Rwanda
Organic Law determining the functioning of Chamber of Deputies Internal Rules
Organic Law 6 of 2018
- Published in Official Gazette special on 20 September 2019
- Assented to on 8 September 2018
- Commenced on 20 September 2019
- [This is the version of this document from 20 September 2019.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One – Purpose of this Organic Law
This Organic Law determines the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 2 – Definitions
As used in this Organic Law, the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them below:1°ordinary session:a period determined by this Organic Law during which Deputies meet in carrying out parliamentary activities for taking decisions relating to their duties;2°extraordinary session:a period during which Deputies meet to consider urgent items that cannot wait until the next ordinary session;3°debates:different views of Deputies during the consideration of draft laws or private member’ bills or other issues in the plenary sitting or in the Committee;4°building:premises serving as the Parliament’s place of work;5°minutes:a written summary record of debates held in the plenary sitting;6°verbatim report:a full written record of debates held and views expressed in the plenary sitting;7°Ad hoc Committee:a group of Deputies appointed by the Plenary Assembly for a specified period of time to find elements that are likely to help know and explain particular issues;8°commission of inquiry:a commission of the Chamber of Deputies established by the Plenary Assembly for a specific period of time in order for it to find out the truth on existing issues related to Government action and in respect of which the Chamber of Deputies wishes to conduct in-depth oversight;9°Standing Committee:one of the organs of the Chamber of Deputies where a Deputy is registered and carries out duties related to the consideration of draft laws or private member’s bills or any other issue before submission thereof to the Plenary Assembly;10°Joint Committee:a group made up of Deputies and Senators appointed by each chamber to consider amendments still subject to disagreement between both chambers;11°motion:a procedure by which a Deputy asks for the floor in the plenary sitting or in the Committee in the midst of debates to remind or propose something for the purpose of adopting an urgent decision or resolution;12°behind closed doors:a procedure by which a plenary sitting or Committee meeting is held in a way that no one is allowed to follow or publish it;13°amendment:a change made by a Deputy or a representative of the Government to a draft law or private member’s bill under consideration at committee or plenary level so as to modify, add or remove a specific idea;14°sub-amendment:an amendment to another amendment.Article 3 – Members of the Chamber of Deputies
Members of the Chamber of Deputies are known as “Deputies”.Article 4 – Election of and oath-taking by Deputies
Deputies are elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015.Before taking up office, Deputies take an oath of office provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015 before the President of the Republic or, in his/her absence, before the President of the Supreme Court.Article 5 – Term of office of Deputies
Deputies are elected for a term of five (5) years. They are eligible for re-election for additional terms.The term of office of Deputies commences on the day they take their oath of office.Article 6 – Principle that the President of the Republic and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies do not come from the same political organisation
The President of the Republic and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies cannot come from the same political organisation.Article 7 – Termination of office of a Deputy
A Deputy leaves his/her office on any of the following grounds:1°resignation from the Chamber of Deputies;2°expulsion from the Chamber of Deputies;3°resignation from the political organization on whose ticket he/she was elected;4°expulsion from the political organisation on whose ticket he/she was elected in accordance with the organic law governing political organisations;5°revocation of the certificate of registration of the political organisation on whose ticket he/she was elected;6°joining another political organization;7°death;8°permanent impediment to fulfilling his/her duties.Disputes relating to the decision to expel a Deputy from the Chamber of Deputies or from a political organisation are adjudicated by the competent court.Article 8 – Notice of resignation of a Deputy
A Deputy who for a number of reasons resigns from office as a deputy tenders his/her letter of resignation to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, in turn, notifies the President of the Republic thereof with a copy to the President of the Senate, the President of the Supreme Court and the Chairperson of the National Electoral Commission within three (3) working days.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies announces the termination of office of the resigning Deputy to the first plenary sitting following the day of receipt of the letter of resignation. No debate is permitted on any such an announcement.Article 9 – Replacement of a Deputy
A Deputy who ceases to hold office as provided for under Article 7 of this Organic Law is replaced in accordance with the provisions of the Organic Law relating to elections.Chapter II
Organisation of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 10 – Organs of the Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies consists of the following organs:1ºthe Plenary Assembly;2ºthe Conference of Chairpersons;3ºthe Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies;4ºStanding Committees;5ºthe Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity;6ºthe Office of the Clerk.Section One – Plenary Assembly
Article 11 – Members of the Plenary Assembly and its competences
The Plenary Assembly consists of all Deputies.The Plenary Assembly is the supreme organ of the Chamber of Deputies which is empowered to consider and pass laws and consider all matters falling within the competences of the Chamber of Deputies.Section 2 – Conference of Chairpersons
Article 12 – Members of the Conference of Chairpersons
The Conference of Chairpersons consists of members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of Standing Committees.Section 3 – Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 13 – Members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies consists of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and two (2) Deputy Speakers. One of the Deputy Speakers is responsible for parliamentary affairs and the other is responsible for finance and administration.Article 14 – Election and term of office of members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
At the opening of each term of the Chamber of Deputies, the first sitting is devoted to the election of the Bureau composed of the Speaker and two (2) Deputy Speakers elected from among members of the Chamber of Deputies. Such a sitting is convened and presided over by the President of the Republic within fifteen (15) days of the announcement of election results.One of the Deputy Speakers is responsible for parliamentary affairs and the other is responsible for finance and administration.Members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies are elected by secret ballot by an absolute majority of votes of Deputies present. Each member of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies is elected via a separate ballot.A candidate for election to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies may nominate himself/herself or be nominated by another member.If no candidate for election to the Bureau receives the required number of votes, then the vote is taken again.If an absolute majority of votes cast is not obtained at the second ballot, a candidate who receives the highest number of votes is elected.Members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies are elected for a term of five (5) years.Before taking up office, members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies take the oath of office provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015 before the President of the Republic.Section 4 – Standing Committees
Article 15 – Members of Standing Committees
The Chamber of Deputies is divided into Standing Committees.Each Standing Committee consists of at least eight (8) Deputies.Section 5 – Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity
Article 16 – Members of the Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity
The Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity consists of at least seven (7) Deputies elected in consideration, if possible, of political organisations and other different categories having representation in the Chamber of Deputies.Section 6 – Office of the Clerk
Article 17 – Members of the Office of the Clerk
The Office of Clerk is a technical organ of the Chamber of Deputies. It comprises the Clerk, Deputy Clerk and other members of staff.Chapter III
Functioning of the Chamber of Deputies
Section One – Functioning of the Plenary Assembly
Article 18 – Working schedule of the Plenary Assembly
The business of the Plenary Assembly commences at three (3:00) p.m. concludes at six (6:00) p.m. on working days.In case of urgency, however, the time for commencing the business of the Plenary Assembly may change with the approval of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies. The time for concluding the business of the Plenary Assembly may change at the request of the person presiding over the sitting with the approval of an absolute majority vote of Deputies present.Article 19 – Sitting arrangements in the Plenary Hall during the business of the Plenary Assembly
Deputies are given permanent seats in the Plenary Hall of the Chamber of Deputies during the business of the Plenary Assembly based on alphabetical order of their surnames.Also, permanent seats are reserved for Senators based on alphabetical order of their surnames in case of a joint sitting of both Chambers.There are also permanent seats reserved for Cabinet members.However, in case of disability of a Deputy or a Senator or for any other reason, the provisions of Paragraphs One and 2 of this Article may not apply with the approval of the Plenary Assembly.Other persons attending the business of the Plenary Assembly take seats reserved for them, except where the Plenary Assembly decides to sit behind closed doors.Article 20 – Place for holding the plenary sitting
The plenary sitting of the Chamber of Deputies is held in a building reserved for that purpose in the Capital City of the Republic, except in cases of force majeure approved by the Supreme Court at the request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. In case the Supreme Court is also unable to sit, the President of the Republic determines, by a decree-law, the place for holding the sitting.Article 21 – Principle of opening to the public of plenary sittings
The plenary sittings of the Chamber of Deputies are public.By applying the principle of opening to the public of the plenary sittings, there are seats reserved for the general public in the Plenary Hall and in so doing, the Chamber of Deputies makes use of audio or audio-visual devices used to transmit the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly directly to the general public, where applicable. Also, recourse may be had to the social media of the Chamber of Deputies.However, the Chamber of Deputies may, at the request of the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, the Prime Minister or a quarter (1/4) of members of the Chamber of Deputies, resolve to sit behind closed doors by an absolute majority of the votes of Deputies present.Such a resolution must be posted on the doors of the plenary hall of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 22 – Weekly agenda of the Plenary Assembly
The weekly draft agenda of the Plenary Assembly is prepared by the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies based on the adopted agenda for the session for approval by the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies. It is submitted to Deputies at least three (3) days in advance of the Plenary Assembly’s consideration of the items placed thereon.Where possible, such an agenda is broadcast on the State radio station and posted on the website of the Chamber of Deputies or made public via one of the two channels.Items on the agenda are sent to Deputies at least seven (7) days in advance of the Plenary Assembly’s consideration thereof.However, such a time limit does not apply in case of request for urgent consideration of items on the agenda.Article 23 – Announcement of the agenda of the next plenary sitting
After the Chamber of Deputies completes the consideration of and makes decision on the items on the agenda, the person presiding over the plenary sitting announces the date, time and items on the agenda for the next plenary sitting.Article 24 – Adjournment of the plenary sitting
If, for whatever reason, the adjournment of the sitting is required, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies notify all Deputies thereof in writing or via any other communication channel.Article 25 – List and quorum for the plenary sitting
In each sitting, every Deputy signs a list of attendance. The person presiding over the plenary sitting announces the number of Deputies in attendance prior to opening the sitting.Also, there is maintained a second list of Deputies having arrived late for the plenary sitting.The Plenary Assembly has a quorum if at least three-fifths (3/5) of members of the Chamber of Deputies are present. If this quorum is not reached, then the person presiding over the plenary sitting determines that the sitting cannot take place and decides the adjournment thereof.Article 26 – Principles governing the chairing of the plenary sitting
At no time shall the person presiding over the plenary sitting take sides in debates.The overarching role of the person presiding over the plenary sitting during debates is to moderate interventions, indicate the progress of debates on the item under consideration and call speakers to order.The person presiding over the plenary sitting must oppose any pressure compelling the Plenary Assembly to support or reject any opinion and any moves to prevent the Plenary Assembly from making decisions.The Deputy Speakers assist the person presiding over the plenary sitting by drawing his/her attention to any issue likely to escape his/her notice for the smooth running of the plenary sitting.The Speaker and the Deputy Speakers can in no way travel on an official mission simultaneously or take on other duties preventing them from presiding over the plenary sitting. At least two (2) members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies must be present.Article 27 – Procedure applicable by the Plenary Assembly in case of consideration of an issue concerning a member of the Bureau
When the Plenary Assembly deliberates on an issue in which either member of the Bureau has a personal stake, the member concerned returns to the seat reserved for him/her as a Deputy.When the Plenary Assembly deliberates on an issue in which the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies has a personal stake, the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs or, in his/her absence, the Deputy Speaker in charge of Finance and Administration presides over the sitting assisted by the oldest of the longest serving Deputies.In such a case, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies sits in the seat reserved for him/her as a Deputy. The same applies if the Plenary Assembly deliberates on an issue which concerns either Deputy Speaker personally.Article 28 – Procedure applicable by the Plenary Assembly in case of consideration of a private member’s bill initiated by a member of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
When the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies personally tables a private member’s bill he/she has initiated or represents a group of Deputies having initiated the bill, the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs presides over the debates. In such a case, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies takes one of the seats reserved for Deputies tabling private members’ bills.Where either Deputy Speaker tables a private member’s bill or represents a group of Deputies having initiated the bill, he/she is seated in the seats reserved for Deputies tabling private members’ bills.Article 29 – Minutes and verbatim reports of the plenary sittings
Minutes and verbatim reports are kept of the sittings of the Chamber of Deputies. Such minutes and verbatim reports are not be read in the plenary sittings.The minutes consist in a summary of the key elements of debates held and are adopted by the Plenary Assembly before publication thereof.During the plenary sitting, any Deputy who wishes to make any correction to the minutes is given the floor.The minutes of the ordinary session are adopted within fifteen (15) working days of the sitting to which they refer. When such a time limit expires when the Chamber of Deputies is not in the ordinary session, such minutes are adopted in the first week of the next ordinary session.Verbatim reports which incorporate in full all debates and interventions of each Deputy are made available within thirty (30) days of the plenary sitting to which they relate and are transmitted to Deputies.The Plenary Assembly adopts the verbatim reports of the ordinary session in the second week of the ordinary session following the sitting to which such verbatim reports relate.Minutes and verbatim reports of the extraordinary session are adopted in the last week of the next ordinary session.A Deputy who wishes to make a correction to the verbatim report submits such a correction in writing to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.When the sittings of the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies are held behind closed doors, minutes and verbatim reports relating thereto are written and kept by the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies. The Plenary Assembly decides on their publication and determines the start of the use thereof.Debates held in the plenary sitting are recorded using appropriate verbatim recording equipment and verbatim records are used to produce verbatim transcripts. Such recordings are kept in the archives.Article 30 – Plenary sitting agenda items register
The Chamber of Deputies has a register in which items to be considered in the plenary sitting are entered on a daily basis. In this same register, are equally entered resolutions taken on each item considered.The format of and entries in such a register are determined by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 31 – Signing of minutes and verbatim reports
