The National Assembly rules define a ‘session’ as the period from the day the Assembly first sits after being summoned until the day it is prorogued or dissolved. A ‘sitting’ is a meeting of the Assembly on a single day. The two are distinct terms and should not be confused.
Why it matters for the National Assembly proceedings?
In every parliamentary system, the boundary between a sitting and a session determines legislative continuity. Business commenced at a sitting but not concluded may be carried over to the next sitting. However, most notices or formal business that remains pending at the end of a session get lapsed.
The session boundary also defines the scope of the repetition prohibitions under the rules. Some motions that are voted down once cannot be moved again in the same session. Once a new session begins, that restriction lifts.
What is in it for citizens?
When you hear that ‘Assembly is in session’, it means the Assembly has been summoned and has not yet been prorogued — not simply that it met on a given day. Citizens tracking parliamentary business need to watch session boundaries, not just sitting dates. Citizens and members who understand the distinction between session and sitting can also better read the tactical use of session management by the executive to deal with private members’ agenda.
Source: Rule 2, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007
The proceedings of National Assembly are governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The current rules were passed on 23 February 2007 and have since been amended 20 times.
This post is part of FAFEN’s series on parliamentary literacy. Read more of this series here.
