The Parliament of South Africa, has undergone many transformations, as a result of the country's tumultuous history. From 1910 to 1994, it was elected mainly by South Africa's white minority, before the first non-racial elections were held in 1994.-1... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Under the 1994 Constitution, the Parliament, consisting of a Senate and a National Assembly, was also the 'Constitution-Making Body' (CMB). This was a compromise between the African National Congress, which wanted a Constituent Assembly to draft the constitution, and the other parties, who wanted constitutional principles agreed first, before the final constitution was drafted and adopted in 1997. Under the 1997 Constitution, the Senate, elected by members of each of the nine Provincial Legislatures, was replaced by a National Council of Provinces, or (NCoP), which retained the former Senate's membership, although changed its legislative and constitutional role. The National Assembly remained unchanged as the primary legislative chamber, with the President of South Africa being the leader of the largest party in that house. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Bold textMedia:Example. ... The National Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa, located in Cape Town, Western Cape Province. ... The African National Congress (ANC) is a centre-left political party, and has been South Africas governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. ... A constituent assembly is a body elected with the purpose of drafting, and in some cases, adopting a constitution. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Categories: South African politics | South Africa stubs ... The President of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africas Constitution. ...

History

The Union

When the Union of South Africa was established in 1910, the Parliament was bicameral and consisted of the Senate and the House of Assembly (known in Afrikaans as the Volksraad). The Senate was indirectly elected by members of each of the four Provincial Councils, and the members of the House of Assembly being elected mainly by whites. National motto: Ex Unitate Vires (Latin: From Unity, strength} Official languages Afrikaans, English. ... -1... In government, bicameralism is the practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers. ... Bold textMedia:Example. ... House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. ... Afrikaans is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in South Africa and Namibia with smaller numbers of speakers in Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia. ...

Apartheid

When the National Party came to power on a policy of racial segregation or apartheid, it began to push through controversial legislation to deprive non-whites of what few political rights they already had. In 1959, the government of Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd passed legislation to strip the mixed race Coloureds of their voting rights. In order to amend entrenched clauses in the Union's Constitution, there needed to be a two-thirds majority in favour in both Houses of Parliament. As the National party did not have a majority in the Senate, Verwoerd instead increased its membership, appointing a large number of Senators who duly voted for the changes. In anticipation of a referendum on making South Africa a republic, Verwoerd also lowered the voting age for whites from 21 to 18. When a referendum was held on October 5, 1960, 52 per cent of whites voted in favour of a republic. The National Party (Afrikaans: Nasionale Party) (with its members sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats) was the governing party of South Africa from 1948 until 1994, and was disbanded in 2005. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of South African Prime Ministers. ... Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (8 September 1901 - 6 September 1966) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1958 to 1966, when he was assassinated. ... In the South African and Namibian context, the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense, Kleurlinge or Bruine Afrikaners) refers to a rather heterogenous group of people of mixed Khoisan, white European descent, Malay, Malagasy, Black (Bantu), and South Indian ancestry, especially in the Western Cape. ... It has been suggested that The republican form of government be merged into this article or section. ... On 5th October, 1960, South Africas white minority government held a referendum on whether or not the then Union should sever links with the British monarchy and become a republic. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The creation of the Republic of South Africa did not change the role of the Parliament, which remained whites-only, and dominated by the National Party, although the mace used in the House of Assembly, featuring a British Crown, was replaced by a new South African design, and portraits of the British Royal Family were removed. Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony The British Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the British monarch. ...

Tricameral Parliament

In 1980, Prime Minister P.W Botha announced plans for constitutional reform. The Senate was abolished in 1981, and a new 'President's Council' was appointed to advise on a new Constitution, under which Coloureds and Asians would be represented. The Council was chaired by a Vice State President, Mr Alwyn Schlebusch, who would be the only person to hold the post. Its membership was composed of whites, Coloureds and Asians (including a Chinese member as well as Indians), but the black majority had no representation at all. 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... P.W. Botha Pieter Willem Botha, (born January 12, 1916) commonly known as P.W. and Die Groot Krokodil (Afrikaans: The Big Crocodile) was Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and State President from 1984 to 1989. ...

Under the 1984 Constitution, the House of Assembly, elected by whites only, became one of three Houses of Parliament, the other two being the House of Representatives, elected by the mixed race Coloureds and the House of Delegates, elected by Asians. Each House had a Ministers' Council, responsible for 'own affairs', but the white-controlled President's Council could override any decisions made by Coloured and Asian leaders. 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. ... House of Representatives is a name used for legislative bodies in many countries. ... In the South African and Namibian context, the term Coloured (also known as Bruinmense, Kleurlinge or Bruine Afrikaners) refers to a rather heterogenous group of people of mixed Khoisan, white European descent, Malay, Malagasy, Black (Bantu), and South Indian ancestry, especially in the Western Cape. ... The House of Delegates is the name given to the lower house of the legislature in three U.S. states – Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. ... Asians in South Africa constitute two per cent of South Africas population, and most are of Indian origin, although there is also a small Chinese community. ...

The black majority were still disenfranchised, and the new system lacked legitimacy even among the Coloureds and Asians, many of whom boycotted elections. In 1994, one of the last pieces of legislation passed by the tricameral parliament was Act 200 of 1994 - the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa - before the first non-racial elections were held on April 27 that year. 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 248 days remaining. ...

Cape Town or Pretoria?

Parliament sits in Cape Town, even though the seat of government is in Pretoria. This dates back to the foundation of the Union, when there was disagreement between the four provinces as to which city would be the national capital. As a compromise, Cape Town was designated the legislative capital, Bloemfontein the judicial capital, and Pretoria the administrative capital. The African National Congress (ANC) government has proposed moving Parliament to Pretoria, arguing that the present arrangement is cumbersome as ministers, civil servants and diplomats must move back and forth when Parliament is in session. However, many Capetonians have spoken out against such a move, accusing the ANC of trying to centralise power, even though Cape Town is already the capital of the Western Cape province. Under the Constitution, there is provision for Parliament meeting outside Cape Town should the Speaker of the National Assembly see fit. City motto: Spes Bona (Latin: Good Hope) Province Western Cape Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... Coat of arms of Bloemfontein Bloemfontein (Dutch for fountain of flowers) is one of South Africas three capital cities, along with Pretoria and Cape Town. ... The African National Congress (ANC) is a centre-left political party, and has been South Africas governing party (in a coalition) since the establishment of majority rule in May 1994. ... The Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. ...

External links

• Parliament of South Africa