The European Parliament consists of one president and 14 vice-presidents. The president plays a similar role as the Speaker of the House in the British parliamentary system. Above all, it is his/her duty to maintain decorum during parliamentary sessions, something which can prove to be a major challenge when divisive issues are debated and voted upon.

The president of the European Parliament is voted into office by the various parties in the assembly every two and a half years, or precisely at the half-way mark in the five year lifespan of each parliamentary cycle. The presidential candidates are voted on by secret ballot and must first be nominated by at least 32 members. In order to win, a candidate must win an absolute majority of all votes cast. This means that it often takes at least two rounds of voting to come up with a winner.

In addition to keeping order, the president is also in charge of representing the parliament on the international stage and must also sign the EU's budget.