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Assemblée Nationale

General Information

Parliament name (generic / translated)

 Parlement / Parliament

Structure of parliament

 Bicameral

Chamber name (generic / translated)

 Assemblée nationale / National Assembly

Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments)

 Sénat / Senate

Leadership

President

 Justin Koumba (M)

Secretary General

 Guillaumette Kiakouama (F) 

Composition

Members (statutory / current number)

 137 / 137

Women (current number)

 10 (7.30%)

Mode of designation

 Directly elected 137

Term

 5 years

Last renewal dates

 24 June 2007
5 August 2007

Electoral System

Legal Framework

Electoral law

 22 December 2001

Mode of designation

 Directly elected 137

Voting system

 Majority: Majority voting in two rounds. A candidate is declared elected if he or she obtains the absolute majority of votes in the first round. In the second round, the candidate receiving the largest number of votes is declared the winner.
Voting is not compulsory.

Voter requirements
    • age: 18 years;
    • Congolese citizenship;
    • the voter must have all civil and political rights;
    • the voter must be registered on a voting roll of the administrative district of his or her domicile or residence. Congolese citizens living in other countries must be registered on the voting roll of the embassy or consulate of the country of residence.

    Disqualifications:
    Persons sentenced to imprisonment, those tried in absentia and un-rehabilitated bankrupt persons whose bankruptcy has been declared

      Candidates

      Eligibility
      • age: 25 years;
      • Congolese citizenship;
      • residence in the national territory when the candidate lists are presented, except for diplomatic and consular personnel, persons sent by the State to occupy a post or carry out a mission in another country and international civil servants;
      • the candidate must have all civil and political rights;
      • the candidate must not have been sentenced for crimes or offences.

      Incompatibilities
        • President of the Republic;
        • Ombudsman (Médiateur) of the Republic;
        • Senator;
        • Secretary-General, Director-General or Central Director of the public administration; Treasurer and Paymaster General;
        • Magistrates:
        • Law enforcement officers;
        • Mayors-administrators;
        • Prefects and sub-prefects;
        • Secretaries-General of territorial collectives;
        • Local government authorities;
        • Members of the National Election Organizing Commission;
        • Members of the Government;
        • Members of the Constitutional Court and the Economic and Social Council;
        • Members of the High Council on Freedom of Communication;
        • Members of the National Human Rights Commission;
        • Members of the offices of the President and of government ministers;
        • Diplomatic staff.

          Candidacy requirements
            Presentation of candidacy is done by the candidate if standing as an independent, or by the authorized representative of the party or political group to which he or she belongs, at least one month prior to the election.

              Presidency

              Appointment and term of office

              Title

              		 President of the National Transitional Council

              Term
                • duration: 5 years (term of House)
                • reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Assembly, new election, vote of no confidence in the President, change of majority during the legislature

                  Appointment
                    • elected by the Members whose mandate has been validated (or who have received a proxy in accordance with the Standing Orders), at the inaugural session, when the election of the Board of the Assembly is elected
                    • following the validation of mandates

                      Eligibility
                        • any Member whose mandate has been validated must formally be a candidate
                        • notification of candidature is made when the election of the Board of the National Assembly is elected

                          Voting system
                            • formal vote by secret ballot
                            • an absolute majority is required in the first round, a relative majority in the second
                            • in case of a series of votes, only the two candidatures with the largest number of votes may continue
                            • in case of a tie in the second round additional rounds are held

                              Procedures / results
                                • the oldest Member presides over the Assembly during the voting
                                • a college of tellers representing the entire political configuration of the Assembly supervises the voting
                                • the oldest Member announces the results without delay
                                • the results cannot be challenged

                                  Status

                                  Status
                                    • ranks third in the hierarchy of State, after the President of the Republic and the President of the Senate
                                    • ranks second in the order of precedence between the Presidents of the two Chambers
                                    • the President of the Assembly presides over joint meetings of both Houses
                                    • represents the Assembly at official or solemn events
                                    • represents the Assembly in international bodies
                                    • in the absence of the Speaker, the First Vice-President can assume his/her role and functions, followed by the Second Vice-President or, if applicable, by the Third Vice-President

                                      Board
                                        • the Board of the Assembly is established by the Constitution and regulated by the Standing Orders of the Assembly
                                        • It consists of seven MPs: one President, three Vice-Presidents, two secretaries, one questor
                                        • duration of their mandate: same as that of the legislature
                                        • meets once weekly at the President's initiative
                                        • true collegial presidency

                                          Material facilities
                                            • allowance
                                            • official residence
                                            • official car
                                            • domestic personnel
                                            • secretariat or Cabinet
                                            • additional staff
                                            • bodyguards
                                            • security
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