, which should be done taking into account the one that is the deadline for the
completion of the final report.
This way will accelerate one of the determinant requirements for the petitions they meet
conditions for climbing the plenum, can be scheduled in a more speedy manner.
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Reports of the committees
It is often the case that the reports of draft laws contain an appreciation
express policy on the content of the same.
Being certain that the reports are not voted on, but only the conclusions and the opinions,
if these are politically innocuous and objective in their content, as usually
are, are, are approved, "attaching", however, in the publication in Journal the report that
has not been the subject of a vote, but that it is there, and sometimes with content of appreciation
policy.
It does not seem right to us that the vote is incited only on the conclusions and the opinion
which constitute the end of a global document, of which the report is the first part.
'The Greens' then propose that the report should also be the subject of a vote.
...................................................................................................
These are the proposals that the Parliamentary Group "The Greens" presents in the following
draft resolution, which aims to make changes to the Assembly Regiment of the
Republic (Resolution nº4/93, with the amendments made by the resolutions nº15/96,
3/99, 75/99 and 2/03), by changing articles 35º, 66º, 67º to 138º, 239º to 243º, 245º, 246º and 250º
and proposing a new article (81º-A):
Article 35º
(Report, conclusions and opinion)
1-(...)
2-(...)
3-(...)
4-(...)
5-(...)
6-The conclusions and the opinion are formulated in articulation.
7-The report, the findings and the opinion are subject to voting in committee and, always
which required by a Parliamentary Group, are voted on separately.
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8-The report and the respective findings and appear to be voted on, are published in the Journal
of the Assembly of the Republic.
9-(previous # 8)
Article 66º
(Days of meetings)
1-(...)
2-(...)
3-(...)
4-(...)
5-On the April 25 of each year, a plenary meeting is held, evocative of the
revolution of 1974.
Article 67º
(Place in the meeting room)
1-(...)
2-In the absence of agreement, the Assembly deliberates, respecting the principle that all the
Parliamentary Groups are entitled to have a seat in the front row of the Chamber.
3-(...)
Article 81º-A
(evocative session of the April 25)
1-At the evocative plenary meeting of the April 25, 1974 revolution take the floor
all Parliamentary Groups, for no longer than 10 and by order
growing of its representativeness, following the President of the Assembly of the
Republic and, at the invitation of this, The President of the Republic.
2-A Assembly of the Republic invites a set of entities and personalities to
attend the plenary meeting provided for in the preceding paragraph.
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Article 138º
(Formal requirements of the projects and proposals for law)
1-(...)
2-(...)
a) (...)
b) (...)
c) (...)
d) the set of studies, opinions and other documents underpinning the
presentation of the proposed law.
Article 239º
(Debate with the Prime Minister)
1-(...)
2-The debate consists of questions addressed to the Prime Minister by the groups
parliamentarians, developed in three laps.
3-(...)
4-(...)
5-(...)
Article 243º
(Debate)
1-(...)
2-(...)
3-(...)
4-The debate ends with the interventions of a member of the Government and of a
Deputy of the interpellant parliamentary group, which closes it down.
Article 245º
(Requirements)
1-(...)
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2-A The requested entity shall respond within 45 days from the date of
receipt of the application.
3-If the required entity understands that it has no conditions to comply in good time
the previous number, shall, within that time limit, indicate the enlargement of the same by
time determined, which may not exceed twice the time limit set in the number
previous, justifying the reason for the need for this enlargement.
Article 246º
(Publication)
The requirements, answers and justification of extending the deadline for response,
provided for in the previous article) are published in the Journal.
Article 250º
(Examination by the committee)
1-(...)
2-A The Commission should appreciate the petitions and realize the arrangements that it judges
suitable, culminating in that process, without prejudice to reporting
intercalares that request clarifications to competent entities, in the elaboration of
a definitive report, completed within 60 days, from the date of admission of the
petition.
3-(...)
Palace of S. Bento, April 30, 2007
The Deputies
Heloísa Apollonian Francisco Madeira Lopes