Republic of South Africa Constitution Act, 1983/1988-05-05

as amended by

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 105 of 1984

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

Provincial Government Act, No. 69 of 1986

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 20 of 1987

Constitution Amendment Act, No. 50 of 1988

61. To constitute a meeting of a House for the determination of a question, the presence shall be necessary of―

in the case of the House of Assembly, at least 50 members; in the case of the House of Representatives, at least 25 members; in the case of the House of Delegates, at least 13 members.

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, with a view also to uniformity, by each of the Houses as joint rules and orders in connection with the order and conduct of their joint and separate business and proceedings, and, in particular, of―

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

“joint meeting” means a meeting convened in terms of joint rules and orders as a joint meeting of the Houses and presided over by the Speaker, or by a member of a House in terms of such rules and orders;

“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.

67. (1) This section applies to joint sittings called thereunder, but does not otherwise derogate from the power of Parliament to regulate its business and proceedings.

(2) The State President may call a joint sitting of the Houses by message to them whenever he deems it desirable, and shall call such a joint sitting if requested to do so by all three Houses.

(3) The Speaker of Parliament shall preside at such a joint sitting.

(4) The Speaker shall determine the rules and orders for the order and conduct of the proceedings of such a joint sitting.

(5) No resolution shall be adopted at any such joint sitting.