Place of the Senate in the political order of Romania-a system analysis

The article concerns the Senate, – the upper chamber of the Romanian Parliament. It shows legal and political environment in which it was restored after almost 50 years. The paper describes entire electoral procedure including how candidates for deputies are chosen. In addition, Senate’s competence in influencing the executive and judiciary and its activities on the international arena are being discussed. Role of the upper chamber in legislative process is being analyzed with emphasis on it’s control and creation function. The conclusion is that there is a symmetrical bicameral model in the Romanian parliament.

Senate of the Republic of Poland – second chamber or secondary chamber?

The Polish model of bicameralism assumes the lack of symmetry between the chambers. Certainly, a stronger position in the procedure of adopting laws can be attributed to the Sejm (first chamber), and a weaker position to the Senate (second chamber). An analogous domination of the Sejm cannot be discussed in the case of changes to the constitution, ratification of international agreements, or the election to perform state functions indicated in the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. It should be noted that the relations between the chambers of the Polish parliament are subject to changes. The actual relations between the first and second chambers depend to a large extent on the currently binding provisions of the electoral law, the results of the elections based on them, and the formation of a certain majority in the Sejm and Senate.

Bicameralism in Kenya-Restoration of the Senate by the 2010 Constitution and its Current Role in Kenya’s Constitutional Order

Article seeks to determine the constitutional position of the Senate in Kenya. Despite the return in the Kenyan parliament to the bicameral model, the analysis of the legislation and its implementation in the system, show that the distribution of powers between the chambers suggests the adoption of a system of non-equilibrium bicameralism, where the dominant role is played by the National Assembly. Indeed, the competencies of the Senate have defined along the lines of federal-type stat Bicameralism in Kenya-Restoration of the Senate by the 2010 Constitution and its current role in Kenya’s constitutional order es, reducing the role of the second chamber to a caretaker function towards the counties (not arbitrary in nature), while significantly limiting its role within the legislature. In the current political situation, the powers of the Second Chamber are challenged from two sides. This is influenced by the National Assembly, as well as the executive branch of the counties, which is demanding broader autonomy. Thus, despite the bicameralism declared by the constitution, functional arrangements seem to be moving toward a unicameral model.