‘n Geskiedenis van die samestelling en funksionering van die Suid-Afrikaanse Parlementêre stelsel, 1910-1999

Date
2020-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the structure and functioning of the South African parliamentary system from 1910 to 1999. The thesis specifically focuses on the First South African Parliament (1910 to 1915), the First Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (1961 to 1966), the Seventh Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (1984 to 1987) and the First Democratic Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (1994 to 1999). These parliaments were established after the adoption of new constitutions that created new parliamentary systems. The study entails a historical overview of the development of the South African parliament since the establishment of the two British colonies and the two Boer republics in South Africa until the end of the first democratic parliament in 1999. It also refers to institutions that impacted on and to some extent formed part of the parliamentary system, such as the Transitional Executive Council that existed between December 1993 and April 1994. The legislative authority, or parliament, is the government institution that passes or amends legislation for a country and consists of one or two chambers. In South Africa the parliament consisted of two chambers between 1910 and 1980. In 1981 the Senate was abolished and the South African parliament consisted of only one chamber until the tricameral parliament was established in 1984. After the implementation of the interim constitution in 1994, the tricameral parliament was abolished and the Senate was reestablished. South Africa therefore had two chambers again. The background to the South African Act of 1909 and the 1993 constitution, that were both the product of extensive negotiations, as well as the 1961 and 1984 consitutions that were both preceded by referendums, are discussed. These four constitutions changed the South African parliamentary system drastically and form the basis of this study. The biggest change to the South African parliamentary system between 1910 en 1994 was that the parliament underwent an evolutionary change from an institution with absolute power to one that is subordinate to the constitution as sovereign supremacy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie handel oor die samestelling en funksionering van die Suid-Afrikaanse parlementêre stelsel vanaf 1910-1999. Daar word spesifieke klem gelê op die Eerste Suid-Afrikaanse Parlement (1910 tot 1915), die Eerste Parlement van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (1961 tot 1966), die Sewende Parlement van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (1984 tot 1987) en die Eerste Demokratiese Parlement van die Republiek van Suid-Afrika (1994 tot 1999). Hierdie parlemente het totstand gekom na die aanvaarding van nuwe grondwette wat nuwe parlementêre stelsels teweeggebring het. ‘n Historiese oorsig word gegee oor die ontwikkeling van die Suid-Afrikaanse parlement sedert die totstandkoming van die twee Britse kolonies en die twee Boererepublieke in Suid-Afrika tot en met die einde van die eerste demokratiese parlement in 1999. Verder word daar ook verwys na instansies wat ‘n impak gehad het op en tot ‘n mate deel was van die parlementêre stelsel, soos byvoorbeeld die Uitvoerende Oorgangsraad wat tussen Desember 1993 en April 1994 gefunksioneer het. Die wetgewende gesag, of parlement, is die regeringsinstelling wat wette vir ‘n samelewing maak, wysig of herroep en uit een of twee huise bestaan. In Suid-Afrika het die parlement van 1910 tot 1980 uit twee huise bestaan. In 1981 is die Senaat afgeskaf en het Suid-Afrika slegs een huis gehad totdat die Driekamer-parlement in 1984 ingestel is. Na die inwerkingtreding van die interim-grondwet in 1994 is die Driekamer-parlement afgeskaf en die Senaat weer ingestel sodat ‘n tweekamer parlement weer tot stand gekom het. Verder word die agtergrond tot die Zuid-Afrikawet van 1909 en die 1993-grondwet, wat deur onderhandelinge voorafgegaan is en die 1961- en 1984-grondwette wat deur referendums voorafgegaan is bespreek. Hierdie vier grondwette het die Suid-Afrikaanse parlementêre stelsel drasties verander en vorm die kern van hierdie studie. Die grootste verandering wat die Suid-Afrikaanse parlementêre stelsel tussen 1910 en 1994 ondergaan het, was dat die parlement ʼn evolusionêre verandering, van ʼn instelling beklee met soewereine oppergesag na een ondergeskik aan die grondwet as soewereine oppergesag, verander het.
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2020.
Keywords
Legislative bodies -- South Africa -- History -- 1910-1999, South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1909-1948, South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1961-1978, South Africa -- Politics and government -- 1978-1989, South Africa -- Politics and government --1994-, UCTD
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