I, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her [or His] Majesty [Specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as thus: Queen Elizabeth the Second] as the Head of State of the Cook Islands, Her [or His] heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will justly and faithfully carry out my duties as a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Cook Islands. So help me God.
31 The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
(1) The Legislative Assembly shall, immediately when it first meets after a general election and as soon as possible after any vacancy occurs in the office of Speaker otherwise than by reason of a dissolution of the Assembly, and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business, elect a person (not being a Minister) to be Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
(2) The Speaker may be elected in such manner as the Assembly decides from time to time, either from among the members of the Assembly who are not Ministers or from among persons who are not members of the Assembly:
Provided that a person who is not a member of the Assembly shall not be elected Speaker unless he is qualified for election as a member of the Assembly.
(3) Before a person who has been elected Speaker enters upon the duties of his office, he shall, unless he has already done so in accordance with Article 30 hereof, take and prescribe before the High Commissioner the Oath of Allegiance prescribed in that Article, substituting the word “Speaker” for the words “a member” where they appear in that oath.
(4) The salary of the Speaker shall be determined by enactment, and shall be charged on the Cook Islands Government Account:
Provided that such salary shall not be diminished during his period of office, unless as part of a general reduction of salaries applied proportionately to all persons whose salaries are determined by enactment.
Schedule Article 31(3): amended, on 4 August 1965, by section 2(1) of the Cook Islands Constitution Amendment Act 1965 (1965 No 2).
32 Tenure of office of Speaker
The Speaker may at any time resign his office by writing under his hand addressed to the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, and shall vacate his office—
- (a) On the dissolution of the Assembly next following his election; or
- (b) If he becomes a Minister; or
- (c) If, being a member of the Assembly at the time of his election, he ceases to be a member; or
- (d) If, not being a member of the Assembly at the time of his election, he ceases to be qualified for election as a member.
