Background Color: |
|
Parliament of Namibia | |
Coa Pic: | File:Namibian Parliament Logo.jpg |
Coa Res: | 250px |
House Type: | Bicameral |
Leader1: | Lukas Sinimbo Muha |
Election1: | 15 December 2020 |
Election2: | 21 March 2015 |
Members: | 146 National Council (42) National Assembly (104) |
House1: | National Council |
House2: | National Assembly |
Structure1: | Seating_of_the_National_Council_of_Namibia.svg |
Structure1 Res: | 250px |
Structure2: | Seating of the National Assembly of Namibia.svg |
Structure2 Res: | 250px |
Political Groups1: | Government (28) Official opposition (6) Other parties (8) |
Political Groups2: | Government (71) Official opposition (16) Other parties (17) |
Voting System1: | Indirect election by regional councils |
Session Room: | Windhuk Independence Memorial Museum Blick auf den Tintenpalast 6.jpg |
Session Res: | 250px |
The Parliament of Namibia is the national legislature of Namibia. It is a bicameral legislature and, thus, consists of two houses:[1] [2] the National Council (upper house) and the National Assembly (lower house).
All cabinet members are also members of the lower house. This situation has been criticised by Namibia's civil society and the opposition as creating a significant overlap between executive and legislature, undermining the separation of powers. The seniority of cabinet members generally relegate ordinary MPs to the back benches.[3]
From Namibian independence until 2014 the National Assembly consisted of 78 members, 72 members elected by proportional representation and 6 members appointed by the president. The National Council had 26 representatives of the Regional Councils, 2 from each of the then thirteen regions.[1] Prior to the 2014 general elections the constitution was amended to increase both chambers to their current size.[2]