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Chapter 6—Provinces

may cast a deliberative vote when a question must be decided with a supporting vote of at least two thirds of the members of the legislature.

Permanent delegates’ rights in provincial legislatures

A province’s permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces may attend, and may speak in, their provincial legislature and its committees, but may not vote. The legislature may require a permanent delegate to attend the legislature or its committees.

Powers of provincial legislatures

In exercising its legislative power, a provincial legislature may —

consider, pass, amend or reject any Bill before the legislature; and initiate or prepare legislation, except money Bills.

A provincial legislature must provide for mechanisms —

to ensure that all provincial executive organs of state in the province are accountable to it; and to maintain oversight of —

the exercise of provincial executive authority in the province, including the implementation of legislation; and any provincial organ of state.

Evidence or information before provincial legislatures

A provincial legislature or any of its committees may —

summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents; require any person or provincial institution to report to it; compel, in terms of provincial legislation or the rules and orders, any person or institution to comply with a summons or requirement in terms of paragraph (a) or (b); and receive petitions, representations or submissions from any interested persons or institutions.

Internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures of provincial legislatures

A provincial legislature may —

determine and control its internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures; and make rules and orders concerning its business, with due regard to representative and participatory democracy, accountability, transparency and public involvement.

The rules and orders of a provincial legislature must provide for —

the establishment, composition, powers, functions, procedures and duration of its committees; the participation in the proceedings of the legislature and its committees of minority parties represented in the legislature, in a manner consistent with democracy;