CHAPTER 2

JOINT SITTINGS OF THE HOUSES

Calling of joint sittings

7. (1) The President may call a joint sitting of the Houses when it is necessary for

(a) the President to deliver the annual or a special address to Parliament; or

(b) a purpose mentioned in section 42 (5) or 203 of the Constitution.

(2) The Speaker and the Chairperson of the Council, acting jointly, may call a joint sitting of the Houses when necessary.

Venue

8. Joint sittings are held in the Chamber of the Assembly.

Day and time

9. The date and time of a joint sitting must be made known to the members of the Assembly and the Council

(a) by placing it on the Order Papers of the Houses;

(b) by way of an announcement by the officer presiding at a sitting of a House; or (c) by giving notice to the members in a way determined by the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Council for their respective Houses.

Presiding officer
10. Either the Speaker or the Chairperson of the Council, by arrangement between them, presides at a joint sitting.

Relief of presiding officer

11. An Assembly or Council member must take the Chair whenever requested to do so by the Speaker or the Chairperson of the Council while presiding at a joint sitting.

Discipline

12. When the Houses sit jointly

(a) the Assembly Rules on discipline remain applicable to an Assembly member; and (b) the Council Rules on discipline remain applicable to a Council member.

Procedure

13. (1) An Assembly or Council member, other than the officer presiding at a joint sitting, may not speak at the sitting

(a) unless invited to do so by the presiding officer; or

(b) without having obtained the permission of the Speaker and the Chairperson of the Council before the meeting.

(2) No vote or decision may be taken by or in a joint sitting.

Public access

14. (1 ) Joint sittings are open to the public, including the media.

(2) The Assembly Rules concerning access of the public to the Chamber of the Assembly apply to a joint sitting, except that the Speaker must consult the Chairperson of the Council when exercising the powers assigned to the Speaker in those rules.