Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 from Government Gazette.djvu/36



Chapter 4—Parliament

facilitate public involvement in the legislative and other processes of the Council and its committees; and conduct its business in an open manner, and hold its sittings, and those of its committees, in public, but reasonable measures may be taken —

to regulate public access, including access of the media, to the Council and its committees; and to provide for the searching of any person and, where appropriate, the refusal of entry to, or the removal of, any person.

The National Council of Provinces may not exclude the public, including the media, from a sitting of a committee unless it is reasonable and justifiable to do so in an open and democratic society.

All Bills

Any Bill may be introduced in the National Assembly.

Only a Cabinet member or a Deputy Minister, or a member or committee of the National Assembly, may introduce a Bill in the Assembly; but only the Cabinet member responsible for national financial matters may introduce a money Bill in the Assembly.

A Bill referred to in section 76  (3), except a money Bill, may be introduced in the National Council of Provinces.

Only a member or committee of the National Council of Provinces may introduce a Bill in the Council.

A Bill passed by the National Assembly must be referred to the National Council of Provinces if it must be considered by the Council. A Bill passed by the Council must be referred to the Assembly.

Bills amending the Constitution

Section 1 and this subsection may be amended by a Bill passed by —

the National Assembly, with a supporting vote of at least 75 per cent of its members; and the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces.

Chapter 2 may be amended by a Bill passed by —

the National Assembly, with a supporting vote of at least two thirds of its members; and the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces.