The Speaker was the presiding officer of the Fijian House of Representatives. At its first session following a general election, the House members elected a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. With a view to ensuring impartiality, the Speaker was not allowed to be a member of the House, though he was required to qualify for membership. The Deputy Speaker, however, was elected from among members of the House. The office of Speaker was an essential feature of the parliamentary system, and has proved to be the most durable of all the Westminster parliamentary traditions.