The Governing Board's General Secretariat

        The Governing Board's General Secretariat advises and aids the President of the Chamber and other members of the Governing Board on legislative matters and procedures. The Constitution and the Chamber Rules and Manual set forth a few procedures for the President of the Chamber and the Governing Board, that is: to preside and guide the legislative activities, including the sittings. Therefore, it’s the Governing Board's General Secretariat's duty to follow and assist the floor sessions and other events of a technical-political nature related to the legislative activities. 

       For instance, following the work performed by the Governing Board's General Secretariat the bills received at the Board, right after authentication, are electronically numbered and have their text displayed on the Chamber of Deputies website.  The next step is to send them to the analysis of the President of the Chamber who makes the decision on what kind of referral a bill should receive, based on the advice of the Secretariat. The texts of the bills and the Speakers decision are printed on the Chamber of Deputies Journal and in single copies, and the bill is released at the Legislative Information System (e-Chamber) to be accessed on Internet. Hence, the Deputies and any other interested party are able to read the bill, check the amendments and follow, step by step, its development towards becoming a law.