Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1983/1985-07-24

as amended by

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 105 of 1984

Powers and Privileges of Parliament and the Constitution Amendment Act, No. 99 of 1985

64. (1) In this section―

“joint committee” means a committee consisting of members of each of the Houses; “joint rules and orders” means rules and orders approved by each of the Houses as joint rules and orders in connection with the order and conduct of―

the business and proceedings of each in connection with general matters and bills thereon or joint committees or a particular joint committee or other matters affecting all three Houses; or the business and proceedings of joint committees or a particular joint committee;

“standing committee” means a joint committee which, in terms of joint rules and orders applicable to it, is established for the duration of the Parliament concerned and is competent to exercise or perform some or all of its powers, duties and functions also while Parliament is prorogued.

(2) Joint rules and orders may provide for any or all of the following matters, namely―

the establishment of standing committees on general affairs; the constitution of any such committee, including its chairmanship and the representation of political parties, including opposition parties, in such committee; the manner in which and the circumstances under which any matter may be referred to any such committee; the powers, duties or functions of any such committee in connection with a matter referred to it; the manner in which any such committee may make any decision; the submission of any proposal to any such committee by a member of a House who is not a member of the committee; the operation of a decision of any such committee on a matter referred to it, in relation to any further business and proceedings of a House in connection with that matter; the order and conduct generally of the business and proceedings of any such committee,

but the preceding provisions of this subsection shall not be construed as defining or limiting in any manner the matters or any matter that may be dealt with or provided for in joint rules and orders or as requiring any matter to be dealt with or provided for in such rules and orders.

(3) Joint rules and orders shall provide for at least one standing committee on bills dealing with general affairs.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 36, a joint committee may, in terms of the joint rules and orders applicable to it or if otherwise authorized thereto by each House, meet and exercise or perform its powers, duties and functions at a place beyond the seat of Parliament.

65. (1) The State President, a Minister who is a member of the Cabinet and any deputy to such a Minister has the right to sit and to speak in any House, but may not vote except, in the case of such a Minister or deputy who is a member of a House, in the House of which he is a member.

(2) A member of a Ministers’ Council who is not a member of any House or of the Cabinet has the right to sit and to speak in the House of which the members are of the same population group as the members of the Ministers’ Council in question, but may not vote therein.

(3) A member of a House who holds the office of Chief Whip of Parliament has the right to sit in any other House and to speak on the arrangement of the business of such other House, but may not vote therein.