Minutes and verbatim reports adopted by the Plenary Assembly are signed jointly by the person presiding over the sitting, the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies and the person having produced them.With the exception of verbatim reports and minutes of sittings held behind closed doors, verbatim reports and minutes are posted on the website of the Chamber of Deputies and kept in the library of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 32 – Taking the floor in the plenary sitting
Except for a Deputy requesting the floor for a motion, any Deputy who wishes to take the floor in the plenary sitting registers on the list intended for that purpose.Registration on the first list is made through a written document submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies at least five (5) hours before the plenary sitting is held. The first list is distributed to all Deputies before the start of the plenary sitting. It indicates the speaking order of Deputies, the allotted speaking time and the subject matter of the intervention of each Deputy. The maximum speaking time allotted for any speaker registered on the first list is ten (10) minutes.Registration on the second list through the electronic system used to ask for the floor or to vote is made after those tabling the draft law or private member’s bill or any other issue under consideration have replied to questions from those registered on the first list. The number and names of those registered on the second list are communicated to the Plenary Assembly before the floor is given and a speaking time of four (4) minutes maximum is allotted to each of those registered on the list.Where the Plenary Assembly must sit as a matter of urgency in order to make a resolution, registration on the first list may be done before the holding of the plenary sitting and Deputies are informed accordingly.When the Chamber of Deputies finds itself obligated to take an urgent resolution, the person presiding over the plenary sitting may, irrespective of the provisions of the preceding Paragraphs, determine the speaking time to be allotted to each speaker.Where the electronic system used to ask for the floor or to vote is not working properly at the time of registration on the second list, any Deputy asking for the floor does so by show of hands before the person presiding over the sitting starts giving the floor or by any other possible means if he/she is unable to raise his/her hand.No Deputy can take the floor without prior authorisation of the person presiding over the plenary sitting, taking due account of the number of those appearing on the list communicated.However, Ministers, State Ministers, other Cabinet members, chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the Committee having considered the issue concerned, deputies having personal interest in the issue under consideration as well as those tabling draft laws or private members’ bills and those tabling before the Plenary Assembly a report of the organs provided under the Constitution are given the floor whenever they ask for it.There may be drawn up a third list for an item which continues to spark debate after replying to the questions from Deputies appearing on the second list. Such a request is made before any vote or any resolution to be made. The speaking time allotted for those appearing on the third list does not exceed three (3) minutes.Upon the closing of debates, the person presiding over the plenary sitting points out key ideas having arisen in the debates.Article 33 – Being given the floor in the plenary sitting
A person who is given the floor while appearing on the first list speaks from the platform provided for that purpose when tabling before the Plenary Assembly questions put to a Cabinet member, proposing an amendment to the agenda or tabling a private petition presented to him/her by a citizen or a public petition. However, a member asking for the floor while appearing on the second or third list or seeking to make a motion or deciding to abstain takes the floor from their seat.Any speaker having the floor only addresses the person presiding over the plenary sitting.Article 34 – Prohibited conduct on the part of a Deputy in the plenary sitting
While in the plenary sitting, it is prohibited to use offensive or provocative language, cause disturbances, disrupt order or interrupt a speaker.Article 35 – Calling to order a Deputy digressing from the matter under discussion
If a Deputy who takes the floor departs from the subject or repeats what has already been said, the person presiding over the sitting interrupts him/her and is solely entitled to bring him/her back to the matter under discussion.If a Deputy having the floor is called to order twice but persists in digressing or repeating what has already been said, the person presiding over the sitting cuts him/her off for the entire duration of the Plenary Assembly’s debates on the matter.A speaker can in no way be interrupted except by the person presiding over the sitting when it comes to raise a point of order.Article 36 – Moving a motion
A Deputy who asks to move a motion is given a maximum speaking time of two (2) minutes with respect to an item only once to move a motion for:1°raising a point of order;2°reacting to what has been said about him/her;3°reminding that no answer has yet been given to his/her question;4°moving the closure of debates;5°moving a short suspension of the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly;6°moving the adjournment of the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly.The requests provided for under Items 4°, 5° and 6° of this Article are approved by the Plenary Assembly in accordance with the provisions of Article 96 of this Organic Law.A Deputy’s request for the floor for motion is always granted.However, no request for the floor for a motion is accepted where:1ºa Deputy having been given the speaking time is speaking;2ºthe voting has started;3ºthose abstaining have yet to state their reasons for abstaining.Article 37 – Sign used when moving a motion
When a Deputy moves a motion, he/she raises his/her open hand in horizontal position, palm facing downwards perpendicularly to the other hand open and held in vertical position or uses any other possible means.However, a Deputy may, for disability reasons or for any other reason whatsoever, move a motion by saying out loud the word “motion”.Article 38 – Proposal of amendment to the agenda of the Plenary Assembly
Any Deputy may propose an amendment to the agenda.A Deputy who wishes to have a new item or an urgent issue having a direct or indirect impact on the citizens’ lives placed on the agenda may propose an amendment to the agenda.The proposal of an amendment to the agenda is addressed in writing to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies at least five (5) hours before the plenary sitting is held. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in turn informs the Deputies thereof in writing. The decision on the merits of the new item or issue is taken by an absolute majority of Deputies present.However, in case the Plenary Assembly sits during hours other than usual hours of the sitting, the time limit for proposing an amendment to the agenda referred to under the preceding Paragraph does not apply.If, at its plenary sitting, the Plenary Assembly determines the urgency of the proposed issue, it immediately considers the issue forthwith at the same plenary sitting.If the Plenary Assembly determines that the proposal is well founded but not urgent, it defers consideration thereof for a later date.Article 39 – Closing of debates in plenary sitting
The person presiding over the plenary sitting gives an overview of debates and brings them to a close after all those having asked to speak have been given the floor.The closing of debates may also be proposed either by the person presiding over the plenary sitting when satisfied that the Plenary Assembly has sufficiently discussed the issues or by a Deputy for the same reason. Such a proposal is subject to approval by the Plenary Assembly.Section 2 – Functioning of the Conference of Chairpersons
Article 40 – Responsibilities of the Conference of Chairpersons
The Conference of Chairpersons has the following main responsibilities:1°to prepare the draft agenda for the ordinary and extraordinary session of the Plenary Assembly;2°to take all decisions relating to the smooth running of the activities of the Chamber of Deputies;3°to consider the draft revision of the Constitution;4°to consider the organic private member’s bill determining the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies;5°to consider the organic private member’s bill determining the functioning of the Senate;6°to consider any other draft law or private member’s bill or issue to be adopted by the Plenary Assembly at the request of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and upon approval by three-quarters (3/4) of members of the Conference of Chairpersons;7°to approve the draft budget proposal of the Chamber of Deputies;8°to provide guidelines during the development of the annual action plan and mid-term action plan;9°to provide opinions on the preparation of the organizational structure of the Chamber of Deputies;10°to consider and decide on a public petition presented by a citizen submitted to the Chamber of Deputies.Article 41 – Holding of the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons
The Conference of Chairpersons meets once a month and whenever necessary. It is convened and chaired by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. Its reports are transmitted to Deputies after they are adopted. At the written request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or any other Deputy, the Plenary Assembly may conduct debates on such a report.The Conference of Chairpersons can only meet in the presence of the absolute majority of its members.Decisions of the Conference of Chairpersons are taken by consensus. If not possible, the issue is tabled before the Plenary Assembly for decision.While considering a draft law or private member’s bill, the Conference of Chairpersons complies with the provisions of this Organic Law relating to the functioning of the Standing Committee when they are considering draft laws or private member’s bills.Section 3 – Functioning of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 42 – Responsibilities of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
The responsibilities of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies are the following:1°to adopt the weekly agenda of the Plenary Assembly;2°to head the activities of the Chamber of Deputies;3°to comply with and implement the decisions of the Plenary Assembly;4°to follow up the partnership between the Chamber of Deputies and other institutions;5°to resolve any urgent problems identified which may compromise the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies but which are not covered in this Organic Law;6°to prepare the draft agenda proposal for the ordinary and extraordinary session for the Conference of Chairpersons;7°to monitor closely the preparation of the organisational structure of the Chamber of Deputies and submit it to the Conference of Chairpersons for its opinion;8°to monitor closely the recruitment of competent staff members for the Chamber of Deputies and their placement;9°to monitor security issues within the building of the Chamber of Deputies;10°to monitor the functioning of Standing Committees, networks and forums operating in the Chamber of Deputies;11°to prepare the agenda of the Conference of Chairpersons;12°to approve Deputies who are members of Standing Committees in compliance with the provisions of this Organic Law;13°to follow up the activity plans and the management of the office of the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies;14°to designate Deputies to be sent on an official mission abroad;15°to perform such other duties falling within the mission of the Chamber of Deputies but which are not under the responsibility of any other service.Article 43 – Holding of the meeting of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and decision-making procedures
Meetings of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies are held once a week and whenever so required. They are subject to reports signed jointly by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies who also serves as the rapporteur of the Bureau. Reports of the meetings of the Bureau are kept in the office of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.Decisions of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies are made by consensus. If no consensus is reached, the matter is, at the request of the Speaker or either of the two Deputy Speakers, referred to the Conference of Chairpersons for decision. Should the Conference of Chairpersons fails to reach a compromise, the matter is referred to the Plenary Assembly for final decision.Article 44 – Duties of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies has the following duties:1°to monitor and coordinate activities of the organs of the Chamber of Deputies;2°to convene, preside over the meetings of the Bureau and coordinate activities of the Bureau;3°to convene and preside over the Conference of Chairpersons;4°to convene and preside over the plenary sittings;5°to monitor the implementation of the decisions of the Bureau, those of the Conference of Chairpersons and resolutions of the Plenary Assembly;6°to act as the legal representative of the Chamber of Deputies;7°to maintain parliamentary diplomacy between the Chamber of Deputies and other Parliaments;8°to chair debates in joint sittings of the two Chambers;9°to monitor closely the Cabinet meeting decisions and communicate them to Deputies;10°to inform the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of the agenda of the Plenary Assembly and that of Committees of the Chamber of Deputies;11°to submit to the Plenary Assembly the report of the Conference of Chairpersons and reports of Committees;12°to submit to the Plenary Assembly urgent decisions of the Conference of Chairpersons within seven (7) days for adoption;13°to ensure that order prevails in the plenary sitting;14°to convene Deputies to ordinary session and extraordinary session;15°to preside over the opening and closing of ordinary and extraordinary sessions;16°to announce the results of the voting on items under consideration in the plenary sitting;17°to monitor public outreach activities of the Chamber of Deputies;18°to sign travel clearance for Deputies to be sent on official mission abroad;19°to inform Deputies of any draft law or private member’s bill transmitted to the Chamber of Deputies.Article 45 – Duties of the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs
The Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs has the following duties:1°to deputize for the Speaker in case of his/her absence;2°to assist the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies;3°to deputize for the Deputy Speaker in charge of finance and administration in case of his/her absence;4°to attend the meetings of the Bureau, those of the Conference of the Chairpersons and the plenary sittings;5°to monitor closely activities relating to the consideration of laws;6°to monitor closely activities of Committees;7°to monitor closely activities relating to the oversight of the executive branch;8°to monitor closely Deputies’ activities relating to their visits to the population;9°to monitor closely public petitions submitted to the Chamber of Deputies;10°to monitor closely activities related to parliamentary diplomacy between the Chamber of Deputies and other Parliaments;11°to table draft laws or private member’s bills considered by the Conference of Chairpersons;12°to perform such other duties of the Chamber of Deputies falling within his/her responsibilities as may be assigned by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or such other duties as may be assigned by the Plenary Assembly.Article 46 – Duties of the Deputy Speaker in charge of Finance and Administration
The Deputy Speaker in charge of Finance and Administration has the following duties:1°to deputize for the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies if the latter and the Deputy Speaker whose core duties include deputizing for the Speaker are simultaneously absent;2°to assist the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies;3°to deputize for the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs in case of his/her absence;4°to participate in the meetings of the Bureau and those of the Conference of Chairpersons and the Plenary Assembly;5°to monitor closely activity plans of the Clerk and other staff members of the Chamber of Deputies and their management;6°to monitor closely activities related to the preparation of the organisational structure of the Chamber of Deputies;7°to monitor closely the preparation, execution and management of the budget of the Chamber of Deputies;8°to receive Deputies’ requests in relation to their logistical needs required for the performance of their duties;9°to draw up the list of Deputies who wish to appear on the first list of speakers in the plenary sitting;10°to draw up the list of Deputies excused from attending the plenary sitting for valid reasons;11°to draw up the list of Deputies having attended the plenary sitting and those having left the plenary sitting on known grounds;12°to perform such other duties of the Chamber of Deputies relating to his/her responsibilities as may be assigned by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or such other duties as may be assigned by the Plenary Assembly.Article 47 – Approving the termination of office of members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and related procedures
