The Assembly Sessions
Sessions of the AP Vojvodina Assembly are convened by the President who also proposes their agenda.
The sessions may also be convened by the Assembly Vice-President authorisation by the President or if the President is justifiably prevented from doing so. The proposal for the convening may be made by the Provincial Government or at least one-fifth of the deputies. In this case, the President or the Vice-President of the Assembly is obligated to convene the Assembly session which, in turn, has to be held not later than ten days from the date of the proposal submission.
The session summons is delivered to deputies not later than ten days before the date set for the holding of the session. If not earlier, the material regarding the proposed agenda and minutes from the previous session are delivered via mail or e-mail along with the summons.
The Assembly President may convene a session in a shorter deadline but not shorter than 72 hours, for which they will provide a justification at the begining of the session.
Exceptionally, the President may convene a session in a period shorter than 72 hours, if there are legitimate reasons (discussing the amendment submitted to the proposal of an act which the Assembly, as an authorised proposer, submitted to the National Assembly, determining the amendments to an act proposal discussed at the National Assembly, in instances of breach of safety of the Province and in cases of natural disasters, for which the President of the Assembly will provide a justification, at the begining of the session).
In cases when the session is convened in short deadlines, stipulated in Article 79, Paragraph 2 and 3 of the Rules of Procedure, the summons, the material pertaining to the proposed agenda, other materials and the minutes from the previous session, shall be delivered in electronic form only.
Upon the request of the President, i.e. the authorised representative of the deputies’ group or a deputy not belonging to any deputies’ group, the materials may be obtained in the written form at the head office of the Assembly.
As a rule, sessions are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am to 7 p.m., with a one-hour recess.
Sessions may also be held on other days, if there are justifiable reasons for it, which shall be communicated to deputies by the President. The work of the Assembly may be extended after 7 p.m. until it is finished according to the established agenda, of which the President shall inform the deputies until 6 p.m. at the latest.
The President, vice-presidents and members of the Provincial Government, authorised representatives of the Provincial Government and representatives of other proposers, as well as other persons summoned to sessions by the President, shall participate in the work of the session.
The minutes are kept on the work at the Assembly sessions. The adopted minutes are signed by the Assembly President and the Secretary General, and the Assembly seal is affixed thereto. Shorthand notes are kept at the Assembly session and the course of the session is audio-taped. The shorthand notes include the text as uttered. Each deputy is entitled to inspect the shorthand notes and receive, upon request, the printout of the shorthand notes with the contents of their statement.
The Assembly decides by the majority vote in the session attended by the majority out of the total number of deputies, unless a different majority for voting is stipulated by the Statute.
The Assembly decides by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of deputies, on issues such as passing and amending the Statute; passing the Provincial Assembly decision on enforcement of the Statute; passing the Provincial Assembly decision on the symbols of AP Vojvodina and election and relief of duty of the Provincial Protector of Citizens – Ombudsman.
The Assembly decides by the majority vote of th total number of deputies on: early termination of the Assembly's term of office; calling of the provincial referendum; enactment of the Budget of the AP Vojvodina and adoption of the statement of accounts; election and dismissal of the Assembly President and vice-presidents; election and dismissal of the President, vice-presidents and members of the Provincial Government and enactment of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly.
Voting in the Assembly session is open, unless the Assembly has decided to vote by secret ballot. A deputy shall vote ‘For’ or ‘Against’ a motion or shall abstain from voting.
The Assembly may hold a solemn session. The Assembly President may convene a solemn session on the occasion of public and international holidays and celebration of historical anniversaries.
The Assembly President may invite the President of the Republic, the President and members of the National and Provincial Government, representatives of other authorities and organisations from the country and abroad, as well as other representatives of the public, scientific and cultural life of Serbia, to attend the solemn session of the Assembly.
The Assembly may hold a thematic session. The Assembly President may convene a thematic session in order to deliberate issues related to policy management in certain areas, as well as the issues of broad economic, cultural and political relevance.
The Assembly President may invite representatives of other authorities and organisations from the country and abroad, if it is estimated that their presence at the session may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the issue on the agenda of the thematic session.
The agenda for the solemn and thematic sessions is determined by the Assembly President. As regards the way the summons to solemn and thematic sessions are delivered to deputies, provisions of the Rules of Procedure, related to convening the Assembly sessions, shall apply.
More information at: Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina