Dewan Rakyat

Dewan Rakyat ( Mal. " Hall of the People ," often referred to as the House of Representatives) is the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia. Together with the Dewan Negara (Hall of the nation, the Senate ), it forms the legislature. It was built after the Westminister system. Seat of both chambers of the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur.

The 222 Members of the Dewan Rakyat are elected directly every five years in Einpersonenwahlkreisen in a simple majority vote. The right to vote have all Malaysian citizens over the age of 21 residing in the country, not insane or to a prison term of more than one year or are sentenced to death. For the passive right to vote, the same restrictions apply, whereby a conviction to a fine of 2,000 ringgit on the choice excludes.

Position

In the legislation, the Dewan Rakyat Dewan Negara may not have the vote; However, rejection of the Dewan Negara votes against a law in case of conflict have only a suspensive effect of one year. Bills go out usually by the Dewan Rakyat. Most constitutional amendments only require a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat, some of them also need the consent of the Dewan Negara, the ruler Assembly ( Majlis Raja - Raja ) or of Governors of the East Malaysian states.

The Prime Minister comes as well as most ministers are normally out of the Dewan Rakyat. He loses his office by a defeat in a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat or household.

The last elections on May 5, 2013 showed an absolute majority for the Barisan Nasional coalition party ( National Front ).