Editing Politics of Albania (section)

== Legislative ==
{{Further|Parliament of Albania}}
[[File:Tirana - Albanian National Assembly (by Pudelek).jpg|thumb|right|The Kuvendi serves as the seat of the [[Parliament of Albania]].]]

The [[Parliament of Albania]] ''(Kuvendi i Shqipërisë)'' is a [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] legislative body. It is composed of not less than 140 members [[Election|elected]] to a four-year [[Term of office|term]] on the basis of direct, universal, periodic and equal [[suffrage]] by [[secret ballot]]. As of Article 45 of the [[Constitution of Albania|Constitution]], which guarantees the [[right to vote]], the people of Albania exercise their power through their elected [[Minister (government)|representatives]] in the Parliament. When the Parliament is elected, the first session shall be held no later than 20 days after the completion of elections with the [[President of Albania|president]] as the speaker.<ref>{{cite web|title=1998 CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA|url=http://www.osce.org/albania/41888?download=true|website=osce.org|page=Article 67|language=en|format=PDF|access-date=2017-06-26|archive-date=2016-01-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120011149/http://www.osce.org/albania/41888?download=true|url-status=live}}</ref> There are 15 permanent committees. Extraordinary meets can be called by the president, by the [[Chairman of the Parliament of Albania|Chairperson of the Parliament]], by the [[Prime Minister of Albania|prime minister]] or by the one fifth of the members. Decisions are made based on a majority vote if more than half of the members are present, except in cases where the Constitution provides for a special majority. As specified by the current electoral legislation in [[Albania]], 140 members of the Parliament are elected in multi-seat [[Counties of Albania|constituencies]]. Within any constituency, parties must meet a threshold of 3 percent of votes, and pre-election coalitions must meet a threshold of 5 percent of votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electionguide.org/country.php?ID=3|title=IFES Election Guide - Country Profile: Albania|website=www.electionguide.org|access-date=25 June 2017|archive-date=2 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102063024/https://www.electionguide.org/countries/id/3/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Albania electoral code">{{cite book|title=THE ELECTORAL CODE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA (English translation by OSCE)|page=140|url=http://www.osce.org/albania/14464?download=true|access-date=22 September 2014|chapter=PART XII ALLOCATION OF SEATS|format=pdf|archive-date=15 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515051813/http://www.osce.org/albania/14464?download=true|url-status=live}}</ref> All laws passed by the Parliament are published through the [[Albanian Official Journal|Fletorja Zyrtare]], the [[official journal]] of the government.<ref>[http://www.qpz.gov.al/botime/botimetf.htm Website of the Albanian Official Journal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928041634/http://qpz.gov.al/botime/botimetf.htm |date=2010-09-28 }}</ref>

The [[Chairman of the Parliament of Albania|chairperson of the Parliament]] ''(Kryetar i Kuvendit)'' is the presiding officer of the Parliament and is elected by the members of the Parliament. The official function is to moderate [[debate]], make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, decides who may speak and has the powers to discipline members who break the procedures of the chamber or house. When the [[President of Albania|president]] is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising its powers, the chairperson takes over his functions.<ref>{{cite web|title=KUSHTETUTA E REPUBLIKËS SË SHQIPËRISË|url=http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/sq/al/al057sq.pdf|page=Article 94|language=sq|access-date=2017-06-05|archive-date=2013-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525165317/http://www.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/sq/al/al057sq.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

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