The Speaker is elected from among the members of the National Assembly of Bhutan. The Speaker presides over the National Assembly sessions. He ensures smooth proceedings of the sessions. It is the mandate of the Speaker to make sure the dignity and decorum of the Assembly is maintained. The Speaker also presides over the proceedings ofa joint sitting of Parliament (National Assembly and National Council). He signs the Bills that the Assembly passes.
It is the Speaker’s responsibility torepresent the House in its relations with the Druk Gyalpo, the Executive branch, and judiciary. Establishing the National Assembly’s collaborations with international parliaments is one of the important roles of the Speaker.
The Constitution states: “The Speaker and the Chairperson [of the National Council] shall convene an extraordinary sitting of Parliament on the command of the Druk Gyalpo if the exigencies of the situation so demand”.