The Speaker and Deputy Speakers

(1) There shall be a Speaker of the National Assembly who shall be elected by majority vote of the members thereof at the first sitting after every dissolution of the National Assembly. (2) The members of the National Assembly shall elect one or more from among themselves to be Deputy Speaker or Deputy Speakers of the National Assembly at the first sitting after a general election. (3) The office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become vacant— (a) on the death or resignation of the holder; (b) if the holder ceases to be a member of the National Assembly; (c) if the holder becomes President, Vice-President, a Minister or a Deputy Minister; or (d) if the National Assembly, by a resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly, resolves that the holder be removed from office: Provided that the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker shall have the right to be heard by the Chamber on his or her own motion on any matter relating to his or her removal from office. (4) The Speaker, or in his or her absence, such Deputy Speaker as the Speaker has nominated, shall preside at every sitting of the National Assembly: Provided that in the absence of the Speaker and every Deputy Speaker, the members of the National Assembly may elect one of their number to act as Speaker for as long as there is no Speaker or Deputy Speaker. (5) The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker or any other presiding member shall discharge his or her functions and duties and exercise such powers as he or she has by virtue of that office independent or the direction or interference of any body or authority, save as accords with the express will and the Standing Orders of the National Assembly. (6) Notwithstanding that the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or any other presiding member has been elected as a member of a political party to the National Assembly he or she shall not be subject to the control, discipline, authority or direction of that political party or any other political party in the discharge of the functions and duties of that office and in the exercise of the powers of that office. (7) The Speaker may, where the matter under debate in the National Assembly pertains to his or her constituency, temporarily vacate the Speaker’s seat and participate in that debate and exercise a deliberative vote where there is voting on that matter. [4 of 2001; 13 of 2001]