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The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them. The House of Representatives may override a Senatorial veto by passing the bill a second time in the parliamentary session immediately following the one in which it was rejected by the Senate, after a minimum period of six months. Amendments to the Constitution are excepted: the veto of the Senate is absolute. Following the passage of a bill by the House of Representatives, the Senate has 21 days (7 days in the case of a bill classified as "urgent") to approve, amend, or reject it; if at the expiry of that period the Senate has done nothing about it, it is deemed to have passed the bill.The Senate has 32 members. Formally, they are appointed by the President, but the President is constitionally reqired to accept the nominees of the following institutions: 14 are chosen by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga (Great Council of Chiefs), 9 by the Prime Minister, 8 by the Leader of the Opposition, and 1 by the Rotuman Islands Council .
The built-in near-majority of Fijian chiefs in the Senate gives them an effective veto over contentious social legislation, as well as constitutional amendments, provided they vote as a block, as they will almost certainly be joined by enough other senators to muster a majority. Senators, like their fellow-parliamentarians from the House of Representatives, may be appointed to the Cabinet - the executive arm of government.
As of 12 March 2004, the Fijian Senate comprises the following persons:
1 Nominated by the Bose Levu Vakaturaga
- Ratu George Cakobau
- Ratu Josefa Dimuri
- Ratu Paula Lacawai
- Ratu Kinijoji R. Maivalili
- Ratu Kiniviliame Manumanunitoga
- Ratu Apisai D. Naevo
- Adi Koila Mara Nailatikau
- Ratu Sela D. Nanavo
- Viliame Navoka
- Ratu Epeli Niudamu
- Rabatinamo Radovibua
- Asesela Ravuvu
- Ratu Kolinio Tokotunaceva
- Taito Waqavakatoga
2 Nominated by the Prime Minister
- Dr. Ahmed Ali
- Qoriniasi Bale
- Mitieli Bulanauca
- Rev. Tomasi Kanailagi
- Kenneth Low
- Ratu Sakiusa Makutu
- Ratu Josaia Rayawa
- Ratu Inoke Takiveikata
- Apisai Tora
3 Nominated by the Leader of the Opposition
- James Ah-Koy
- Felix M. Anthony
- Atu Emberson-Bain
- Tulsi Ram Khelwan
- Jokapeci Talei Koroi
- Poinpate Tawase Lesavua
- Epeli Nailatikau
- Anand Kumar Singh
4 Nominated by the Rotuman Islands Council
Fiji, Senate
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