Dec 26 (Reuters) - Turkmenistan's highest representative and legislative body meets on Tuesday to decide on the date of a presidential election after the death of the Central Asian state's authoritarian leader Saparmurat Niyazov.

Below are some key facts about the body known as Halk Maslakhaty or People's Assembly.

* The Halk Maslakhaty is made up of more than 2,500 top government officials, parliamentary deputies, regional governors, and tribal elders and others appointed by Niyazov.

* The body names presidential candidates and sets the date of presidential elections and referendums.

* It has the power to remove a president from office due to health reasons and to change the constitution.

* It gathers for the first time without Niyazov, its former chairman. The new chairman must be older than 55.

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