English-isiXhosa Parliamentary Terminology

Abstention

Refusal to vote either for or against a question.

Act of Parliament

When a Bill has become a law i.e. it has been assented to by the President/Premier. Unless a provision of the Act specifies otherwise, the Act comes into force on the date of assent.

Ad Hoc Committee

A temporary parliamentary committee established for a specific purpose and with a limited life span.

Adjournment

When a sitting of a Parliament is brought to a close after business has been concluded.

Alternate Member

A Member appointed to substitute a core Member of a committee normally where a standing select committee (portfolio committee) has been assigned more than one portflio.

Amendments

Changes (or proposed changes) to a Bill or motions before the House or a committee.

Appropriation

A sum of money allocated by Parliament for a specific purpose outlined in the government spending estimates.

Appropriation Bill

A Bill to authorise government expenditure. An appropriation Bill can only be introduced by the Minister responsible for Finance.

Auditor General

The person responsible for the independent examination of the Government’s accounts.

Back-bencher

A Member who does not hold a leadership position in his/her party and is not a parliamentary office-bearer.

Ballot paper

A paper on which a voter indicates his/her choice. In the House secret ballots are used only for the election of the Premier, Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Bicameralism

A legislative body comprised of two chambers or houses.

Bill

A proposed new law, or draft law, which has not yet been passed by the House.

Bill of Rights

A part of national Constitution which outlines the basic rights of of every citizen.

Budget

The provincial Government’s statement of its fiscal, economic and social policies. It is usually presented once a year.

Budget epeech

A speech made in the House by the Minister responsible for Finance introducing the provincial Government’s budget.

By-law

Laws written by Municipal Councils.

Cabinet

The executive of the Government. It comprises the Premier and his Ministers.

Cabinet Minister

A member of the Executive, appointed by the Premier and usually chosen from amongst existing Members. Ministers are responsible to the provincial Parliament for their official actions and those of their Departments.

Casting Vote

A deciding vote by the Presiding Officer when there is an equal number of votes.

Chamber

The place where the House meets its plenary sittings.

Civil servant

Government official, also known as a public servant.

Civil service / public service

The body responsible for implementing the policies of Government.

Clause

A division of a Bill consisting of an individual sentence or statement. Once a Bill becomes an Act, its clauses are referred to as sections.

Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)

The CCMA is an independent statutory body that helps anyone whose labour rights have been violated and/or is a victim of an unfair labour practice.

Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)

This is watchdog for gender equality and is particularly concerned with the rights of women.

Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities

This Commission promotes respect for all communities in South Africa with regard to culture, religion and language.

Committee

A group of Members assigned to consider issues relating to a Particular subject area. Committees consider and report on Bills and issues which the House refers to them. They also provide an oversight function of Government and Departments.

Committee of Whole House

All of the Members of the House sitting as a committee. Presided over by a chairperson rather than by the Speaker, it performs a detailed study of Bills and any other matter referred to it by the House.

Conflict of interest

A conflict arising from any interest, pecuniary or other, which interferes with a Member’s ability to perform his/her functions. Such a conflict may prevent a Member from voting on agiven issue.

Constituency

An electoral district to whom an elected representative is responsible.

Constitution

The supreme law of the land by which the country is governed.

Constitutonal Court

The highest court dealing only with matters relating to the Constitution. All laws can be tested in the Constitutional Court to ensure that they are not in conflict with the Constitution.

Contempt of Parliament

An offence against an authority or dignity of Parliament, including disobedience of its orders or libel against it or its Memebers.

Co-operative government

Co-operative government obliges the three spheres of government (national, provincial and local) to work together in a supportive manner.

Delegated legislation

Regulations made by the departments, boards or agencies by virtue of power conferred on them by some Act of Parliament.

Deliberations

Discussions in a committee meeting or plenary sitting without decisions being taken.

