(3) The Speaker may, upon a motion of the National Assembly, postpone the declaration of a
vacant seat for such period as that motion prescribes so as to permit any member to appeal to a court
or other body to which an appeal lies against a decision which would require that member to vacate his
or her seat in accordance with this section.
[Ch0000s64]64. Repealed by Act No. 6 of 1995
[Repealed by Act No. 6 of 1995].
[Ch0000s65]65. Crossing the floor
8 of 2001(1) The Speaker shall declare vacant the seat of any member of the National Assembly
who was, at the time of his or her election, a member of one political party represented in the National
Assembly, other than by that member alone but who has voluntarily ceased to be a member of that
party or has joined another political party represented in the National Assembly, or association or
organization whose objectives or activies are political in nature.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), all members of all parties shall have the absolute right to
exercise a free vote in any and all proceedings of the National Assembly, and a member shall not have
his or her seat declared vacant solely on account of his or her voting in contradiction to the
recommendations of a political party, represented in the National Assembly, of which he or she is a
member.
[Ch0000s66]66. Functions and powers of the national Assembly
4 of 2001, 13 of 2001(1) The National Assembly shall be a directly elected Chamber which shall
have power, subject to this Constitution, to—
(a)
receive, amend, accept or reject Government Bills and Private Bills;
(b)
initiate Private Member’s Bills on the motion of any member and amend, accept or
reject all Private Member’s Bills;
(c)
debate and vote motions in relation to any matter including motions to indict and
convict the President or Vice-President by impeachment;
(d)
exercise such other functions and powers as are conferred on it by this Constitution or
by an Act of Parliament; and
(e)
take all actions incidental to and necessary for the proper exercise of its functions.
(2) For the purposes of this Constitution—
(a)
a Government Bill shall be a Bill promulgated by the Government and introduced to
Parliament on behalf of the Government;
(b)
a Private Bill shall be—