National Assembly of Cameroon Competencies and Configuration

The parliamentary institution in Cameroon has been marked by continuous adaptation in response to political developments in the country. Cameroon, it will be recalled, was colonized by Germany before it was placed under French and British mandate with the League of Nations and, subsequently, under the United Nations trusteeship. It obtained independence on 1^st January 1960.

The first leaders of independent Cameroon settled for a federal dispensation with two federated entities, East Cameroon (the French speaking part of the Country formerly under French administration and West Cameroon (the English speaking part formerly under British rule).

Preface

Foreword

General introduction

Introductory chapter

Paragraph 1: What is the National Assembly?

Paragraph 2: Membership

A. Eligibility Requirements

B.  Mode of Ballot

C.  Loss of Parliamentary Mandate

Paragraph 3: Protection of parliamentary mandate

A. Incompatibilities

B.  Parliamentary Immunities

1. Non Liability

2. Inviolability

3. Parliamentary allowance

C.  Characteristics of the Parliamentary Mandate

1.The Mandate if General

2.The Mandate is Final

3.The Mandate is Irrevocable

4.The Mandate is Free

Parti : Spheres of competence of the National Assembly

Chapter I : The National Assembly and the legislative function

Paragraph 1 : Precautions to be taken by the MP

A. Respect of the Domain of the law

B. Respect of the Supremacy of the Constitution

C.Text PresentationandTablingattheNational Assembly

Paragraph 2 : The chairmen’s conference: decides in the first instance on the admissibility of texts

Paragraph 3 : Constitutional council: final decision on admissibility of texts

A. Authorities Competent to refer matters to the Constitutional Council

B.   Matters that can be referred to the Constitutional Council 40 Paragraph 4: Parliamentary committees: compulsory stopover. 

A. Designation and Membership of General Committees

B. Organization of Committees

C. Committee meetings

Paragraph 5 : Agenda of the National Assembly

A. Who draws up the agenda: The chairmen’s conference

B. Agenda: items

C.  Modification of the Agenda

Paragraph 6: Organization and conduct of debates

A. Public Nature of Deliberations

B. Streamlining Discussions

C. Validity of Deliberations

Paragraph 7: Discussion and adoption ofbills in plenary sitting      

A. Discussion stages

B. Adoption of texts

Paragraph 8: Enactment oflaws voted by the national assembly

A. Enactment by the President of the Republic

B. Enactment by the President of the National Assembly

Chapter II : The National Assembly and control of government action

Paragraph 1 : Information sources and control mechanism

A. Government declaration

B. Written and Oral Questions

1. Written questions

2. Oral Questions

C. Parliamentary Commissions of enquiry

1. Setting up a commission of enquiry

2. Powers of the commission of enquiry

D. Petitions

Paragraph 2: Questioning the responsibility of the government by the National Assembly

A.  Procedures for questioning the responsibility of the government

1. Isolated implementation of two procedures

2. Simultaneous implementation of the two procedures. .

B.  Consequence of the vote of no confidence and motion of censure

Conclusion

Part II : Configuration of the National Assembly

Introduction

Chapter I : Configuration of the entire house

Paragraph 1 : Gender representation in the National Assembly. 

A. Very low and varied female representation

B.  Suggestions for a better representation of women

1. Internal measures

2. External measures

Paragraph 2: Representation according to age group

Paragraph 3 : Rate of renewal of members ofparliament

A. Lessons from this table

B.  Suggestions

Paragraph 4: National and local representation

A. Holders of local and national office

B.  Double consequences of holding two offices

Chapter II: Configuration of the organs of the assembly

Introduction

Paragraph 1: Distribution of duty posts in the National Assembly 

A.Bureau oftheNational Assembly

1. Roles of members of the Bureau

1)  The President

2)  Vice Presidents

3)  Secretaries

4)  Questors

2. Points to remember

B. Chairmen’s conference

C. Committees

D.Parliamentary groups

1. The legal basis for the group

2. Parliamentary groups

3. Prerogatives and Missions of the Group

Paragraph 2: Factors that hinder women from acceding to duty posts

1.  The status ofthe woman in the Cameroonian society.

2.  Reluctance of political parties to nominate women

3.  Positioning of women in the lists of candidates

a. Lack pf political culture

4.  Unequal economic status

5.  Weak lobby groups and lack of mentors

6.  Selfishness of men

7.  Lack of political will

Paragraph 3: Beyond power, development that would likely be beneficial to the greatest number

General conclusion

Appendix

Bibliography