The Plenary Assembly has sole authority to approve the termination of office of the Speaker, one or both Deputy Speakers or all the members of the Bureau by an absolute majority vote of Deputies present in an extraordinary sitting of the Plenary Assembly.When the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies vacates his/her office, he/she is provisionally replaced by the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs. The latter convenes and presides over the sitting devoted to approving the termination of office of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.When both Deputy Speakers vacate their offices, the extraordinary sitting of the Plenary Assembly devoted to approving such vacation of office is convened and presided over by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies assisted by the eldest Deputy among the longest serving members of the Chamber of Deputies.When one of the Deputy Speakers vacates his/her office, the extraordinary sitting of the Plenary Assembly devoted to approving such vacation of office is convened and presided over by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.Where both the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and one Deputy Speaker vacate their offices, the extraordinary sitting of the Plenary Assembly devoted to approving such vacation of office is convened and presided over by the remaining Deputy Speaker assisted by the eldest Deputy among the longest serving members of the Chamber of Deputies.The remaining member of the Bureau conducts the day-to-day business of the Chamber of Deputies with the exception of that of presiding over the Plenary Assembly. In case of public interest purposes, however, the Conference of Chairpersons may authorise the remaining Deputy Speaker to perform other urgent tasks including the submission of adopted laws to other organs.When the offices of the entire Bureau are vacated, the extraordinary sitting devoted to approving such vacation of offices is convened and presided over by the longest serving member of the Chamber of Deputies assisted by the youngest Deputy at the request of at least a third (1/3) of members of the Chamber of Deputies.Such a Deputy who is the oldest of those having served the longest time in office as Deputies conducts the day-to-day business of the Chamber of Deputies with the exception of that of presiding over the Plenary Assembly.In case of public interests, however, the Conference of Chairpersons may authorise the oldest of those having served the longest time in office as Deputies to perform other urgent tasks including the submission of adopted laws to other organs.The person having presided over the sittings referred to under this Article notifies in writing the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate and the President of the Supreme Court thereof within twenty four (24) hours.Article 48 – Convening of the sitting devoted to replacing a member of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies
A plenary sitting devoted to replacing one or all of the members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies is convened and presided over by the President of the Republic who also supervises such an election within thirty (30) days from the day of the adoption by the Plenary Assembly of vacation of such offices.The person elected to replace a member leaving his/her office as a member of the Bureau serves for the remainder of his/her predecessor’s term.Section 4 – Functioning of Committees
Article 49 – Procedure for determining members of Standing Committees
Members of Standing Committees of the Chamber of Deputies are determined as follows:1°every Deputy registers in one Committee;2°the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies checks how Deputies have registered and approves members of the Committee on the basis of the following criteria:a.the preference of each Deputy;b.the number of members of each Committee;c.the responsibilities of the Standing Committee;d.the experience in the Committee;e.gender aspect;f.the need to ensure the representation of each political organisation or every group having representation in the Chamber of Deputies in the Committee, if possible.After expiry of their term of two and a half (2.5) years, Deputies once again register in Standing Committees as provided for under Paragraph One of this Article.Article 50 – Bureau of the Standing Committee
Each Standing Committee consists of a Bureau composed of a chairperson and a deputy chairperson.The chairperson of the Standing Committee acts as its spokesperson and in case of his/her absence, the Deputy Chairperson acts as a spokesperson. When members of the Standing Committee work in groups, the head of the group acts as a spokesperson.The deputy chairperson of the Standing Committee makes follow-up on the work in Committee and how reports transmitted to the Plenary Assembly are finalized.Article 51 – Election of members of the bureau of the Standing Committee
The chairperson and the deputy chairperson of each Standing Committee are elected by the Plenary Assembly by an absolute majority vote of Deputies present.Members of each Standing Committee wishing to be elected apply in writing to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and inform other Deputies. The person presiding over the plenary sitting announces the list of candidates to the Plenary Assembly during the sitting devoted to the elections.Before elections are held, every candidate of the Bureau of the Committee is given three (3) minutes for introducing him/herself to members of the Plenary Assembly.The chairperson and the deputy chairperson of every Standing Committee are elected separately.When no candidate obtains the required votes, the voting is retaken once on that same day. When the voting is retaken and no candidate obtains the required votes, the post is subject to new candidacies and the vote is held within two (2) working days of the deferral of the election.In case of a tie, the voting is retaken once. When no candidate obtains the required votes after the voting is retaken, the post is once again subject to new candidacies.Article 52 – Heading the Standing Committee
The Standing Committee is headed by its chairperson assisted by its deputy chairperson.In the absence of a member of the Bureau, another member of the Bureau preside over the meeting assisted by the youngest Deputy.In case of impediment of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson such that they cannot preside over the Standing Committee or have definitely left office and have yet to be replaced, the Standing Committee is headed by the oldest Deputy among the members of the Standing Committee having served the longest time in office as Deputies assisted by the youngest Deputy.Article 53 – Term of office for members of the Bureau of the Standing Committee
Members of the Bureau of the Standing Committee serve for a term of office of two and a half (21/2) years. After the expiry of such a term of office, they can stand for election to that post again.Article 54 – Modalities for the replacement of members of the bureau of the Standing Committee
One or all members of the bureau of the Standing Committee may be replaced at the request of at least a half (1/2) of the Committee members or upon resignation from the bureau of the Standing Committee.Within seven (7) days, the meeting devoted to considering that issue is convened by the chairperson or the deputy chairperson of the Committee depending on the person to be replaced. However, in case of replacement of the entire Bureau, the meeting is convened and presided over by one of the members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies.When the meeting is not convened following that procedure, it is convened and presided over by the oldest Deputy having served the longest time in office as a deputy among those having addressed the request.Upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) of its members, the Standing Committee submits such a proposal to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies which, in turn, submits it to the Plenary Assembly. The decision is made by an absolute majority vote of Deputies present at the sitting.The replacement of one or all members of the bureau of the Standing Committee is done within fifteen (15) days of the Plenary Assembly’s making of such a decision in accordance with the provisions of Article 53 of this Organic Law.Subsection One – Standing Committees
Article 55 – Establishment of Standing Committees
Nine (9) Standing Committees are hereby established to be named as follows:1°the Committee on Political Affairs and Gender;2°the Committee on Economy and Trade;3°the Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth;4°the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security;5°the Committee on Social Affairs;6°the Committee on National Unity, Human Rights and Fight against Genocide;7°the Committee on Budget and National Patrimony;8°the Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock and Environment;9°the Public Accounts Committee.Article 56 – Responsibilities of the Standing Committees
In terms of consideration of draft laws or private member’s bills and implementation of means of obtaining information in relation to and conducting oversight of government action, the responsibilities of the Committees are as follows:1°the Committee on Political Affairs and Gender is responsible for issues relating to:a)State administration and relations between public institutions;b)justice;c)media;d)national non-governmental organisations, international non-governmental organisations and faith-based organisations;e)civil status;f)gender promotion;g)promotion of women and family, relations between family members and their responsibilities, conjugal property and obligations of spouses;h)follow-up on the harmonisation of Rwandan laws with international instruments on women’s promotion ratified by Rwanda;i)fight against corruption and other related offences;j)consideration of the report of the Office of Ombudsman and preparation of draft recommendations to the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the tabling of such a report before the Plenary Assembly;k)consideration of the report of the Rwanda Governance Board and preparation of draft recommendations to the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the tabling of such a report before the Plenary Assembly;l)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;m)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.2°the Committee on Economy and Trade is responsible for issues relating to:a)privatization;b)investment;c)industries;d)associations and business enterprises, banks, payment systems, microfinance institutions and cooperatives;e)infrastructure, energy, water, transportation of persons and goods, posts and communications;f)tourism and hospitality;g)services;h)mines and quarries;i)consideration of the annual activity report of the National Bank of Rwanda including its annual financial statement and preparation of draft resolutions for the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the tabling of such a report before the Plenary Assembly;j)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;k)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.3°the Committee on Education, Technology, Culture and Youth is responsible for issues relating to:a)education, including:i.instruction at the formal education level;ii.technical and vocational education;iii.adult education.b)technology;c)research;d)youth;e)sports and entertainment;f)follow-up on the organisation and promotion of creativity, arts, literature and culture;g)libraries and archives;h)follow-up on the promotion of the reading and writing culture;i)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;j)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.4°the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security is responsible for issues relating to:a)foreign affairs;b)parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation with other Parliaments;c)recommendations contained in reports of Deputies having been sent on official missions abroad tabled before the Plenary Assembly;d)the organisation of state protocol in general;e)follow-up on Rwandan diaspora;f)consideration of reports of Parliaments and international organizations of which Rwanda is a member;g)consideration of reports on the African Peer Review Mechanism;h)security and territorial integrity;i)cooperation in military and police matters;j)declaration and cessation of hostilities;k)organisation of intelligence and security services;l)immigration and emigration;m)disasters;n)refugee issues;o)military, police and other members of security and intelligence services;p)peace-keeping operations abroad;q)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;r)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.5°the Committee on Social Affairs is responsible for issues relating to:a)welfare, growth, hygiene and health of the population;b)welfare of children, orphans, widows, the disabled, elderly people and other vulnerable groups;c)health facilities;d)AIDS and other epidemic diseases;e)social security and community-based health insurance;f)employees and labour matters;g)violence, vagrancy and begging issues;h)consideration of the report of the Public Service Commission and preparation of draft recommendations for the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the tabling of such a report before the Plenary Assembly;i)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;j)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.6°the Committee on Unity, Human Rights and Fight against Genocide is responsible for issues relating to:a)national unity and reconciliation and human rights;b)the follow-up on activities related to the remembrance of the genocide against the Tutsi;c)the prevention and fight against the ideology of genocide, minimization and denial of genocide and all their manifestations;d)the follow-up on the effects of the genocide against the Tutsi and search for solutions;e)the fight against discrimination in the form of speeches, writings, acts and in any other forms;f)the follow-up on the maintenance of genocide memorial sites and preservation of evidence of the genocide against the Tutsi which are in Rwanda and abroad;g)all issues related to the harmonization of Rwandan laws and international instruments on human rights ratified by Rwanda, with the exception of those falling under the responsibilities of other Committees;h)human rights organisations;i)all issues related to the functioning of the State public services whose responsibilities relate to the respect for human rights;j)consideration of the report of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide and that of the National Commission for Human Rights and preparation of draft recommendations for the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the tabling of such reports before the Plenary Assembly;k)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;l)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.7°the Committee on National Budget and Patrimony is responsible for issues relating to:a)consideration of the draft State budget;b)follow-up on the implementation of the national economic development and poverty reduction strategy;c)follow-up on the implementation of the tax policy and related laws and on their application;d)follow-up on the domestic monetary policy;e)follow-up on national debt policy;f)follow-up on census and national planning;g)follow-up on the mainstreaming of gender policy into State budget;h)follow-up on the budget execution level for the fiscal year in progress;i)follow-up on the integration of the regional and global strategies accepted by Rwanda into the national strategic plan;j)consideration of the draft budget of Parliament;k)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;l)follow-up on the implementation of laws relating to its responsibilities.8°the Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment is responsible for issues relating to:a)agriculture;b)livestock;c)forestry and environment;d)land, habitat and community development;e)research and technology in agriculture and livestock;f)climate change and related effects;g)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;h)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.9°the Public Accounts Committee is responsible for issues relating to:a)analysis of the report of the Auditor General of State Finance with respect to the use of State finance and property for the preceding year and preparation of draft recommendations for the Plenary Assembly within six (6) months of the submission of such a report to the Plenary Assembly;b)follow-up on the implementation of recommendations adopted by the Plenary Assembly during the analysis of the report of the Auditor General of State Finance;c)consideration, analysis and tabling of the report on general accounts of institutions which use national budget and property;d)produce a report on the use of national budget;e)consideration, analysis and tabling of a report to Plenary sitting of report on accounts of institution which use national budget an patrimony;f)performance of other duties related to the use of State finance and property within public institutions and government projects;g)follow-up on loan and grant agreements falling within its responsibilities concluded between Rwanda and foreign countries or international organisations;h)follow-up on the application of laws relating to its responsibilities.Subsection 2 – Ad hoc Committee
Article 57 – Establishment of Ad hoc Committee
At the request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or at least five (5) Deputies and with the approval of the Plenary Assembly, the Chamber of Deputies may establish an Ad hoc Committee.An Ad hoc Committee is tasked with gathering information and investigate explanations on special issues.Article 58 – Election of members of Ad hoc Committee
Candidates for membership of the Ad hoc Committee are proposed by the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies but approved by the Plenary Assembly by consensus or failing which, by an absolute majority of members present. The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies proposes from among those approved members of the Committee members of its bureau comprised of a chairperson and a deputy chairperson for them to be approved separately by the Plenary Assembly by consensus or failing which, by an absolute majority of members present.When the Plenary Assembly does not approve one or more of the candidates, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies proposes other candidates to be approved in the next plenary sitting.Article 59 – Functioning of Ad hoc Committee
When the Plenary Assembly establishes an Ad hoc Committee, it determines its responsibilities and the time limit for the submission of a report on issues it is required to investigate. Such a time limit may be extended at the request of the Ad hoc Committee after approval by the Plenary Assembly.The Ad hoc Committee may summon any person whom it considers useful to hear to have access to information relating to the duties assigned to it. The Ad hoc Committee may carry out video and audio recording or be given a copy of any document required for analysis.The Ad hoc Committee is given resources it needs to collect information around the country or abroad, if necessary.Article 60 – End of the mandate of Ad hoc Committee
The mandate of an Ad hoc Committee comes to an end after tabling a report of its findings and such findings are subject to a resolution of the Plenary Assembly.Subsection 3 – Common provisions to all Committees
Article 61 – Working hours for the Committee
The Committee’s work starts at nine (9:00) a.m. and concludes at twelve (12:00) p.m.The starting or ending time of the work of the Committee may change at the Committee chairperson’s request after approval thereof by consensus or failing which, by an absolute majority vote of the Committee members present.Article 62 – Convening and agenda of Committee meetings
Committee meetings are convened in writing by the chairperson of the Committee or, in case of his/her absence, by the deputy chairperson and communicated to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and all Deputies. The Committee meeting notice indicates the agenda, date, time and place of the meeting.With no voting right, any interested Deputy may attend meetings of the Committee of which he/ she is not a member.If necessary, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies may convene a meeting of the Committee and set its agenda.The agenda of the Committee meetings is set by the bureau of the Committee and submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who in turn informs the Prime Minister thereof.Article 63 – Procedure for the participation of Cabinet’s representatives during the consideration of draft laws in the Committee
The tabling of a draft law before the Committee is the responsibility of a Cabinet member. In case of his/her absence, he/she is represented by another person vested with decision-making powers.When the Prime Minister or other Cabinet members are attending a meeting of the Committee, they are given the floor at any time they ask to speak. They may be accompanied by experts of their choice. Such experts are given the floor in the Committee if they ask to speak.Article 64 – Invitation to the Committee
A Committee of the Chamber of Deputies through the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies may invite any person whom it considers it relevant to hear to come and provide it with clarifications regarding items on its agenda.Article 65 – Procedure for summoning Cabinet members and other persons before the Committee for matters other than draft laws or private member’s bills
The Prime Minister, Ministers, State Ministers or other Cabinet members may be summoned before the Committee at the request of its chairperson or deputy chairperson through the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.When the Committee wishes to summon a Cabinet member for matters other than draft laws, it submits to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies a document detailing items on which it wants him/her to provide clarifications. Such a document is submitted to the Prime Minister at least seven (7) days before the appearance of the invited person before the Committee. However, where cases of urgency so require, the time limit referred to in this Paragraph may not apply.If those to be summoned are not Cabinet members, the invitation is addressed to them in writing by the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies at the request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 66 – Quorum required for the start of the Committee’s work
The Committee’s work can only start in the presence of at least an absolute majority of its members.Article 67 – List of participants in the Committee meeting
Before the start of the Committee meeting, Deputies present sign on a list provided for such purpose.Such a list indicates members of the Committee having attended the meeting, those having not attended for valid reasons, those having not attended without valid reasons and Deputies who are not members of the Committee having attended the meeting.Also, a list of Cabinet representatives, persons accompanying them and other persons in attendance during the work of the Committee is made available.Article 68 – Principle of opening Committee meetings to the public
Committee meetings are open to the public but those attending them as observers are not given the floor. However, the Committee may organise special sessions on a draft law or private member’s bill or a particular issue in which members of the public and journalists may be given the floor.During such sessions, the Committee announces, among other things, the procedure for taking the floor, the speaking time for those given the floor and the order in which they are given the floor.However, where necessary and with the approval of at least two-thirds (2/3) of members of the Committee attending the meeting, the speaking time may be set.Where necessary and at the request of the bureau of the Committee or of a member of the Committee and after approval by half (1/2) of the members of the Committee present, the meeting of the Committee may be held behind closed doors.Article 69 – Venue for Committee meetings
Committee’ meetings take place in the Building of the Chamber of Deputies.Each Committee has its own meeting room and an office for its bureau and necessary equipment.The Committee also has support staff.If necessary, for reasons of public interest and where cases of urgency so require, after consultation between the bureau of the Committee and the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Committee may meet in a location other than the Building of the Chamber of Deputies. In that case, the provisions of this Organic Law regarding the functioning of the Committee apply.Article 70 – Quorum for the deliberations of the Committee
Decisions of the Committee are taken by consensus or, failing which, by an absolute majority of Deputies present who are members of the Committee.Article 71 – Subcommittee
The Committee may establish a subcommittee and determine its membership and responsibilities. Such a subcommittee submits its report to the Committee having established it.The bureau of the Committee may request the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies that members of the subcommittee be sent on mission within the country or abroad.Article 72 – Consideration of reports prepared by commissions and specialized organs provided for by the Constitution
During the consideration by the Standing Committees of the report of the commissions or specialized organs provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, they do so as in a hearing before the Committee.The analysis report of the Standing Committee is tabled before the Plenary Assembly for resolution.Article 73 – Committee report
The Standing Committee submits to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies a detailed report on the debates and reasoned conclusions contained therein. A copy of such a report is given to the Deputy Speakers of the Chamber of Deputies as well as to the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk.Except in case one of the members of the bureau of the Committee has an impediment, the bureau of the Committee submits a report bearing the signatures of members of its bureau and of the rapporteur. Such a report includes the names of Deputies members of the Committee having attended the meeting, those having not attended for valid reasons, those having not attended without valid reasons, Deputies having attended without being members of the Committee and other persons having attended. When tabling of such report before the Plenary Assembly, the bureau of the Committee makes a brief presentation thereof.Article 74 – Functioning of the Standing Committees and of a Deputy during the consideration of the State budget
All Deputies participate in the debates during the consideration of the State budget.However, in case of urgently required activities in connection with the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies decides thereon.When considering the State budget, from the date of receipt by the Plenary Assembly of the Medium Term Budget Framework Paper and the Finance Bill, each Standing Committee prepares a paper indicating elements to be taken into consideration in the budget allocation to the organs falling within the scope of its responsibilities. Such a document is submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who in turn submits it to the bureau of the Committee on Budget and National Patrimony.Each Committee of the Chamber of Deputies is given the opportunity to explain to the Committee on Budget and National Patrimony the content of such a paper before other Deputies attending the meeting are given the opportunity to ask questions and give their opinions if they so wish.Article 75 – Archiving of the records and other files of the Committee
Committees carry out the archiving of records and files of their meetings and any other work. A file is open for every draft law or private member’s bill that is considered, and such a file gives an account of anything that has been done in respect thereof in such a manner that any person interested in consulting it may easily access it. This also applies to any other issue considered by the Committee.Section 5 – Functioning of the Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity
Article 76 – Election of members of the Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity
If possible, members of the Committee are elected in consideration of various political organizations and categories having representation in the Chamber of Deputies. The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies transmits to the Plenary Assembly names of Deputies it has nominated for approval and such Deputies serve for a term of two and a half (21/2) years renewable. However, the chairperson and the deputy chairperson are elected separately by the Plenary Sitting by an absolute majority of votes of Deputies present.Deputies serving on the Committee are also allowed to be members of other Standing Committees but in case of its meeting is held concurrently with that of the Standing Committee, such members attend the meeting of the Committee.More than two (2) Deputies from the same Standing Committee cannot be members of the Committee.Article 77 – Responsibilities of the Committee
The Committee has the main following responsibilities:1ºto carry out the assessment of the activities of the Chamber of Deputies, those of the Bureau, the Conference of Chairpersons, Standing Committees and those of the Plenary Assembly in accordance with the provisions of this Organic Law and provide advice as to what should be done to improve the functioning;2ºto make follow-up on the discipline and conduct of Deputies inside or outside of the Parliament building and provide them with advice accordingly;3ºto consider issues relating to the conduct and discipline of Deputies;4ºto ensure respect for Deputies’ immunity and make follow-up thereon;5ºto make follow-up on and provide opinion with respect to allowances allocated to Deputies;6ºto provide advice on the functioning of the organs of the Chamber of Deputies;7ºto ensure proper respect for laws governing the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 78 – Functioning of the Committee
The Committee discharges its functions in compliance with the provisions of this Organic Law which relate to the functioning of Standing Committees.The Committee considers issues of discipline and conduct of and relations among Deputies at the written request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. However, if the issue concerns members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Committee may consider it on its own motion.Also, the Committee has the power to hear any person who can provide it with information on an issue under consideration and does so in accordance with law.Deputies who are members to the Committee are bound by the duty of secrecy.Article 79 – Consideration of an issue concerning a Deputy in the Committee
When the Committee is considering an issue concerning a Deputy, it summons him/her to provide explanations which are subsequently documented in writing before taking a decision.When the Committee considers an issue concerning one of its members, it summons him/her to provide explanations which are subsequently documented in writing. However, the person concerned is instructed to withdraw when it comes to making a decision.The bureau of the Committee may invite a Deputy and provide him/her with oral advice as to the changes that would be appropriate for him/her to amend his/her conduct or discipline.Article 80 – Holding of the Committee meetings
The Committee hold its meetings once a month and whenever necessary. The meeting is convened and presided over by the chairperson or the deputy chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. The meeting may also be convened by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies on his/her own initiative or at the request of one-third (1/3) of members of the Committee or one fifth (1/5) of all Deputies.During the meeting of the Committee, a Deputy member of the Committee does not participate in the meeting of his/her Standing Committee.The Committee submits its report to the Plenary Assembly for decision.Article 81 – Independence of and decision-making by the Committee
The Committee is independent and no person gives injunctions to the Committee.Decisions of the Committee are taken by consensus. Failing a consensus, a vote is held.Article 82 – Participation of members of the Bureau of the Committee in the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons
The Bureau of the Committee attends the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons. Members of the Committee participating in the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons sign the list provided for that purpose.Members of the Bureau of the Committee participating in the meeting of the Conference of Chairpersons are allowed to take the floor but without voting rights.Article 83 – Allowances for members of the Bureau of the Committee
Members of the Bureau of the Committee receive the same allowances as those granted to members of the bureaus of Standing Committees.Section 6 – Functioning of the Office of the Clerk
Article 84 – Appointment of the Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies
The Clerk and the Deputy Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies are appointed by a Presidential Order.Article 85 – Organisational structure of the Chamber of Deputies
The organisational structure of the Chamber of Deputies comprises the Office of the Clerk and other departments necessary for the smooth functioning of the Chamber of Deputies. All the departments are placed under the Clerk’s hierarchical authority and supervised by the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies.The organizational structure of the Chamber of Deputies is established by a Presidential Order upon proposal by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies after obtaining the opinion of the Conference of Chairpersons.The salary and fringe benefits granted to the staff of the Chamber of Deputies are determined by a Presidential Order.Article 86 – Duties of the Clerk
The Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies has the following duties:1°to coordinate and head the work of technical nature;2°to attend and act as a rapporteur of the meetings of the Bureau and the Conference of Chairpersons;3°to serve as the custodian of the records of the Chamber of Deputies;4°to advise the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies on matters relating to the Law on the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies;5°to make follow-up on the preparation of all documents related to the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly;6°to attend proceedings of the Plenary Assembly;7°to prepare a monthly summary of activities of the Plenary Assembly as well as quarterly and annual activity report of the Chamber of Deputies for submission thereof to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies;8°to serve as the Chief Budget Manager of the Chamber of Deputies and that of forums and networks which are under the Chamber of Deputies;9°to develop the planning and prepare the draft budget proposal of the Chamber of Deputies;10°to prepare the draft proposal of the organisational structure and organization chart of the Chamber of Deputies;11°to make necessary arrangements for Deputies who travel on official mission inside the country and abroad;12°to make necessary arrangements for and make follow-up on elections in the plenary sitting;13°to sign the travel document for Deputies on official mission inside the country;14°to serve as the custodian of the records of the Chamber of Deputies when Deputies complete their term of Office or the Chamber of Deputies is dissolved and hand them over to the incoming Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies;15°to perform such other duties relevant to the mission of the Chamber of Deputies and related to his/her responsibilities as may be assigned by the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 87 – Duties of the Deputy Clerk
The Deputy Clerk has the following duties:1°deputize for the Clerk in his/her absence;2°advise the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies on matters relating to law;3°make follow-up on and carry out technical coordination of all activities in connection with legislative drafting;4°make follow-up on and coordinate all work in connection with legal advices on draft laws or private member’s bills before their transmission to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and Committee bureaus;5°ensure that the Ikinyarwanda version of draft laws or private member’s bills adopted by the Committee and the Plenary Assembly is accurately translated into other official languages;6°make follow-up to ensure that Orders provided by published laws are established and that they are in the line of the provisions of such laws;7°ensure that the law published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda conforms to the version transmitted for publication;8°perform such other duties in relation to his/her responsibilities as may be assigned to him/her by the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies or the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies.Section 7 – Networks or forums of Deputies
Article 88 – Establishment of a network or a forum
Deputies may establish a special network or forum in connection with their mission.Every Deputy has the right to join or not join one or more networks or forums.Article 89 – Requesting for the establishment of a network or forum
A Deputy or a group of Deputies having introduced the initiative to set up a network or forum is given the opportunity to give explanations in connection with such a network or forum.The letter requesting for authorization to establish a network or a forum of Deputies as well as a memorandum setting out its objectives and programme are submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who in turn transmits them to Deputies, after which they are placed on the agenda of the Plenary Assembly.The network or forum of Deputies establishes statutes that govern it.Article 90 – Approval of a network or forum
The Plenary Assembly may approve the establishment of a network or forum at the request of a Deputy or a group of Deputies.The decision to establish a network or forum which also indicates its representatives is signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.The functioning and relations of the networks or forums with the Chamber of Deputies must be specified in the statutes of every network or forum.Article 91 – Action plan and activity report of a network or forum of Deputies
Every quarter and whenever necessary, a network or forum of Deputies submits its action plan and its activity report to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who in turn transmits them to Deputies.At the written request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or any other Deputy, the Plenary Assembly conducts debates on such a report.The Chamber of Deputies puts at the disposal of a network or forum of Deputies resources necessary for fulfilling its mission.Every network or forum produces an annual financial report and submits it to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. Such a report clearly indicates the source of its resources and their use.Article 92 – Follow-up of the functioning of a network or forum in the Chamber of Deputies and its dissolution
The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies makes follow-up on the functioning of the Deputies’ network or forum.At the request of a third (1/3) of members of the network or forum, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, one or several Deputies nonmembers of the network or forum, the Plenary Assembly may suspend or dissolve a network or forum of Deputies if it acts contrary to the mission and functioning of the Chamber of Deputies.Chapter IV
Sessions of the Chamber of Deputies, Adoption of Resolutions and Immunity of a Deputy
Section One – Sessions
Subsection One – Ordinary sessions
Article 93 – Ordinary sessions of the Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies sits in three (3) ordinary sessions, each session lasting for two (2) months:1°the first session which commences on October 5th;2°the second session which commences on February 5th;3°the third session which commences on June 5th and the State finance bill is voted in this session.When the first or last day of the session is not a working day, the opening or closure of the session is adjourned to the following day or to the first following working day.In the first sitting of the Plenary Assembly of the ordinary session, the Chamber of Deputies approves the agenda of the whole session. The items on the agenda are communicated to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and Deputies. Also, they are communicated to the public through different ways such as media including national radio and television and the website of the Chamber of Deputies.At the beginning of each ordinary session, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits to the Deputies the activity report of the Chamber of Deputies for the preceding session.At the written request of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or any other Deputy, the Plenary Assembly conducts debates on such a report.Article 94 – Convening of Deputies in ordinary session
Deputies are convened in ordinary session by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies fifteen (15) days before the meeting of the Plenary Assembly. They are convened by a written notice indicating items on the agenda and through an announcement on the national radio and television and website of the Chamber of Deputies. A copy of such a written notice is sent to the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate and the Prime Minister.Subsection 2 – Extraordinary sessions of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 95 – Persons entitled to convene an extraordinary session
The Chamber of Deputies holds an extraordinary session after it is convened by its Speaker, after consultation with other members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies or at the request of either the President of the Republic on the Government’s proposal or that of a quarter (1/4) of the members of the Chamber of Deputies.The extraordinary session deals exclusively with issues for which it has been convened and which have previously been brought to the notice of members of the Chamber of Deputies or the entire Parliament before commencement of the session.The session comes to a close upon conclusion by the Chamber of Deputies or the Parliament of consideration of items on the agenda for which the session was convened. An extraordinary session cannot exceed fifteen (15) days.Article 96 – Convening and agenda of the extraordinary session
Deputies are convened in an extraordinary session by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies by use of any quickest and most accessible means.The convening notice includes clearly stated items on the agenda.The convening notice is communicated to the public through national radio and television, if possible, and the website of the Chamber of Deputies.Before starting any debates, the Plenary Assembly considers grounds having led to the convening of the extraordinary session and then approves items on the agenda.Section 2 – Way of expressing decisions
Article 97 – Voting
The Chamber of Deputies expresses its decisions by way of vote.Before the voting is conducted, the person presiding over the plenary sitting communicates the number of Deputies present considering those having signed the list referred to in Article 25 of this Organic Law.Voting is conducted using one of the following methods:1ºconsensus;2ºelectronic vote;3ºshow of hands;4ºroll-call voting;5ºsecret written ballot.When the Chamber of Deputies is considering items other than laws, consensus is the method applicable.When it is rejected, other means referred to in this Article are used.The secret written ballot is held in case the Plenary Assembly must make decisions concerning individuals or at the request of a fifth (1/5) of Deputies present.The voting on the provisions of a law is conducted electronically or by show of hands.The voting on the entire law is conducted through roll-call voting in a loud voice.A Deputy has the right to vote according to his/her personal conscience.Article 98 – Roll-call voting
In case of roll-call voting, the Deputy Speaker in charge of Parliamentary Affairs calls Deputies by their names in an alphabetical order.With the roll-call voting, everyone is called by his/her name in a loud voice and he/she responds with a “yes” or a “no” in a loud voice.A Deputy who says neither “yes” nor “no” expresses his/her position using the word “abstain”.The vote of a Deputy who does not express his/her opinion despite attending the sitting is considered void.Article 99 – Retaking the voting in the Plenary Assembly
Immediately after the announcement of the results of the voting, at the request of at least three (3) Deputies, the voting is retaken after having given the floor to the Deputies having abstained.When the voting is retaken but does not resolve the problem as a result of dissatisfaction of Deputies having asked for it over the conduct of the voting, the voting is conducted by use of roll-call voting.If an Article does not obtain the required votes, it is rejected. However, after failing to obtain the required votes, a Deputy, the Committee having considered the draft law or private member’s bill or the person having tabled it may, through the person presiding over the plenary sitting, request that the Article be sent back to the Committee after approval by the Plenary Assembly.If, in case of voting on the whole draft law or private member’s bill, the draft law or private member’s bill does not obtain the required majority votes, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies returns it to its initiator.After the vote, issues or proposals other than laws that do not obtain the required majority votes are returned to their initiator. However, if it is a report on the petitions of the population which is not accepted by the Plenary Assembly, such a report is returned to the Committee having considered the petitions for correction based on the proposals put forward by the Plenary Assembly. Such a report is re-tabled before the Plenary Assembly for resolution.Article 100 – Vote concerning an individual Deputy
When the vote concerns an individual Deputy, candidates introduce themselves to Deputies. The person presiding over the plenary sitting is solely competent to determine the speaking time to be allocated to each candidate for running his/her own campaign.If it appears that the voting has been conducted in an illegal manner, it is retaken.If the required majority is not obtained again after the second round, the candidates are returned to those having nominated them.If none of the candidates obtains the required majority after the voting, the voting is retaken. If the voting concerns a decision on a Deputy, the latter is given the floor before anyone else to be heard before the voting is held if he/she so requests.Article 101 – Ballot paper and contents thereof
When voting is by written ballot, the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies assisted by staff members of the Chamber of Deputies gives to every Deputy present a ballot paper bearing the stamp of the Chamber of Deputies and his/her the signature.When voting requires the participation of both Chambers of Parliament, each ballot bears the stamp of each Chamber and the signature of the Clerk to each Chamber.After casting his/her vote, every Deputy folds his/her ballot paper and deposits it in a ballot box.The counting of ballot papers is immediately conducted before Deputies by a representative of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies assisted by two (2) Deputies appointed by the person presiding over the plenary sitting.Blank ballot papers, any ballot bearing a sign or any other mention other than those provided for in Paragraph One of this Article as well as all ballot papers on which elements other than those put to the vote are written are void.Article 102 – Counting of votes
The counting of votes is carried out by two (2) Deputies provided for in Article 101 of this Organic Law, assisted by a staff member of the Chamber of Deputies and under the supervision of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies.The person presiding over the sitting announces the results of the voting to the Plenary Assembly.Article 103 – Mode of destruction of ballot papers
When the voting by written ballot comes to an end, ballot papers having been used in voting are destroyed before the Plenary Assembly using an appropriate device or by any other means making it possible to ensure the secrecy of the vote casted by a Deputy.Article 104 – Abstain
Always after the voting, be it by a show of hands or any other means when a show of hands is not possible, electronic vote or roll-call vote, the person presiding over the plenary sitting gives abstaining Deputies, if they so request, the opportunity to state their reasons for abstaining using a maximum speaking time of two (2) minutes. No debate is permitted on such reasons.Article 105 – Vote of a Deputy during the voting
When voting is by any of the methods referred to in Article 97 of this Organic Law, each Deputy has only one vote.Voting by proxy is not allowed.Article 106 – Decision-making procedures
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 97 of this Organic Law, resolutions of the Chamber of Deputies are taken by an absolute majority vote of Deputies present unless otherwise stipulated by law.Decision-making by consensus in case of draft laws or private member’s bills is prohibited. For matters other than legislation, the person presiding over the plenary sitting asks the Plenary Assembly if there is any Deputy who objects to the conclusion he/she suggests or to the one suggested by another Deputy. If no Deputy raises an objection, then the conclusion is considered to be adopted by consensus. If a Deputy raises an objection, a vote is taken using methods provided under Article 97 of this Organic Law.Section 3 – Conduct and immunity of a Deputy
Subsection One – Conduct of a Deputy
Article 107 – Conduct of a Deputy in the plenary sitting
During the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly, a Deputy exhibits good conduct, good discipline and integrity while refraining from using offensive or provocative language, causing disturbances, disrupting order or interrupting a speaker.Article 108 – Measures taken against a Deputy disrupting order in the plenary sitting
If a Deputy uses offensive, provocative language, causes disturbances, disrupts order or interrupts a speaker in the plenary sitting, the person presiding over the plenary sitting calls him/her to order by name. In case he/she repeats such actions, the person presiding over the plenary sitting gives him/her a warning and causes a special verbatim report to that effect to be drawn up.If such a Deputy persists in such actions, the person presiding over the plenary sitting requests the Plenary Assembly to decide to temporarily expel him/her from the seats reserved for Deputies and such a Deputy is reprimanded in writing.A Deputy who is temporarily expelled from the plenary sitting is prohibited from taking part in the proceedings of that day’s plenary sitting.Article 109 – Suspension of the plenary sitting as a result of conduct contrary to that required in the plenary sitting
If a Deputy having been expelled from the plenary sitting as a result of conduct contrary to that required in the plenary sitting does not comply with the order to leave the seats reserved for Deputies, the person presiding over the plenary sitting suspends or adjourns it. In that case, such a Deputy is automatically prohibited from attending the next five (5) consecutive sittings.Article 110 – Forgiveness to a temporarily expelled Deputy
A Deputy having been temporarily expelled may ask to be relieved therefrom by making a written statement of apology addressed to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits such written statement to Deputies for the Plenary Assembly to decide thereon.Article 111 – Measures against Deputies with misconduct and discipline contrary to integrity
Any Deputy displaying the conduct and discipline contrary to integrity, whether or not it is in the course of his/her duties as a member of the Chamber of Deputies, may be subject to any of the following disciplinary measures to be taken by the Plenary Assembly:1°a call to order;2°a warning recorded in the verbatim report;3°automatic expulsion from the next five (5) consecutive sittings of the Chamber of Deputies.Article 112 – Resumption of plenary sitting proceedings after restoration of order
When the order is restored, the person presiding over the plenary sitting resumes the proceedings.Article 113 – Expulsion of a Deputy from the Chamber of Deputies
A Deputy is expulsed from the Chamber of Deputies when he/she has been finally convicted by the competent court of felony, crime of genocide, crime of genocide ideology or finally sentenced by a competent court to imprisonment for a term equal to or more than six (6) months for any other offense.At the request of the Committee in charge of Assessment of the Chamber of Deputies Activities, Deputies’ Conduct, Discipline and Immunity and after approval by three-fifths (3/5) of members of the Chamber of Deputies, the Plenary Assembly may approve the termination of office of a Deputy found responsible for one or more of the following acts of misconduct:1°to fail to attend three (3) sittings of the Plenary Assembly or the Committee or be absent from his/her duties as Deputy for five (5) times in a session without reasonable grounds;2°to come to blows in the Parliament building;3°to enter the Parliament building while drunk;4°to introduce alcoholic substances into meeting room;5°to exhibit unworthy and dishonourable behaviour for him/herself or his/her office;6°any other conduct and discipline contrary to laws governing the leadership code of conduct.Subsection 2 – Immunity of Deputies
Article 114 – Immunity of a Deputy
A Deputy cannot be prosecuted, searched for, arrested, detained or tried in respect of opinions expressed or votes cast in the discharge of his/her functions.A Deputy suspected of a felony or a misdemeanour cannot be prosecuted or arrested without prior authorization of the Chamber of Deputies by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present except where he/she is caught red-handed committing a felony or has been finally convicted by a competent court.A Deputy in respect of whom the waiver of immunity is requested for in order for him/her to be prosecuted is given the opportunity to be heard if he/she so requests, before the Plenary Assembly imposes a disciplinary measure against him/her prior to voting.The Prosecutor General prepares the letter requesting for authorisation to prosecute a Deputy and submits it to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.If such a request takes place during the period for the ordinary session, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits it to the Plenary Assembly in its first sitting after receipt of the request. If it takes place outside the period for ordinary session, an extraordinary session is convened.Article 115 – Immunity card
A Deputy is issued an immunity card he/she shows to various organs, if necessary. The template of such a card is determined by the Conference of Chairpersons and approved by the Plenary Assembly.If, for any reason, a Deputy ceases to hold office as a Deputy, he/she returns the immunity card within five (5) working days of cessation of office.Article 116 – Competent court to try the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies
In criminal matters, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies is tried in the first and last instance by the Supreme Court.Section 4 – Inviolability of the place of work of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 117 – Moving between seats reserved for Deputies
Except for staff members of the Chamber of Deputies responsible for supporting the plenary sitting of the day or any other person authorized by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, it is forbidden to move between seats reserved for Deputies for any reason during the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly.Article 118 – Inviolability of the Parliament building
The Parliament building and everything that is found therein are kept safe.The security of the Parliament building is maintained by a special unit made available by Rwanda National Police. The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies makes follow-up on the maintenance of the security of the Parliament building.Any person in possession of an arm who enters the Parliament building leaves the arm to officers in charge of the security of the Parliament building and get it back on his/her exit.When security officers in possession of arms who do not belong to the special unit of the Parliament wish to enter the Parliament building, they leave their arms in a place intended for that purpose except those in charge of the security of the President of the Republic or that of other similarly ranked senior dignitaries visiting the Parliament building.Security officers in charge of the security of Deputies are allowed to enter the Parliament building with arms without prior authorization. However, when they wish to enter the Plenary Hall or rooms where Committee meetings are held, they ask for prior authorization from the person presiding over the sitting.When security officers from outside the Parliament need to track down a person in the Parliament building, they make a request for it to the organ in charge of the security of the Parliament building and the President and the Speaker of each chamber of Parliament are informed thereof.Article 119 – Use of doors of the Plenary Hall
During ceremonies taking place in the Plenary Hall, a door is provided for exclusive use by the highest-ranking national authorities and other similarly ranked visitors. Also, a door is provided for exclusive use by Ministers, other similarly ranked officials, Senators and Deputies.Also, a public door is provided for use by staff members of the Chamber of Deputies and the general public turning out for such ceremonies.During the plenary sittings, members of the Bureaus of the Chambers of Parliament, Cabinet members and other similarly ranked authorities use the door reserved for the highest-ranking national authorities. For others, the provisions applicable in case of official ceremonies held in the Plenary Hall apply.Staff members of the Chamber of Deputies wear an identification badge while on duty. Staff members of the Chamber of Deputies serving in the Plenary Hall wear special identification badges.Article 120 – Conduct of persons inside the Plenary Hall during the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly
It is prohibited for any person to enter the Plenary Hall with a mobile phone or any other electronic device put on ring mode or anything else likely to disrupt the smooth running of the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly.During the proceedings of the Plenary Assembly, all persons get seated and remain calm. No one is allowed to wear a hat unless otherwise exempted for professional and religious belonging reasons.Article 121 – Expulsion of a person other than a Deputy who disrupts order
Any person other than a Deputy who disrupts order in the plenary sitting or Committee meetings is immediately expelled by decision of the person presiding over the sitting who gives relevant instructions to the officers in charge.The expelled person is handed over to competent authorities.Article 122 – Posting of provisions relating to the inviolability of the Parliament building
The provisions of this Organic Law relating to the inviolability of the place of work of the Chamber of Deputies are posted at the gates of the building of the Chamber of Deputies and on the doors of the Plenary Hall of the Chamber of Deputies.Chapter V
Offices incompatible with the office of Deputy
Article 123 – Offices incompatible with the office of Deputy
Offices incompatible with the office of Deputy are those of being:1°the President of the Republic;2°a Cabinet member;3°a Senator;4°a member of the village executive committee, the cell council or, a member of the Sector, District or Kigali City Council;5°a Governor of the Province;6°a staff member of administrative decentralized entities;7°a Judge;8°a Prosecutor;9°a member of one of the permanent commissions or specific organs provided for by the Constitution or other organs that may be set up by law;10°a member of the board of directors in a public institution or an institution in which the State is a shareholder or an auditor of such an institution;11°a director of a company or one of the members of its board of directors;12°a civil servant or an employee in a public institution;13°a contractual employee;14°a member of electoral organs;15°a member of Rwanda Defence Force, Rwanda National Police, the National Intelligence and Security Service, the Rwanda Correctional Service or the District Administration Security Support Organ;16°a member of the leadership of associations, national non-governmental organizations as well as faith-based organisations, except those founded by Deputies designed to help them deliver on their mission;17°a member of the Professional Bailiffs Association or a notary.A Deputy practising as a lawyer is not allowed to personally plead any court case. His/her law firm is allowed to plead in court any cases except those in which the State is the plaintiff or the defendant.Article 124 – Election to the office of Deputy and resignation from previous office
With the exception of the persons provided under items 7°, 8° and 15° of Paragraph One of Article 123 of this Organic Law, other offices incompatible with that of Deputy provided under that Article do not prevent the person holding them from being elected. However, such a Deputy resigns from his/her previous office immediately after taking oath with the Speaker and the Ombudsman being informed thereof.Chapter VI
Procedures for the adoption of draft laws and private member’s bills
Section One – Submission of draft laws or private member’s bills to the Chamber of Deputies and approval of their merits
Article 125 – Procedures for informing the Plenary Assembly of a draft law or private member’s bill submitted to the Chamber of Deputies
Draft laws or private member’s bills submitted to the Chamber of Deputies along with their explanatory notes must be drafted in the three (3) official languages recognized by the Constitution including Ikinyarwanda.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits such draft laws or private member’s bills to Deputies within seven (7) days of receipt thereof.Article 126 – Initiating a private member’s bill
Any Deputy has the right to initiate a bill and initiate amendments to such a law.Article 127 – Procedure for the submission of a private member’s bill to Deputies
Every private member’s bill initiated by a Deputy or a group of Deputies is submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies while drafted in at least in one of the official languages.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits it to all the Deputies while drafted in the three (3) official languages including Ikinyarwanda.Each private member’s bill must always be drafted in compliance with the standard format followed in drafting draft laws.The Chamber of Deputies provides technical assistance to any Deputy who initiates a bill as well as a bill proposing amendments.Article 128 – Procedure for the submission to the Chamber of Deputies of the organic private member’s bill determining the functioning of the Senate
The private member’s bill determining the functioning of the Senate is initiated by the Senate and submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies along with its explanatory note, both of which are drafted in three (3) official languages including Ikinyarwanda.Article 129 – Consideration of the merits of draft laws or private member’s bills
A draft law or private member’s bill, the merits of which is to be approved, is submitted to Deputies while drafted in at least in three (3) official languages including Ikinyarwanda and posted on the website of the Chamber of Deputies at least seven (7) days before the holding of debates aimed at approving its merits.However, that time limit does not apply in case of reasonable grounds of urgency.The initiator or the person defending a draft law or private member’s bill provides key explanations showing the Plenary Assembly how the draft law or private member’s bill, the merits of which he/she is seeking approbation will help implement existing policy.Section 2 – Consideration of draft laws or private member’s bills in Committee
Article 130 – Submission of a draft law or a private member’s bill to the Standing Committee
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits to the relevant Standing Committee a draft law or a bill initiated by a Deputy or a group of Deputies within five (5) days of the closing of debates on its merits in the plenary sitting. However, if deemed necessary, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies may refer such a draft law or private member’s bill to another Standing Committee unless it falls within the competence of the Conference of Chairpersons.A private member’s bill initiated by a group of Deputies who are members of the same Committee cannot be considered by that same Committee.Such a group sends a Deputy to the Committee to which the bill is referred for him/her to provide substantive explanations as to its suitability.The report on general debates held during the approval of the merits of the draft law or private member’s bill accompanied by the text of such a draft law or private member’s bill are submitted to the relevant Committee for improvement thereof.Article 131 – Submission of amendments to the Standing Committee
A Deputy having amendments to propose with respect to a draft law or private member’s bill submits them in writing to the chairperson of the Committee concerned and sends a copy thereof to all Deputies to enable them to make sub-amendments, if necessary. Such sub-amendments are submitted in writing to the chairperson of the Committee.The amendments proposed in writing by Deputies are considered by the Committee for decision.A Deputy having introduced amendments attends the meeting of the Committee devoted to considering them.Amendments proposed and opinions given by specific commissions and organs provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda and whose responsibilities include providing advice on some draft laws or private member’s bills are submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who, in turn, submits them to the Committee concerned. Representatives of such commissions and organs participating in the meetings of the Committee are given the floor to explain the contents of their paper.The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies may decide to refer to the Committee considering a draft law or private member’s bill any other amendments that might not have been submitted to the Committee.Article 132 – Consideration of draft laws or private member’s bills in Standing Committee
The Committee, through the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, may ask a Minister, a Minister of State, any other cabinet member, any other person or any institution concerned to appear to provide detailed explanations on a draft law or private member’s bill concerning them which is under consideration by the Committee.Committees also receives written opinions on draft bills or private member’s bills under consideration. Opinions received are distributed to members of the Committee during the consideration of such a draft law or private member’s bill in Committee.The report of the Standing Committee on the entire draft law or private member’s bill is distributed to Deputies at least seven (7) days before the holding of debates on it by the Plenary Assembly.However, such a time limit does not apply in case of urgency.Section 3 – Adoption of a draft law or private member’s bill in the plenary sitting
Article 133 – Submission of a translated draft law or private member’s bill after consideration thereof by the Committee
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits to Deputies the draft law or private member’s bill considered by the Committee while being in three (3) official languages including Ikinyarwanda before consideration thereof by the Plenary Assembly.Article 134 – Approval of the Committee report in the plenary sitting
Before the voting on the Articles making up the draft law or private member’s bill, the Bureau of the Committee tables before the Plenary Assembly a summary report documenting the way such a draft law or private member’s bill was considered in the Committee for approval thereof by the Plenary Assembly.Where the Committee report is not approved by the Plenary Assembly, the debates are closed and the Plenary Assembly sends the report back to the Committee.Article 135 – Debates on the draft law or private member’s bill in the plenary sitting
Debates on the draft law or private member’s bill in the plenary sitting are of two types, namely general debates and debates on Articles.General debates are conducted in the same way as the consideration of the merits of a draft law or private member’s bill.Debates on Articles are centred on Articles amended by the Committee.Technical amendments are neither debated nor voted on.Articles of the draft law or private member’s bill are voted without being read out to the Plenary Assembly.Article 136 – Debates on an amended draft law or private member’s bill
Debates in the plenary sitting first focus on the draft law or private member’s bill itself and then on to the amendments adopted by the Committee.Articles without amendments made by or transmitted to the Committee are voted on without debates.A draft law or private member’s bill debated in Committee is not subject to general debates in the plenary sitting.Article 137 – Procedure for voting on a draft law or private member’s bill having been subject to amendments
Articles of a draft law or private member’s bill having been subject to amendments are put to vote before the original draft law or private member’s bill while sub-amendments are put to vote before amendments to Articles of the draft law or private member’s bill.Amendments or sub-amendments rejected by the Committee are not subject to debates in the plenary sitting.However, if the person having introduced the rejected amendments is not a member of the Committee, he/she is given the floor to explain his/her amendments in the plenary sitting in case of dissatisfaction. The Committee states reasons for their rejection and such amendments are then voted on without any further debates.When the Committee has already submitted its report, a Deputy having a substantive amendment to propose submits it in writing to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies for him/her to submit it to the Plenary Assembly. During the consideration of the draft law or private member’s bill in the plenary sitting, a person having submitted amendments is given the floor to justify his/her amendments.At the time of the adoption of a draft law or private member’s bill from the Joint Committee, amendments agreed upon by the Joint Committee as well as those of the Senate are voted on together, followed by Articles adopted by the Chamber of Deputies without them having been amended by the Senate.If a Committee asks for withdrawing an Article for reconsideration, the Plenary Assembly decides thereon.A report on the Article having been referred back to the Committee is submitted to Deputies before consideration thereof by the Plenary Assembly.At any time before the Plenary Assembly has yet to adopt the entire draft law or private member’s bill, the Committee may, on its own initiative and with the approval of the Plenary Assembly, re-consider an Article having been voted on. In that case, the Committee writes an additional report to be submitted to the Plenary Assembly for a new vote on it.Article 138 – Resolution on a substantive issue identified after the adoption of the law
When a substantive issue of general interest appears in a law after its adoption but before submission thereof to another organ, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies refers it to the Plenary Assembly for decision.Article 139 – Withdrawal of a draft law or private member’s bill by its initiator
When the initiator of a draft law or private member’s bill wishes to have the draft law or private member’s bill returned to him/her at any stage of the process, he/she requests in writing to have it returned to him/her, and the Plenary Assembly decides thereon.When an initiator of a draft law or private member’s bill requests to have it returned to him/her before consideration of its merits, the draft law or private member’s bill is returned to him/her without going through the Plenary Assembly. The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies provides the Plenary Assembly with a copy of the letter through which the draft law or private member’s bill is returned to the initiator.Article 140 – Referring a draft law or private member’s bill back to its initiator
When a draft law or private member’s bill is rejected by the Plenary Assembly, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies promptly informs its initiator thereof, briefly specifying the reasons for the Deputies to reject it. Such a draft law or private member’s bill is referred back to the initiator.The Plenary Assembly may, at the request of the Committee having considered the a draft law or private member’s bill or of a Deputy, decide to refer the draft law or private member’s bill back to its initiator.When the Chamber of Deputies receives a draft law or private member’s bill whose merits is not approved by the Senate or which is rejected by the Senate, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies refers it back to the initiator, specifying reasons having prompted the Senate to reject it or refuse to approve its merits.Article 141 – Submission of draft laws or private member’s bills adopted by the Chamber of Deputies
When a law adopted by the Chamber of Deputies falls within the competence of the Senate, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits it to the President of the Senate for consideration thereof.When a law adopted by the Chamber of Deputies does not fall within the competence of the Senate, it is submitted directly to the President of the Republic for promulgation prior to its being published.Article 142 – Certification of conformity of the law published with the version adopted by the Plenary Assembly
When a draft law or private member’s bill is adopted by the Plenary Assembly, the Bureau of the Committee having considered it makes adjustments thereto, account being taken of the plenary sitting debates having resulted in its adoption, and then submits it to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies. Such a draft law or private member’s bill is submitted to other institutions along with the minutes related to its adoption. The Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies certifies that such minutes conform to the text of the draft law or private member’s bill and causes them to be kept in the archives of the Chamber of Deputies.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies submits to the President of the Senate a copy of the law corresponding to the adopted text along with related minutes for consideration if such a law falls within the competence of the Senate or submits them directly to the President of the Republic for promulgation, if the law does not fall within the competence of the Senate and sends a copy thereof to relevant organs.When the law is published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda, the Deputy Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies checks to ensure that the law conforms to the text having been adopted by the Plenary Assembly and report to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies accordingly within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda by the Chamber of Deputies.Article 143 – Second reading of the law at the request of the President of the Republic
