Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1197130,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1197130/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 16,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, the manner of amending a Constitution through parliamentary initiative is provided for under Article 256 of the Constitution. Standing Order 114 (7A) actualizes this process in the National Assembly by providing as follows: In respect of a proposal to amend the Constitution— (a) the proposal shall be accompanied by the signatures of at least 50 other Members in support, unless it is sponsored by the Majority Party or the Minority Party; (b) where the Speaker approves the prepublication scrutiny of the proposal, the speaker shall notify the House of the approval and may— (i) Allow the sponsor to make a statement on the objectives of the proposal; (ii) Allow comments on the statement made by the Member; (iii) Facilitate collation of the views from the comments of Members at an appropriate forum; and, (iv) Invite Members with similar or related proposals to make submissions before the committee to which the proposal is referred. Hon. Members, this new procedure is informed by the recent decision of the High Court that a Bill proposing to amend the Constitution cannot be amended once it is published. As such, the new procedure is aimed at collating as many views as possible from as many stakeholders and experts as may be practicable before a proposal to amend the Constitution is published into a Bill. Indeed, I know that the proposal by the two Hon. Members has complied with the first part of this new provision, having obtained signatures of over 200 Members of this House."
}