Bodies within the General Council
The Síndic General
This is the President of the Andorran parliament. The name “Síndic” has been used since the 14th century and was retained when the new constitution was introduced because of its historical value. His function is to represent the General Council, ensure that its work is carried out, order and direct debates impartially and ensure compliance with the Regulations, and give his interpretation of them when there is any doubt. As the highest authority, he must carry out his duties impartially and not intervene in the debates, but he does have the right to vote. If the Síndic General is absent the Deputy Síndic General assumes all of his powers.
The Sindicatura
This consists of the Síndic General, the Deputy Síndic General and two secretaries, who are Councillors, and relies on advice from the General Secretary. It is in charge of all aspects of parliamentary administration and organisation. One of its missions is to process any written documents that are presented as legislative proposals, bills of law, proposed ratifications and resolutions, parliamentary questions, etc.
Parliamentary groups
The Councillors are organised into parliamentary groups, based on each political party’s results at the elections. These operate on internal rules, must elect a chair and a vice-chair to participate on the Board of Chairpersons , and set the parliamentary group’s strategy.
The Board of Chairpersons
This is made up of the Síndic General, the Deputy Síndic General, the parliamentary group chairs and the secretaries of the Sindicatura, with the option of having a member of the Government present. The Board organises the calendar of meetings and deals with both preparing the debates and the institution’s participation in international events, among other matters.
The Plenary
Chaired by the Síndic General, Deputy Síndic General and the duty secretary from the Sindicatura, plenaries are held during two periods: March-June and September-December. There are three kinds of sessions: ordinary, special and traditional. The ordinary and special sessions are usually on Thursday afternoons; monitoring sessions of the Government are held monthly, while sessions for debating legislative texts are called as required.
At the traditional sessions (Constitution Day on 14 March and St Thomas’ Day on 21 December), which are held at Casa de la Vall, the Councillors wear their traditional costumes, an overcoat and three-cornered hat, and the Síndic Generals a cape and two-cornered hat.
The Plenary sessions are public and transmitted live on television.
The Permanent Legislative Committees
The General Council’s Regulations recognise eight permanent legislative committees on various matters concerning the State:
- Legislative Committee for the Interior
- Foreign Affairs Legislative Committee
- Finance and Budget Legislative Committee
- Legislative Committee for the Economy
- Social Affairs Legislative Committee
- Town and Land Planning Legislative Committee
- Education, Research, Culture and Sports Legislative Committee
They are made up of a number of Councillors that is proportionate to the number of members in each parliamentary group. Their mission is to examine the legislative proposals in depth, so they can ask for any relevant information. In the analysis of the proposals, the contents and amendments that are presented are put to internal debate and the final text is drawn up and sent to the Plenary for general debate and voting. The meetings are not public unless they are appearances by political or technical authorities dealing with matters that need not be passed by the Plenary.
Throughout the legislature, the Board of Presidents decides which committee or committees to give each legislative proposal to, as well as general authorisations.
Other committees
Apart from the permanent legislative committees, the Board of Presidents may resolve to create other committees, such as to study any ad hoc matter for enquiry or legislature.