affirmation before the Chief Justice or a Judge designated by the Chief Justice for this
purpose, in the terms set out in Schedule 3 hereof.
Article 56 Assent to Bills
(1)
Every bill passed by Parliament in terms of this Constitution in order to acquire
the status of an Act of Parliament shall require the assent of the President to be
signified by the signing of the bill and the publication of the Act in the Gazette.
(2)
Where a bill is passed by a majority of two-thirds of all the members of the
National Assembly and has been confirmed by the National Council the President
shall be obliged to give his or her assent thereto.
(3)
Where a bill is passed by a majority of the members of the National Assembly but
such majority consists of less than two-thirds of all the members of the National
Assembly and has been confirmed by the National Council, but the President
declines to assent to such bill, the President shall communicate such dissent to
the Speaker.
(4)
If the President has declined to assent to a bill under Sub-Article (3) hereof, the
National Assembly may reconsider the bill and, if it so decides, pass the bill in the
form in which it was referred back to it, or in an amended form or it may decline
to pass the bill. Should the bill then be passed by a majority of the National
Assembly it will not require further confirmation by the National Council but, if the
majority consists of less than two-thirds of all the members of the National
Assembly, the President shall retain his or her power to withhold assent to the bill.
If the President elects not to assent to the bill, it shall then lapse.
Article 57 Dissolution
(1)
The National Assembly may be dissolved by the President on the advice of the
Cabinet if the Government is unable to govern effectively.
(2)
Should the National Assembly be dissolved a national election for a new National
Assembly and a new President shall take place within a period of ninety (90) days
from the date of such dissolution.
Article 58 Conduct of Business after Dissolution
Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 57 hereof:
Ta ble of Conten ts
(a)
every person who at the date of its dissolution was a member of the
National Assembly shall remain a member of the National Assembly and
remain competent to perform the functions of a member until the day
immediately preceding the first polling day for the election held in
pursuance of such dissolution;
(b)
the President shall have power to summon Parliament for the conduct of
business during the period following such dissolution, up to and including
the day immediately preceding the first polling day for the election held in
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