President of the Duma (Napoleon's World)

The President of the Duma of Alaska is the chief legislator of the main Alaskan legislative body. While not holding any executive powers, it is his duty to assign members to committees, set the legislative agenda, call and dismiss the sessions of the Duma, and has the power to censure members, begin and end debates on legislation, and formally dissolves the Duma in anticipation of a general election. The position of President of the Duma holds a single-year term (June 6-June 5, as of 1994 reforms), and those holding the office are forbidden by law from succeeding themselves, although they are eligibile to hold the position as many times as they seek. Formally, the President of the Duma is elected by secret ballot by his peers in the Duma - however, in recent years, the Premier has generally predetermined the next holder of the Presidency ahead of each new legislative session and uses pressure on members of the ruling coalition to get the new President selected - a tool often wielded as a political favor, thus removing the lively debate on the merits of a candidate each year and competitive elections for the Presidency. Igor Golovko served as the President of the Duma for a record six terms, and three men are tied for having served the second-most times, at five apiece.