National Council of Provinces
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The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is the upper house of the Parliament of South Africa under the (post-apartheid) constitution which came into full effect in 1997. It replaced the former Senate, but is very similar to that body, and to many other upper houses of legislatures throughout the world, in that its purpose is to represent the specific viewpoints of individual provinces and urban areas.
Composition
Election to the NCOP is indirect. Citizens vote for provincial legislatures, and each of these legislatures then nominates a delegation of ten members to the NCOP. The delegation, which includes the premier, must reflect the proportion of each political party in the provincial legislature. Each of South Africa's nine provinces has equal representation in the Council, irrespective of size or population. A delegation from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) may also attend sittings of the NCOP, but may not vote.
Decisions
Each provincial delegation may cast one vote. Legislation is passed if five of the nine provinces vote in favour, except if the bill is a Constitutional Amendment, in which case it requires the approval of six provincial delegations before going to the National Assembly for approval. The NCOP may consider, amend, propose amendments to, or reject legislation. It must consider all national bills, and also has the power to initiate legislation which relates only to the provinces or in areas in which both the national and provincial governments have powers to make law (Schedule 4 areas).
Chairpersons of the National Council of Provinces
- 1997 - 1999 Patrick Lekota
- 1999 - 2004 Naledi Pandor (f)
- 2004 - 2004 Joyce Kgoali (f)
- 2004 - Johannes Mahlangu (acting to 17 Jan 2005)
References
[Parliament of South Africa Website: National Council of Provinces]
See also
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