Deputy Speaker

A person elected to assist the Speaker and to act as Speaker when the latter is absent. Deputy Speaker also acts as Chair of Committees during Committee of the Whole House.

Division

The physical dividing of the Members into two groups (the “Ayes” or Noes”) in order to indicate the support or otherwise for a question .

Division list

A list giving the results of a recorded division, printed in the Minutes of Proceedings. Members, identified by name, are listed under “Ayes or Noes”.

Embargo

A restriction on the distribution or publication of a document or the information it contains, untli some time stipulated for its release.

Erskine May’s Parliamentary Procedure

A procedural authority providing a complete description of the rules, practices and precedents in the United Kingdom’s House of Commons at Westminster. The original edition was prepared in 1884 by Sir Thomas Erskine May, Clerk of the British House of Commons. Commonly referred to as Erskine May or simply May.

Estimates

The departmental expenditure plans, tabled as required.

Executive

The branch of government concerned with the formulation and execution of policy.

Explanatory Memorandum

A brief explanation of the provisions of a bill.

First Reading

A stage in the House when a Bill is introduced and tabled for the first time.

Fiscal

The term used when describing money the government receives from taxes.

Fiscal year

The twelve month period, from 1 April to 31 March, used by the government for budgetary and accounting purposes.

Floor of the House

That part of the Chamber reserved for the Members of the House.

Front benches

The first few rows of seats in the House which, on the government side, are occupied by the Premier and the provincial Cabinet and, on the Opposition side, by the leaders of the opposition parties and their senior Members.

Gallery

A demarcated area in the House for the public and visitors during plenary sittings.

Green Paper

A draft policy document a department prepares for consultation purposes.

Hansard

The official verbatim report of proceedings in the House.

Hybrid Bill

A public Bill that adversely affects or may adversely affect the private interests of particular persons or bodies.

In camera meeting

A meeting from which the public is excluded.

Instruction

A direction by the House to a committee which has already received an order of reference, further defining its course of action or empowering it to do something.

Intergovernmental relations

The interaction between national, provincial and local government.

Interpellation

A mini debate limited to fifteen minutes in which a member of the Executive replies to a Member’s question.

Introduction of Bill

The first presentation of a Bill to the House for its consideration.

Judicial Service Commision

The Commission advises government on matters relating to the administration of justice, such as the appointment of judges.

Judiciary

The arm of state dealing with the administration of justice.

Leader of the House

A Cabinet Minister responsible for the programming of government business in the House and who serves as a link between the Cabinet and the House.

Ipalamente yephondo

This is an Executive elected to make laws for the province.

Lobbyst

A person or group who actively engages in attempting to influence legislators with respect to some specific area of interest.

Long title

The title of a Bill which sets out in general terms the purposes of the Bill. It must encompass all aspects of the Bill and if the Bill is amended it may be necessary to amend the long title to reflect those changes.

Mace

A richly ornamented staff which is the symbol of authority of the House. When the Speaker takes the Chair, the Mace is placed on the Table by the Serjeant-at-Arms to signify the House is in session.

Maiden speech

A Member’s first speech in the House.

Mediation Committee

A facilitating committee should there be disagreement between the NA and NCOP on a Section 76 Bill.

Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)

An elected representative in the provincial Parliament chosen from a party list according to the number of votes obtained in the election. There are 42 MMP’s in the provincial Parliament of the Western Cape.

Ministerial responsibility

The principle that Ministers are responsible to the House for their actions and those of their departmental officials.

MINMEC meeting

Meeting between a Minister and the nine provincial Members of the Executive Council (MEC’s) dealing with similar portfolios.

Minutes of Proceedings

The official printed record of the proceedings of the House.

Money Bills

Money Bills appropriate money or impose taxes, levies or duties. These Bills can only be introduced by the Minister responsible for Finance.

Motion

A proposal that the House do something, order that something be done, or express an opinion.

