The Government Bills may be classified as follows:-
- Ordinary Bills
- Constitutional Amendment Bills - Bills to amend, repeal and replace the Constitution in terms of Article 82, 83 and 84 of the Constitution.
- Appropriation Bill
Procedure in Parliament
First Reading
After 14 days from the publication in the gazette in terms of Article 78 of the Constitution and on the request of a Cabinet Minister or a Deputy Minister, a Bill is placed in the Order Paper for First Reading in terms of Standing Order No. 50.
However, if the subject matter of the Bill comes under the Provincial Council list, the President shall refer such Bill to all Provincial Councils for the expression of their views, before being placed on the Order Paper for First Reading.
After the First Reading is moved, the Bill is ordered to be printed by the Parliament.
Second Reading
The Bill shall be placed in the Order Paper for Second Reading, after fourteen days from the date of first reading, in terms of Standing Orders 50 and 55(1). The date for Second Reading of a Bill shall be decided by the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
However, in the following instances, the Second Reading may not take place after seven days from the date of first reading:-
| a) |
Where a Petition has been filed in the Supreme Court against a Bill under Article 121 of the Constitution, such a Bill is fixed for Second Reading after the determination of the Supreme Court is announced in Parliament in terms of Standing Order 55(2). |
| b) |
When Bills in respect of matters in List III of the Ninth Schedule to the Constitution (Concurrent List) under Article 154G (5)(a) are presented to Parliament, such Bills are referred to all Provincial Councils for their views in terms of Standing Order 51(2)(a). After their views are announced in Parliament, the Bill is fixed for Second Reading in terms of Standing Order 51(2)(b). |
On a Second Reading of a Bill, a debate on the Bill shall take place as per Standing Order 56. At the end of the Second Reading, the Bill shall be passed by a Vote (voice vote/ by row/ by name). If a Bill is passed by the House, the Bill (other than an Appropriation Bill) is referred to the Committee of the Whole Parliament or upon a motion made by a Minister or a Deputy Minister, is referred to a Select Committee or to the Legislative Standing Committee or to a appropriate Sectoral Oversight Committee in terms of Standing Order 57.
Committee Stage of the Bill
When a Bill has been referred to the Committee of the Whole Parliament in terms of Standing Order 57, the proceedings of the Committee is conducted in terms of Standing Orders 93 to 99. At the Committee stage, all the Clauses of the Bill are discussed in the Committee and new amendments may be moved to the Clauses of the Bill in terms of Standing Orders 59 to 65. When New Clauses and New Schedules are proposed to the Bill they shall be read a Second Time and thereafter Preamble and Title of the Bill shall be considered in terms of Standing Order 66.
The nature of amendments is laid down in Standing Orders 43, 44, 45 and 46. All amendments must be in writing and handed over to the Secretary-General of Parliament in terms of Standing Order 43(2).
Consideration at Standing Committee/at Select Committee
When the Bill has been referred to a Select Committee or to the Legislative Standing Committee or to a Sectoral Oversight Committee no further proceeding is taken until the Committee has reported to Parliament in terms of Standing Order 58.
The Report of the Committee shall be presented to Parliament in terms of Standing Orders 68, 69, 70.
The proceedings of the Legislative Standing Committee are conducted in terms of Standing Order 113.
The proceedings of the Select Committee are conducted in terms of Standing Orders 100 to 110.
Third Reading
When the Committee of the Whole Parliament has completed the consideration of the Bill, the Chairman shall report the Bill with or without the amendment to the Parliament in terms of Standing Order 67.
If the Bill is considered in a Standing Committee or in a Select Committee, the report of the Committee be considered in the House and thereafter, the Bill is read a Third Time and passed in terms of Standing Orders 71 to 73. At the Third Reading also a vote is taken (voice vote/ by row/ by name).
Certificate of the Speaker
A Bill shall become an Act upon the endorsement of the Speaker on the Bill (Assent), under Article 79 or 80 of the Constitution in terms of Standing Order 74.
Constitutional Amendment Bills
It has to be expressly specified in the long title of a Constitutional Amendment Bill that the Bill is for the amendment to the Constitution. The other procedures are same as the procedure of ordinary Bills, except the Bill has to be passed with a majority of two-thirds or both a majority of 2/3 and the approval at a referendum.
Appropriation Bill
The procedure of Appropriation Bill also as same as the Ordinary Bills but twenty six days are allotted for the consideration of the Bill in terms of Standing Order 75.
Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill starts with the Budget speech and it is followed by a maximum of seven days of debate.
At the end of the allocated seven days of the second reading debate, the Appropriation Bill is put to a vote. Once Parliament votes for the Bill, it will be referred to a Committee of the whole House.
Committee stage of the Appropriation Bill
A maximum of twenty days shall be allocated for the Committee Stage and when the Appropriation Bill is referred to the Committee of the Whole Parliament, all Clauses, Heads and Schedules are considered together with the amendments proposed thereon and reported to Parliament in terms of Standing Order 130. Notwithstanding anything in Standing Order 28, motions for the reduction of any Programme, Project or Object shall require notice in terms of Standing Order 130(9).
Having passed all Ministry Votes in a Committee of Whole House, Parliament resumes sitting at the House immediately thereafter. It is reported to Parliament that the Bill has been considered and passed in the Committee with or without amendments. Then the Bill is read the third time and at this point, the Hon. Speaker would announce that the Appropriation Bill for the particular year is passed by Parliament with or without amendments.
If the Appropriation Bill is rejected by the Parliament, the Cabinet of Ministers shall stand dissolved, as per Article 48(2) of the Constitution.
