COMMITTEES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ƒ Much of the work of the NA takes place in Committees. ƒ The NA’s committees are called Portfolio Committees. ƒ The work of each committee relates to a corresponding government department. For example, a Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry deals with all the matters that concern the Department of Trade and Industry. ƒ Each committee has a Chairperson to ensure the smooth running of its business. ƒ Portfolio Committees are responsible for discussing, debating and amending Bills. ƒ Committees may hold Public Hearings on legislation or matters related to legislation. ƒ Committees are also responsible for overseeing and monitoring the work of the government departments.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ce • Parliamentary Communication Services • INSPIRED BY PEOPLE • INSPIRED BY Services Communication • Parliamentary ce ƒ Constitutionally, Parliament is obliged to involve the public in lawmaking and other processes of Parliament. ƒ The Portfolio Committees are obliged to consult with members of the public in order to get input on a Bill or to hear their views on matters of national importance. ƒ The public is encouraged to actively participate in the proceedings when the Committees hold Public Hearings. ƒ Individuals or groups are also encouraged to make written or oral submissions on matters of concern to them. ƒ Members of the public have the right to participate in the processes and Produced by the Public Education Offi the Public Education by Produced activities of Parliament by: www.parliament.gov.za • P.O. Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 • Telephone: (021) 403 3341 • Facsimile: (021) 403 3303 (021) 403 3341 • Facsimile: 8000 • Telephone: Cape Town, 15, Box • P.O. www.parliament.gov.za • Attending meetings of the Portfolio Committees. • Contacting Members of Parliament serving in the NA to enquire about or request information on their work in Parliament. • Attending Public Hearings held by Portfolio Committees. • Observing plenary debates in the House e.g. Budget Votes. • Petitioning Parliament on any matter that is of concern. Petitions to Parliament should have the support of a Member of Parliament.

This pamphlet is available in all the offi cial languages of South Africa. English y The National Assembly Oversight Role THE COMPOSITION OFTHENATIONAL ASSEMBLY Elect thePresident Lawmaking Role The NAhasaconstitutional mandate to: THE ROLEOFNATIONAL ASSEMBLY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA) Council of Provinces. Parliament consists of two Houses, namelytheNational andtheNational Assembly PARLIAMENT OFSOUTHAFRICA ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Parliament hasaresponsibility to scrutinise, monitor andoversee theactions The NAcanapprove, reject orrefer backto Bills theCommittees for further The NArefers to Bills Committees for processing anddebates Bills. Parliament keepstheExecutive accountable by approving budgets, through The NAconsists of 400elected Membersof Parliament (MPs). The NAhasaconstitutional mandate to electthePresident of SouthAfrica One of themainfunctionsof theNAisto makethelaws by whichthe The NAiselected every fi Members of theNAare elected through a system proportional called During theelectionsvoters choosewhomthey want astheirrepresentatives discussion. country isgoverned. representation. from amongitsMembers. work of government. important issues andby proposing andvoting onmotions relating to the asking parliamentaryquestions, having parliamentarydebates about Constitution. of laws, andtheobservance theapplication of thebudget, of the of government orany other organ of State, inrespect of theimplementation by voting for thepoliticalpartiesof theirchoice. ve years innational elections.

National Assembly Chief Whips The functionsof theHouseChairpersonsinclude: preside over sittingsof theHouse. Offi The rulesof theHousemakeprovision for House Chairpersonsto assist thePresiding House Chairpersons Presiding Offi OFFICE BEARERS OFTHENATIONAL ASSEMBLY Leader of Government Business cers TheHouseChairpersonsmay alsoberequired in performing theirwork. to ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ

Each politicalpartyintheNA elects aChief Whipto runitsaffairs. They makesure that Membersof Parliament speak freely, butadhere to the The Presiding Offi Providing politicalandstrategic supportto thePresiding Offi Co-ordinating oversight activitiesof theCommittees Preparing reports onlegislation Co-ordinating thework of Committees At thefi The Leader of Government Business ensures that Cabinet Membersattend to The President appointsaLeader of Government Business whoworks withthe The whipslookafter theMembersof theirrespective parties. The Speaker andDeputySpeaker of Parliament preside over themeetings of Before anelection,each partydraws upalistof candidates inorder of The Leader of Government Business isresponsible for looking after the rules of theHouse. the NA. House. the DeputySpeaker whoare referred to asthePresiding Offi votes, holdhalftheseats itwill in theNA. of votes the partywinsintheelection.For example, ifapartywinshalfthe preference. Thesecandidates are thenelected inproportion to thenumber their parliamentary responsibilities. interests of theCabinet andGovernment business inParliament. offi ce bearers of both Houses. cers rst sitting of the NA, themembersof theNAelectSpeaker and rst sittingof theNA, cers are entrusted to runtheaffairs of theNA. cers. cers of the