If the Speaker finds an adjournment motion in order and satisfies the 15 admissibility conditions, the Speaker puts a question before the House that whether the it grants leave to make the motion. If anyone objects to the question, the Speaker shall ask those in favour to rise. If a majority of members present rise in favour, leave is granted and discussion is scheduled for up to two hours within the same session. If not, leave is refused.
Why it matters for the National Assembly proceedings?
The Assembly’s role in granting leave ensures that the government — if it commands a majority — can block a motion it finds inconvenient. Conversely, a minority cannot force a discussion without the support of at least half the members present. The visible rising of members is the public record of the Assembly’s decision.
What is in it for citizens?
The leave-granting vote is one of the most visible moments in parliamentary proceedings. When a government with a large majority consistently denies leave for adjournment motions on significant public issues, citizens can draw their own conclusions about the Assembly’s accountability function.
Source: Rule 113, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007
The proceedings of the 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 21 times, most recently on 22 October 2024.
This post is part of FAFEN’s series on parliamentary literacy. Read more of this series here
