The Parliament of Cameroon A citadel of democracy Mission To represent the interests of the Cameroonian people, legislate and exercise its oversight role of the Executive. Cabinet Ministers cannot be MPs as it would impede the effective exercise of the oversight role. The business of the House is led by the Speaker who heads the Bureau of 23 members. Both the Speaker and the rest of the members are elected by their peers. The National Assembly of Cameroon has nine general committees: • Committee on Constitutional Laws, Human Rights and Freedoms Justice, Legislation and Standing Orders, Administration • Committee on Finance and Budget • Foreign Affairs Committee • Committee on National Defence and Security • Committee on Economic Affairs, Planning and Regional Development • Committee on Education, Vocational Training, and Youth • Committee on Cultural, Social and Family Affairs • Committee on Production and Trade • Committee on Resolutions and petitions The business of the house is regulated by its Standing Orders. The present legislature has six political parties sitting in parliament however, only two qualify to have parliamentary groups as they have more than 15 members, as provided for in the Standing Orders. Below: Hon. Niat Njifenji Marcel was elected by the 100 senators during the closing plenary session of the Upper House on Wednesday, 13 June at the National Assembly in Yaounde. Njifenji becomes the second personality of Cameroon and constitutional successor of the President of the Republic in case of a vacancy at the presidency. Seventy of Cameroon’s maiden senators were elected on 14 April while the remaining 30 were appointed on 8 May, by a decree of the President of the Republic. The Senate has been institutionalised 17 years after the 1996 constitutional amendment that left Cameroon with two separate and distinct lawmaking assemblies, the Senate as the Upper House and the National Assembly as the lower house. The evolution of the parliamentary institution in Cameroon is a refl ection of the country’s history. The fi rst legislative elections took place on 22 December 1946 and on 12 January 1947 to elect 40 members into what was called at the time the Representative Assembly of Cameroon. The parliamentary institution has evolved with the increase of its members and the passing of time. The present Parliament of Cameroon draws its legal existence from Article 14 of the 18 January 1996 Constitution. It is a bicameral house comprising the National Assembly and the Senate as provided for in the Constitution. For now, the National Assembly is playing the role of both houses, pending the setting up of the Senate. The National Assembly ‘Glass Palace’ has 180 members elected by direct and secret universal suffrage for a fi ve-year term of offi ce. This present legislature which is the eighth has 25 women out of 180 members.
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