Chapter 4: Parliament
the Bill must be referred to the National Council of Provinces and dealt with in
accordance with the following procedure:
(a) � The Council must—
(i) � pass the Bill;
(ii) � pass an amended Bill; or
(iii) � reject the Bill.
(b) � If the Council passes the Bill without amendment, the Bill must be submitted
to the President for assent.
(c) � If the Council passes an amended Bill, the amended Bill must be referred to the
Assembly, and if the Assembly passes the amended Bill, it must be submitted
to the President for assent.
(d) � If the Council rejects the Bill, or if the Assembly refuses to pass an amended Bill
referred to it in terms of paragraph (c), the Bill and, where applicable, also the
amended Bill, must be referred to the Mediation Committee, which may agree
on—
(i) � the Bill as passed by the Assembly;
(ii) � the amended Bill as passed by the Council; or
(iii) � another version of the Bill.
(e) � If the Mediation Committee is unable to agree within 30 days of the Bill’s
referral to it, the Bill lapses unless the Assembly again passes the Bill, but with
a supporting vote of at least two thirds of its members.
(f) � If the Mediation Committee agrees on the Bill as passed by the Assembly,
the Bill must be referred to the Council, and if passes the Bill, the Bill must be
submitted to the President for assent.
(g) � If the Mediation Committee agrees on the amended Bill as passed by the
Council, the Bill must be referred to the Assembly, and if it is passed by the
Assembly, it must be submitted to the President for assent.
(h) � If the Mediation Committee agrees on another version of the Bill, that version
of the Bill must be referred to both the Assembly and the Council, and if it is
passed by the Assembly and the Council, it must be submitted to the President
for assent.
(i) � If a Bill referred to the Council in terms of paragraph (f ) or (h) is not passed
by the Council, the Bill lapses unless the Assembly passes the Bill with a
supporting vote of at least two thirds of its members.
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