National Assembly

The National Assembly is the lower house of South Africa's bicameral Parliament and the primary legislative body of the country. It comprises 400 members elected through a system of proportional representation for five-year terms. The Assembly sits in Cape Town and is responsible for passing legislation, overseeing the executive branch, and holding government accountable. Members of the National Assembly elect the President of South Africa from among their ranks, and the President must maintain the confidence of the Assembly to remain in office. The Assembly has the power to pass votes of no confidence in the President or Cabinet, initiate and amend legislation, and approve the national budget. It works alongside the National Council of Provinces, which represents provincial interests, to form the national legislature. The Speaker of the National Assembly presides over proceedings and maintains order during debates. The Assembly's composition reflects the outcome of national elections, with seats allocated to political parties in proportion to the votes they receive. Since South Africa's transition to democracy in 1994, the National Assembly has been the central forum for political debate and lawmaking in the country. Its proceedings are public and subject to constitutional oversight by the Constitutional Court.