The Senate of Fiji was the upper chamber of Parliament. It was abolished by the 2013 Constitution of Fiji, after a series of military coups. It was the less powerful of the two chambers; it could not initiate legislation, but could amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills were more restricted: it could veto them in their entirety, but could not amend them. The House of Representatives could override a Senatorial veto by passing the bill a second time in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate, after a minimum period of six months. Amendments to the Constitution were excepted: the veto of the Senate was absolute. Following the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives, the Senate had 21 days (7 days in the case of a bill classified as "urgent") to approve, amend, or reject it; if at the expiry of that period the Senate had done nothing about it, it was deemed to have passed the bill.
The Senate had 32 members. Formally, they were appointed by the President for five-year terms coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives. Constitutionally, however, the President was required to accept the nominees of specified institutions. 14 Senators were chosen by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs), though in practice it had chosen to delegate this prerogative to Fiji's 14 Provincial Councils, each choosing one Senator. A further 9 Senators were chosen by the Prime Minister and 8 by the Leader of the Opposition. The one remaining Senator was selected by the Council of Rotuma, a Fijian dependency.
From among their own members, the Senators used to elect a President and Vice-President, whose roles were similar to those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively. As of September 2006, the President of the Senate was RatuKinijoji Maivalili; the Vice-President was Hafiz Khan. They were chosen in June 2006 to replace Taito Waqavakatoga and Kenneth Low, both of whom had retired from the Senate.
The built-in near-majority of Fijian chiefs in the Senate gave them an effective veto over contentious social legislation, as well as constitutional amendments, provided they voted as a block, as they would almost certainly be joined by enough other senators to muster a majority. In addition, any changes to clauses of the constitution guaranteeing indigenous Fijian ownership and control of most of the land had to be approved by 9 of the 14 Senators chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs, as well as by a majority in the Senate as a whole.
Senators, like their fellow-parliamentarians from the House of Representatives, could be appointed to the Cabinet – the executive arm of government.
History of the Senate
The Fijian Senate came into being in 1972, when the old unicameralLegislative Council was replaced by the bicameral Parliament. The Senate was restructured twice after the original constitutional structures went into effect.
From 1972 to 1987, the Senate consisted of 22 members. Appointed by the Governor-General on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs (8), the Prime Minister (7), the Leader of the Opposition (6), and the Council of Rotuma (1), Senators served six-year terms, with half retiring every three years. The first term of office for half of the nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs and of the Leader of the Opposition, 3 of the 7 nominees of the Prime Minister, and the lone Rotuman Senator, was for three years only, ending in 1975. The Senate was a permanent body; it was never dissolved.
The Constitution was rewritten following two military coups in 1987. The Senate was expanded to 34 members appointed by the President for four-year terms, with half retiring every two years. The President appointed 24 Senators on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs, 1 on the nomination of the Council of Rotuma, and a further 9 at his own discretion from the Indo-Fijian and minority communities. This arrangement was in effect from 1992 to 1999. The first term of 12 of the 24 Senators nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs and 4 of the 9 appointed to represent other communities was for two years only, ending in 1994. As previously, the Senate was never dissolved.
Constitutional arrangements came into effect in 1997–1998, and the first Senate so appointed took office in 1999. For the first time, all Senators served concurrent, five-year terms, coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives.
Senate membership
As of 28 September 2006, the Fijian Senate comprised the following persons:
Source: Fiji Parliamentary website, supplemented from the Hansard records.