When the President of the Republic requests a second reading of the law which has already been adopted, reasons for such a request are explained to the Plenary Assembly and the law is submitted to the Committee having originally considered it for a new consideration.In this case, if the Parliament adopts again the law by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote for ordinary laws, or by a three-quarters (3/4) majority vote for organic laws, the President of the Republic must promulgate it.Article 144 – Initiating constitutional amendment
An initiative for constitutional amendment is adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members of the Chamber of Deputies.The Constitutional amendment is considered by the Conference of Chairpersons and approved by three-quarters (3/4) majority vote of the members of the Chamber of Deputies. If the draft amendment is adopted, it is submitted to the Senate.When the Senate initiates constitutional amendment, it seeks approval of the merits of such an amendment from the Chamber of Deputies. If the Chamber of Deputies adopts the draft amendment, it submits it to the Senate for consideration.Section 4 – Conduct of debates in the plenary sitting in case of urgent procedure
Article 145 – Use of urgent procedure for consideration of a draft law or private member’s bill
Subject to the provisions of Article 129 of this Organic Law and after use of urgent procedure for consideration of a draft law or private member’s bill is sought by the Cabinet or a Deputy and approved by the Plenary Assembly, the provisions of this Organic Law which relate to the agenda, translation of texts or compliance with time limits do not apply.When a Deputy seeks the use of urgent procedure for the consideration of a draft law or private member’s bill, the Chamber of Deputies decides thereon by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Deputies present in the plenary sitting. When urgent consideration is sought by the Cabinet, it is always granted.When urgent consideration of a draft law or private member’s bill is granted, the consideration of such a draft law or private member’s bill or that of any other related issue is accorded priority over other items on the agenda of the plenary sitting.Article 146 – Submission to the Committee a draft law or private member’s bill requiring the use of urgent procedure
After adoption of the merits of a draft law or private member’s bill requiring the use of urgent procedure, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies immediately sends the draft law or private member’s bill to the Committee concerned for urgent consideration.When the Conference of Chairpersons considers a draft law or private member’s bill, interested Deputies may attend its proceedings but without voting rights.When the merits of a draft law or private member’s bill is under consideration and at the request of a Cabinet representative or a Deputy and after approval by a three-fifths (3/5) majority vote of members present, the Plenary Assembly decides immediate adoption of the draft law or private member’s bill without it going through the relevant Committee process.In that case, substantial and technical amendments are proposed in the plenary sitting and the Minister representing the Cabinet or the Deputy having initiated the draft law or private member’s bill defends it before the Plenary Assembly.Chapter VII
Oversight of the executive branch
Article 147 – Period and procedure for summoning Cabinet members
During ordinary sessions of the Chamber of Deputies, at least one sitting per week is devoted to Deputies’ questions for the Cabinet and Cabinet’s answers to such questions. The Prime Minister, Ministers, Ministers of State and other Cabinet members who attend such sittings are notified thereof in writing at least seven (7) days before they are held.However, such a period may be shortened as a result of urgency dictated by the items to be considered with the approval of the Plenary Assembly.Article 148 – Means of oversight of the executive branch by the Chamber of Deputies
The means of oversight of the executive branch by the Chamber of Deputies are the following:1°oral questions;2°written questions;3°Committee hearing;4°Committee of inquiry;5°interpellation.Modalities for oversight of the executive branch by the Chamber of Deputies are provided for by an Organic Law.Article 149 – Information on the economic and budgetary situation
Once a quarter and whenever necessary, the Minister in charge of finance informs the Chamber of Deputies of the overall economic and budgetary situation.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies writes to the Prime Minister requesting him/her to send the Minister in charge of economy and finance to brief the Plenary Assembly on the overall economic and budgetary situation.Chapter VIII
Visits to the population as part of the mission of the Chamber of Deputies and mission abroad
Section One – Official visits to the population
Article 150 – Visits to the population
Each Deputy has the responsibility to visit the population in order to learn about good actions being implemented for their benefit and their own accomplishments and identify problems facing them.Such visits are conducted through Committees, by a Deputy as an individual, through forums or networks of Deputies provided for in this Organic Law or through groups of Deputies.A Deputy may also learn about good actions being implemented for the benefit of the population or identify problems facing them through meetings of Districts Coordination Committees, those of Kigali City Council and Councils of Districts, Sectors and Cells to which he/she is invited.Deputies participating in the meetings referred to under Paragraph 3 of this Article give their opinions but without voting rights.Except in cases of urgency, visits to the population are conducted outside ordinary sessions.Where possible, a Deputy is granted two (2) days per month for him/her to visit the population if he/she so wishes. A Deputy wishing to visit the population requests for it in writing to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies three (3) days before the date of the visit, if possible. He/she specifies the place he/she wishes to visit, reasons for his/her visit and its importance for the population to be visited and for the Chamber of Deputies.The Chamber of Deputies organises at least twice a year, visits to the population by all Deputies to carry out oversight of the executive branch, provide advice to the population and identify problems facing them.To ensure that visits to the population run smoothly, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies informs relevant authorities thereof whenever possible.When a Deputy conducts visits to populations, the Chamber of Deputies provides him/her with the necessary means.Article 151 – Allowances for a Deputy going on a mission and those for his/ her body guard and driver
Allowances granted to a Deputy on a mission are determined by a Presidential Order.Where the body guard or driver of a Deputy goes on a mission along with him/her, he/she receives from the Chamber of Deputies mission fees equivalent to those granted to other similarly ranked civil servants.Article 152 – Deputies’ mission reports
When a Deputy returns from a mission conducted individually inside the country, he/ she writes a report thereon and submits it to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies within eight (8) working days of the end of the mission inside the country.When Deputies return from a mission conducted collectively, they write reports thereon which are compiled and submitted to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies who, in turn, submits them in writing to Deputies.Section 2 – Mission abroad
Article 153 – Designation of Deputies going on mission abroad
The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies is solely competent to designate Deputies to go on a mission abroad.In the case of a mission involving both Chambers, the Bureau of each Chamber designates its delegates.Article 154 – Travel clearance issued to a Deputy going on a mission abroad
When a Deputy goes on a mission abroad, he/she carries with him/her a travel clearance issued by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.When a member of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies goes on an official mission abroad, he/she carries with him/her a travel clearance issued by the President of the Republic.Article 155 – Allowances for a Deputy going on a mission abroad and his/her mission report
A Presidential Order determines allowances granted to a Deputy going on a mission abroad.A Deputy who returns from a mission abroad submits his/her mission report to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies within eight (8) working days of his/her return to the country.Members of the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies submit their reports to the President of the Republic within the time limit provided under the preceding Paragraph.The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies determines reports to be tabled before the Plenary Assembly.Chapter IX
Petitions and requests addressed to the Chamber of Deputies
Section One – Private petitions
Article 156 – Private petitions referred to the Committee
The Committee considers petitions falling within the scope of its responsibilities having been addressed to the Chamber of Deputies.The Speaker submits to the Committee concerned documents related to petitions addressed to the Chamber of Deputies.However, when it appears that the Standing Committee is too busy to consider petitions, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies may refer such petitions to another Committee whose responsibilities do not cover such petitions.The Committee has the right to invite the person having submitted the petition, any official or a Cabinet member who is concerned by the issue under consideration. It may also demand explanations, whether oral or written, on the issue under considerationThe Committee conducts analysis of the petition submitted to it and writes a report thereon to be tabled before the Plenary Assembly. Such a report must comprise recommendations and indicates the time limit for the resolution of the problem raised in the petition.When the Plenary Assembly concludes the adoption of the report, the President of the Chamber of Deputies submits it to the Prime Minister, requesting him/her to submit it to the organs concerned for them to resolve the issue raised in the petition.The Chamber of Deputies is given a report detailing actions having been taken to resolve the issues raised in the petition, and such a report is submitted within ninety (90) days.Article 157 – Holding of joint Committee meetings
The Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies may request more than one Standing Committee of the Chamber of Deputies to convene in a joint meeting to consider an issue which cuts across their responsibilities.In that case, the eldest Committee chairperson convenes and presides over the meeting assisted by the youngest Committee chairperson.In the absence of the eldest Committee chairperson, the meeting is convened and presided over by the youngest Committee chairperson assisted by the youngest Deputy.The report is submitted to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies which, in turn, submits it to the Plenary Assembly.However, in case of parliamentary diplomacy issues, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies is solely competent to determine whether the report has to be tabled before the Plenary Assembly.Article 158 – Petitions submitted through Deputies
Unless where both Chambers convene in a joint sitting, the first thirty minutes (30) of the plenary sitting are devoted to tabling petitions before the Chamber of Deputies. A Deputy wishing to table before the Plenary Assembly a petition having been presented to him/her by a citizen is given a speaking time of ten (10) minutes to table it before the Plenary Assembly.A petition tabled before the Plenary Assembly is not subject to debates. Instead, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies immediately refers it to the Committee concerned for it to make follow-up on the petition or for the petition to be considered as part of oversight of the executive branch.The Committee submits a report to the Plenary Assembly for decision.Section one – Public petition
Article 159 – Public petition
A citizen has the right to submit a public petition to the Chamber of Deputies.A citizen or a group of citizens with a public petition submit it to the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies in a document bearing their signatures or fingerprints. They may also make use of electronic means.A public petition may also be submitted through a Deputy or a group of Deputies.Article 160 – Procedure for submitting a public petition to the Chamber of Deputies
A public petition submitted to the Chamber of Deputies, to a Deputy or to a group of Deputies is submitted to the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies which, in turn, submits it to the Conference of Chairpersons for it to consider it and prepare recommendations for the Plenary Assembly.Chapter X
Code of conduct of Deputies
Article 161 – Conduct of a Deputy
A Deputy must be a person of integrity and honest, exemplary in terms of respect for laws and must always bear in mind the need to abide by the oath of office he/she has taken as provided for by the Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015.Article 162 – Acts prohibited for a Deputy which compromise his/her independence in the performance of his/her duties of office
A Deputy refrains from any act likely to compromise his/her independence and impartiality in the performance of the mission of oversight of the executive branch.A corporation or a company of which a Deputy, his/her spouse or his/her child is a shareholder, a representative or a member of the Board of Directors, cannot be allowed to bid for public contracts put out to tender on behalf of the Chamber of Deputies.A Deputy cannot also bid for public contracts, either individually or through a corporation of which he/she is a shareholder, except for the case of companies which are limited by shares, guarantee or by both shares and guarantee.A Deputy cannot also individually enter into a commitment with a foreign country or an international organization having diplomatic relations with the Government of Rwanda as long as he /she still holds his/her senior office.A Deputy is not allowed to individually enter into a commitment with a foreign country, an international organization or an international company as long as such a commitment is likely to prejudice the country’s general interest for the benefit of personal interests of a senior official.A Deputy can be a member of a non-governmental organization. However, he/she is not allowed to head a non-governmental organization except in the case where such an organization is solely composed of those leaders governed by the Organic Law on the leadership code of conduct or where such an organization is their particularity even if it may include other members who are not governed by the Organic Law on the leadership code of conduct.Article 163 – Declaration of assets
A Deputy submits to the Office of the Ombudsman his/her faithful declaration of assets in a period of one month after taking office, annually not later than June 30, and within fifteen (15) days of his/her leaving office as a Deputy.However, where a Deputy is re-elected for another term of office or his/ her term of office comes to an end during the year in which he/ she has submitted to the Office of Ombudsman his/ her declaration of assets, he/she does not submit another declaration of assets.Article 164 – Declaration of interest
In case a Deputy has particularly a personal interest in the issue under consideration by the Chamber of Deputies, either in Committee or in the plenary sitting, he/she must notify the Plenary Assembly or the Committee thereof and can neither be given the floor nor have voting rights.Article 165 – Dress code for Deputies in the plenary sitting
While in the plenary sitting, a Deputy dresses appropriately in a manner which honours him/her and his/her institution.Chapter XI
Relations between the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate
Section One – Joint activities of both Chambers of Parliament
Article 166 – Joint sittings of both Chambers of Parliament
Both Chambers of Parliament cannot convene in joint sittings, except in matters in respect of which the Constitution or other laws require them to convene in a joint sitting or on the occasion of national ceremonies in which they must jointly participate.When the Parliament deliberates with both Chambers convening in a joint sitting, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies or, in his/her absence, the President of the Senate presides over the sitting.The President of the Republic, after consultation with the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies and the Supreme Court, may determine other matters to be considered by both Chambers of Parliament in a joint sitting.Article 167 – Convening both Chambers of Parliament in an extraordinary session
The Parliament can be convened in an extraordinary session after mutual consultation between the presiding officers of both Chambers of Parliament, at the request of the President of the Republic or that of a quarter (1/4) of the members of each Chamber.The agenda of the extraordinary session is prepared by the Bureaus of both Chambers and adopted by the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber.The convening notice for the extraordinary session is signed by the presiding officer of each Chamber.Article 168 – Decision-making in case of a joint sitting of both Chambers of Parliament
When both Chambers of Parliament are holding a joint sitting, the Organic Law determining the functioning of the Chamber of Deputies applies.Each Chamber makes a decision separately in accordance with the Organic Law determining its functioning.However, when it comes to electing members of a regional or international Parliament in which Rwanda has membership, the election is held by secret ballot and votes of members present are cumulatively counted together.Article 169 – Informing the Parliament of Government action
Once in a parliamentary session, the Prime Minister comes to Parliament, both Chambers meeting in a joint session, to inform the Parliament of Government action. Members of Parliament may ask questions or give their views on Government action presented by the Prime Minister.The day of presenting Government action to the Parliament is agreed upon between the presiding officers of both Chambers of Parliament who inform the Prime Minister thereof at least seven (7) days before, if possible.If the Prime Minister is unavailable, he/she informs the Parliament in writing thereof at least one day before the previously expected day, then another date is set.Article 170 – Adoption of the State finance bill