Motion of no confidence

A motion which, if adopted, indicates that the Premier and /or provincial Cabinet has lost confidence of the House.

Mover

A Member presenting a motion in the House. When debate is permitted, the Member speaks immediately following the proposing of the question to the House.

Naming a Member

A disciplinary procedure to maintain order in the House. The Speaker names a Member for serious misconduct in the Chamber and the Member has to withdraw from the Chamber for the remainder of the day’s sitting.

National Assembly

INdlu yoWiso-mthetho yeSizwe

A Chamber of the National Parliament. It currently has 400 Members with each party being represented in proportion to its support in the last election.

IGumbi lokuHlalela lePalamente yeSizwe. Kungoku nje inamalungu angama-400 apho iqela ngalinye linabameli ngokwenani leevoti elizifumeneyo kunyulo oludlulileyo.

National Council of Provinces (NCOP)

A Chamber of National Parliament. It represents the provinces at national level and provides a link to the provinces. Each province has ten delegates: six permanent and four special delegates.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)

The National Prosecuting Authority, headed by the National Director of Public Prosecutions, charged with the responsibility of co-ordinating the effective prosecution of suspects charged with criminal offences.

National Youth Commission

The Commission established to assist the Government in developing a comprehensive youth development policy. It is a statutory body but it is not included in the Constitution and does not enjopy constitutional protection.

NCOP Committee

A Committee which specifically considers NCOP/provincial Parliament related matters.

Official Opposition

The Official Opposition is the largest opposition party to the governing party/coalition in the House.

Opposition

All parties in the House that do not form part of the governing party/coalition.

Order Paper

A programme containing the agenda of the House and other information relevant to the proceedings of a House.

Out of order

Contrary to the rules of parilamentary procedure. The expression may be applied to motions, Bills or to any intervention which offends against the rules of the House.

Pan South African Language Board

This Board’s task is to protect, promote and develop the eleven official languages as well as to promote and ensure respect for all languages spoken in the country.

Parliament

Parliament is an elected body of representatives responsible for passing national legislation and overseeing the work of the national Executive. It comprises the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Parliamentary priviledge

Members of Parliament and of provincial Legislatures have freedom of speech on the House and its committees, subject to its rules and orders. They are not liable to civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment or damages for anything they say, produce before, or submit in the House or its committees.

Parliamentary procedure

The rules by which the House conducts its business, based on statutes, the Standing Rules, authoritative procedural works precedents, and tradition. Decisions by the Speaker are based on these rules.

Parliamentary questions

Questions to Ministers by a Member which have been printed on the Question Paper. Answers may be given either orally or in writing.

Party caucus

An exclusive meting of the members of a specific political party.

Party discipline

The control exercised by a party over positions held by its Members and over the way in which they vote. The enforcement of party discipline is one of the whip’s duties.

Permanent delegates

A permanent representative from a province in the NCOP.

Petition

A written request or complaint made by one of more Members of the public.

Plenary session

A full sitting of the House.

Point of Order

A question raised with respect to any depature from the Standing Rules or customary procedures, either in debate or in the conduct of House or committee business.

Political party

A group of people sharing a particular ideology and set of goals which puts forward candidates for election to the national and provincial Parilament.

Portfolio

The specific area of responsibility allocated to a Cabinet Minister.

Portfolio Committee

A parliamentary committee that focuses on a particular government department and its field of work.

Prayers

At evry sitting of the House, the Speaker reads prayers before any business entered upon.

Preamble (of a Bill)

The part of a Bill preceding the main text which states the reasons for its introduction and the ends which it seeks to attain.

Precedent

A Speaker’s ruling or a practice of the House taken as a rule for subsequent cases of a similar nature. Not all decisions and practices constitute precedents.

Precincts of provincial Parliament

Buidings accomodating Members, the Chamber, and the rooms Reserved for committee meetings and any other area designated as such.

Premier

The Head of the Executive in a province elected by the House for a term of five years.