Part 32: Constitutional Council (Article 284)

Description

Composition of the Constitutional Council (Article 284)

The Constitutional Council recommends appointments for the Chief Justice and heads/officials of various Constitutional Bodies. It consists of:

Prime Minister (Chairperson)
Chief Justice (Member - except when recommending a new Chief Justice, in which case the Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs acts as a member)
Speaker of the House of Representatives (Member)
Chairperson of the National Assembly (Member)
Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives (Member)
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (Member)

The Council is responsible for making recommendations for the appointment of:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Heads and members of constitutional bodies such as:
- Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA)
- Auditor General
- Public Service Commission (PSC)
- Election Commission (EC)
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
- National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, and other commissions.

Note: The recommendations are sent to the President, who makes the final appointments after a Parliamentary Hearing.

Chairperson: The Prime Minister always chairs the Constitutional Council.
Exclusion: The Deputy Chairperson of the National Assembly is not a member of this Council (unlike the Deputy Speaker of the HoR).
Total Members: Normally consists of 6 members (including the Chairperson).

Part Number

Article Range

Art. 284

Category

Constitutional Bodies