External links
May 22, 2023
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The Senate of Fiji was the upper chamber of Parliament It was abolished by the 2013 Constitution of Fiji after a series of military coups It was the less powerful of the two chambers it could not initiate legislation but could amend or veto it The Senate s powers over financial bills were more restricted it could veto them in their entirety but could not amend them The House of Representatives could override a Senatorial veto by passing the bill a second time in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate after a minimum period of six months Amendments to the Constitution were excepted the veto of the Senate was absolute Following the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives the Senate had 21 days 7 days in the case of a bill classified as urgent to approve amend or reject it if at the expiry of that period the Senate had done nothing about it it was deemed to have passed the bill Contents 1 Composition of the Senate 2 History of the Senate 3 Senate membership 3 1 Nominated by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga 3 2 Nominated by the Prime Minister 3 3 Nominated by the Leader of the Opposition 3 4 Nominated by the Council of Rotuma 4 See also 5 Notes 6 External linksComposition of the Senate EditThe Senate had 32 members Formally they were appointed by the President for five year terms coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives Constitutionally however the President was required to accept the nominees of specified institutions 14 Senators were chosen by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga Great Council of Chiefs though in practice it had chosen to delegate this prerogative to Fiji s 14 Provincial Councils each choosing one Senator A further 9 Senators were chosen by the Prime Minister and 8 by the Leader of the Opposition The one remaining Senator was selected by the Council of Rotuma a Fijian dependency From among their own members the Senators used to elect a President and Vice President whose roles were similar to those of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively As of September 2006 the President of the Senate was Ratu Kinijoji Maivalili the Vice President was Hafiz Khan They were chosen in June 2006 to replace Taito Waqavakatoga and Kenneth Low both of whom had retired from the Senate The built in near majority of Fijian chiefs in the Senate gave them an effective veto over contentious social legislation as well as constitutional amendments provided they voted as a block as they would almost certainly be joined by enough other senators to muster a majority In addition any changes to clauses of the constitution guaranteeing indigenous Fijian ownership and control of most of the land had to be approved by 9 of the 14 Senators chosen by the Great Council of Chiefs as well as by a majority in the Senate as a whole Senators like their fellow parliamentarians from the House of Representatives could be appointed to the Cabinet the executive arm of government History of the Senate EditThe Fijian Senate came into being in 1972 when the old unicameral Legislative Council was replaced by the bicameral Parliament The Senate was restructured twice after the original constitutional structures went into effect From 1972 to 1987 the Senate consisted of 22 members Appointed by the Governor General on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs 8 the Prime Minister 7 the Leader of the Opposition 6 and the Council of Rotuma 1 Senators served six year terms with half retiring every three years The first term of office for half of the nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs and of the Leader of the Opposition 3 of the 7 nominees of the Prime Minister and the lone Rotuman Senator was for three years only ending in 1975 The Senate was a permanent body it was never dissolved The Constitution was rewritten following two military coups in 1987 The Senate was expanded to 34 members appointed by the President for four year terms with half retiring every two years The President appointed 24 Senators on the nomination of the Great Council of Chiefs 1 on the nomination of the Council of Rotuma and a further 9 at his own discretion from the Indo Fijian and minority communities This arrangement was in effect from 1992 to 1999 The first term of 12 of the 24 Senators nominated by the Great Council of Chiefs and 4 of the 9 appointed to represent other communities was for two years only ending in 1994 As previously the Senate was never dissolved Constitutional arrangements came into effect in 1997 1998 and the first Senate so appointed took office in 1999 For the first time all Senators served concurrent five year terms coinciding with the term of the House of Representatives Senate membership EditAs of 28 September 2006 the Fijian Senate comprised the following persons Nominated by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga Edit Senator Province Ratu Solomone Bauserau NaitasiriIsaia Gonewai Nadroga NavosaAtunaisa Kaloumairai LomaivitiRatu Aisea Katonivere MacuataAtonio Leawere SeruaRatu Kinijoji R Maivalili CakaudroveAdi Laufitu Malani RaAdi Koila Mara Nailatikau LauEminoni Ranacovu TailevuRatu Manoa Rasigatale RewaAsesela Sadole BaMatareti Sarasau KadavuRatu Kiniviliame Taukeinikoro NamosiRatu Kinijioji Vakawaletabua BuaNominated by the Prime Minister Edit Tupeni BabaQoriniasi BaleRatu Jone BouwaluAdi Samanunu Cakobau TalakuliHafiz KhanDixon SeetoKaliopate TavolaRatu Jekesoni YavalanavanuaAdi Lagamu VuiyasawaNominated by the Leader of the Opposition Edit Gaffar AhmedJokapeci Talei KoroiVijay NairLavenia PadarathBijai PrasadTom RicketsSachida Nand SharmaChandra SinghNominated by the Council of Rotuma Edit John FatiakiSee also EditPresident of the Senate of FijiNotes EditSource Fiji Parliamentary website supplemented from the Hansard records External links EditOfficial website of the Fijian Senate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Senate of Fiji amp oldid 896471410, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