Every financial year, the Chamber of Deputies adopts the State Finance Law.The Minister in charge of finance prepares and submits to both chambers of Parliament not later than 30th of April of each year the draft State finance bill.The draft State finance bill must be adopted by the Cabinet meeting before it is submitted to both Chambers of Parliament.The Chamber of Deputies provides the Government with its views on the draft State finance bill.Such views are submitted to the Government not later than 30th of May for the relevant financial year.The Government submits to both Chambers of Parliament the State Finance Bill for the following financial year after incorporation therein of views provided by the Parliament.However, the consideration of the merits of the State finance bill is carried out by the Chamber of Deputies.Before the final adoption of the State budget, the Senate must provide the Chamber of Deputies with its opinion on the State finance bill.The State finances law determines revenues and expenditures of the State in accordance with the conditions provided for by the Organic Law on State finance and property. Such an Organic Law also determines the date of delivery of the annual budget speech to both Chambers of Parliament.Article 171 – Minutes and verbatim transcripts of joint sittings of both Chambers of Parliament
Joint sittings of both Chambers of Parliament are subject to minutes and verbatim transcripts.Minutes and verbatim transcripts of joint plenary sittings of both Chambers of Parliament are adopted by the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber having presided over the sitting in accordance with the conditions and time limits determined by the Organic Law determining the functioning of such a Chamber.The presiding officer of the Chamber having presided over the plenary sitting submits by electronic means to the presiding officer of another Chamber minutes of the joint sitting of both Chambers who, in turn, submits them to members of the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of which he/she serves as presiding officer.A Deputy or a Senator wishing to make a correction to the verbatim report submits such a correction in writing to the presiding officer of the Chamber of which he/she is a member who, in turn, submits it to the presiding officer of the Chamber having presided over the sitting.Minutes and verbatim reports adopted by the Plenary Assembly of either Chamber of Parliament concerned are jointly signed by the person presiding over the sitting, the Clerk to the Chamber of Parliament concerned and the person having produced them. The other Chamber is given a copy thereof.Article 172 – Submission to the Senate of a draft law or private member’s bill falling within its competence after adoption thereof by the Chamber of Deputies
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies sends to the President of the Senate the draft law or private member’s bill adopted by the Chamber of Deputies which falls within the competence of the Senate accompanied by its explanatory note and minutes indicating how the draft law or private member’s bill has been adopted by the Chamber of Deputies.When considering a private member’s bill in the Committee of the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, at the Senate’s request, delegates its representative to provide clarifications on the bill in that Committee.Article 173 – Consideration of amendments made by the Senate to a draft law or private member’s bill adopted by the Chamber of Deputies
When a law falling within the competence of the Senate is adopted by the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate makes amendments thereto, such amendments are submitted to the Committee having considered the draft law or private member’s bill and the Committee makes a report for the Plenary Assembly.When the law was adopted without going through the Committee, the amendments made by the Senate are submitted to the Committee whose responsibilities cover such a draft law or private member’s bill.Article 174 – Joint Committee of Parliament
When the Senate does not adopt a draft law or private member’s bill or if amendments made thereto by the Senate are not approved by the Chamber of Deputies, a joint Committee composed of five (5) Deputies and five (5) Senators is established for it to propose a recommendation on the provisions which remain the subject of a disagreement.A joint Committee of Parliament may also be established, if approved by the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber of Parliament by a three-fifth (3/5) majority vote of its members, to decide on any other matter identified in the law adopted by both Chambers of Parliament so long as the law has yet to be transmitted for promulgation.The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies transmits to the President of the Senate names of Deputies and states the reasons having prompted the Chamber of Deputies to reject the resolution of the Senate.Within seven (7) days of receipt of such names, the President of the Senate notify the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the names of five (5) Senators to sit on the joint Committee.The first meeting of the joint Committee is convened in writing after mutual consultation between the heads of groups. During that meeting, members of the joint Committee elect from among their number a chairperson and a deputy chairperson.Article 175 – Report of the joint Committee
The report of a compromise text reached by the Joint Committee is submitted to each Chamber for it to be voted without any other amendments.If the Joint Committee of both Chambers fails to reach a compromise text or if either or both of Chambers reject the compromise text reached by the Joint Committee, the draft law or private member’s bill is returned to the initiator.The draft law or private member’s bill having been returned to its initiator under such circumstances, the initiator can reintroduce it at any time.If the initiator of a draft law or private member’s bill wishes to reintroduce it, he/she must do so starting with the Chamber of Deputies.In the absence of the Deputy heading the group during the tabling of the report before the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies, the eldest Deputy of the group tables the report.Article 176 – Transmission of the law to the President of the Republic for promulgation
When the Senate adopts a draft law or private member’s bill without amendments or when amendments made by the Senate are accepted by the Chamber of Deputies or when the Plenary Assemblies of both Chambers accept the compromise text of the Joint Committee, it is the responsibility of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies to transmit to the President of the Republic such a law as adopted by both Chambers for promulgation and publication.Article 177 – Oral presentation of a report in the joint plenary sitting of both Chambers
Organs provided for under the Constitution and other laws submit their respective reports to the Parliament. Also, such organs orally present their respective reports in the joint sitting of both Chambers of Parliament.When both Chambers are holding a joint sitting during the tabling of such reports before them, the head of the organ or, in his/her absence, his/her deputy tables the report.The relevant Committee of each Chamber examines the report and provides its views thereon. The Plenary Assembly of each Chamber examines the recommendations of the Committee having considered the report and decides thereon. The decision taken is submitted to relevant organs.Article 178 – Briefing the Plenary Assembly on the reports submitted to international organizations
Reports submitted by the Government to international organizations are first tabled before the Plenary Assembly by relevant Ministers. The Plenary Assembly gives its opinions thereon.Article 179 – Matters not covered in this Organic Law regarding relationships between both Chambers of Parliament
Relationships between both Chambers of Parliament are determined by an Organic Law determining the functioning of each Chamber.Matters not covered in this Organic Law regarding relationships between both Chambers of Parliament are settled by consensus between the Bureaus of both Chambers of Parliament and are referred to the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber of Parliament for decision.Section 2 – Networks or forums of Deputies and Senators
Article 180 – Establishment of a joint network or forum of both Chambers
A joint network or forum of Deputies and Senators may be established.A Deputy or a Senator is free to join or not to join one or more networks or forums.Article 181 – Letter requesting authorization to establish a joint network or forum of both Chambers
A letter requesting authorization to establish a joint network or forum of both Chambers and the concept note detailing its mission and programme are submitted to the presiding officer of each Chamber who in turn submits them to members of the Chamber in order to be placed on the agenda of the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber.Initiators of a joint network or forum of both Chambers elect from among their number a group of Deputies and a group of Senators who are given the opportunity to provide explanations concerning such a network or forum in the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber.Article 182 – Procedure for approval of a joint network or forum of both Chamber by the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber
The Plenary Assembly of each Chamber approves the establishment of a joint network or forum of both Chambers at the request of a Deputy, a Senator or a group of Deputies or Senators.The decision to establish a network or forum also indicating its representatives is signed by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the President of the Senate.In case one of the Chambers of Parliament rejects the establishment of a joint network or forum of both Chambers, this does not prevent members of the Chamber having approved its establishment to establish and join it.Article 183 – Statutes of a joint network or forum of both Chambers
A joint network or forum of both Chambers establishes its statutes.The functioning and collaboration of a joint network or forum of both Chambers are provided for in the statutes of each network or forum.Article 184 – Activity report of a joint network or forum of both Chambers
Each quarter and whenever necessary, a joint network or forum of both Chambers submits the action plan and activity report to the presiding officer of each Chamber who in turn submits them to the members of the Chamber.The Plenary Assembly of each Chamber debates on such a report if necessary.Article 185 – Financial support to a joint network or forum of members of Parliament
Upon an agreement between the Bureaus of both Chambers, each joint network or forum of both Chambers is affiliated to a Chamber of Parliament.Each Chamber of Parliament may include in its budget an annual financial allocation to a network or forum affiliated to it.A joint network or forum of both Chambers submits to the presiding officer of each Chamber of Parliament a report which clearly shows the sources and use of its property.Article 186 – Monitoring of the functioning of a joint network or forum of both Chambers
The Bureaus of both Chambers of Parliament monitor the functioning of a joint network or forum of both Chambers in accordance with the Organic Law determining the functioning of each Chamber.At the request of one third (1/3) of the members of the network or forum, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, one or more Deputies or Senators not members of the network or forum may request the Plenary Assembly of the Chamber of Deputies or Senate to decide to suspend or dissolve a network or forum if its activities are contrary to the mission and functioning of the Parliament.The decision by one Chamber to suspend or dissolve a joint network or forum of Deputies and Senators takes effect of suspension or dissolution of the network or forum.Section 3 – Joint parliamentary friendship groups of both Chambers
Article 187 – Establishment of joint parliamentary friendship groups of both Chamber of Parliament
The Parliament may establish joint parliamentary friendship groups of both Chambers of Parliament with a mandate to develop relationships with Parliaments of other countries. Responsibilities of such groups are determined by the Bureaus of both Chambers of Parliament.Also, the Bureaus of both Chambers of Parliament appoint members of these groups and determine their responsibilities.Article 188 – Action plan and activity report of the joint parliamentary friendship groups of both Chambers of Parliament
Joint parliamentary friendship groups of both Chambers of Parliament submit their action plan and activity report to the presiding officer of each Chamber of Parliament who in turn submits them to the Chamber of which he/she serves as presiding officer.Each Chamber of Parliament may, if necessary, hold debates on such action plan and activity report in the plenary sitting.Chapter XII
Relations between the Chamber of Deputies and other parliamentary organisations in which Rwanda is a member
Article 189 – Election of Deputies to represent the Chamber of Deputies in inter-parliamentary organizations
Subject to the provisions of the Law relating to election procedures for Rwandan members of the East African Legislative Assembly, the election of Deputies representing the Chamber of Deputies in inter-parliamentary organizations is held in accordance with the provisions of this Organic Law relating to the election of members of the Bureaus of Committees.Article 190 – Provision of opinions on bills and records of the East African Legislative Assembly
The Clerk to the East African Legislative Assembly transmits to the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies and the Clerk to the Senate copies of the bills and those of all other records of relevant debates of the meetings of the East African Legislative Assembly to be laid before the East African Legislative Assembly.The presiding officer of each Chamber transmits such copies of bills and records to the Committee whose responsibilities extend to such bills and records.Bills and records referred to in Paragraph One of this Article are considered in the Parliament by the Committees whose responsibilities extend to them in the presence of the Minister in charge of East African Community affairs who lays them before the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber.Such Committees consider such bills and records and agree on the report before it is tabled before the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber of Parliament. The agreed-upon report is adopted by the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber of Parliament.The Clerks of both Chambers of Parliament through a co-signed letter transmit to the Clerk to the East African Legislative Assembly all records and decisions including opinions of the Parliament on bills and other issues relating to the East African Legislative Assembly.Article 191 – Consideration of records of other Parliaments and other organizations in which Rwanda has membership
The presiding officer of each Chamber of Parliament transmits to the Committee whose responsibilities extend to records of other Parliaments and other organizations in which Rwanda has membership for it to consider them and table a report thereon before the Plenary Assembly of each Chamber of Parliament.Article 192 – Maintaining relations with other Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations
The Parliament of Rwanda maintains relations with other Parliaments and inter-parliamentary organizations on the basis of the national foreign affairs policy through:1°international meetings and meetings of inter-parliamentary organizations in which members of Parliament of Rwanda take part;2°parliamentary friendship groups bringing together members of Parliament of Rwanda and Parliaments of other countries;3°visits of members of Parliament of Rwanda to Parliaments of other countries and their invitations extended to the representatives of such Parliaments;4°conclusion of memoranda of understanding with other Parliaments.Chapter XIII
Administrative and financial management of the Chamber of Deputies
Article 193 – Budget of the Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies has its own budget and enjoys financial and administrative autonomy.The draft budget of the Chamber of Deputies is prepared by the Office of the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies and considered by the Committee in charge of State budget.Each Committee prepares its draft annual action plan and related draft budget, which are then consolidated by the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies.The Conference of Chairpersons considers the draft budget paper of the Chamber of Deputies including budget allocations to each Committee before it becomes subject to debates between the Committee on Budget and National Patrimony and the Ministry of Finance and Economic planning.The Deputy Speaker in charge of financial affairs and the Clerk to the Chamber of Deputies agree with the Minister in charge of finance on the draft budget of the Chamber of Deputies at least two (2) days before its incorporation into the draft consolidated State Budget Paper.Article 194 – Separate account into which funds of the Chamber of Deputies are deposited
The budget allocated to the Chamber of Deputies is deposited into the account of the Chamber of Deputies opened with the National Bank of Rwanda.Article 195 – Use of the budget of the Chamber of Deputies
The use of the budget of the Chamber of Deputies is audited annually by the Auditor General of State Finance.Chapter XV
Miscellaneous and final provisions
Article 196 – Draft amendment to this Organic Law
Any draft amendment to this Organic Law is submitted to the Speaker who, in turn, submits it to Deputies.When the Plenary Assembly adopts the merits of such a draft amendment, it is sent to the Conference of Chairpersons for consideration.Article 197 – Settlement of matters not covered in this Organic Law
In case of matters not covered in this Organic Law, the Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies proposes to the Plenary Assembly modalities for settlement thereof for it to decide thereon.Article 198 – Drafting, consideration and adoption of this Organic Law
This Organic Law was drafted, considered and adopted in Ikinyarwanda.Article 199 – Repealing provision
Organic Law n° 06/2006 of 15/02/2006 establishing Internal Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies in the Parliament as modified and complemented to date and all other prior legal provisions contrary to this Organic Law are repealed.Article 200 – Commencement
This Organic Law comes into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.History of this document
20 September 2019 this version
Commenced
08 September 2018
Assented to