National Assembly (Gambia)

National Assembly (Gambia)
Name	National Assembly
Legislature	Parliament of the Gambia
House type	Unicameral
Jurisdiction	The Gambia
Foundation	02 April 1997
Preceded by	House of Representatives
Leader1 type	Speaker
Leader1	Fabakary Jatta
Party1	Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
Election1	2022
Leader2 type	Deputy Speaker
Leader2	Seedy Njie
Party2	National People's Party
Election2	2022
Leader3 type	Majority Leader
Leader3	Billay G. Tunkara
Party3	National People's Party
Election3	2022
Leader4 type	Minority Leader
Leader4	Alhagie S. Darboe
Party4	United Democratic Party
Election4	2022
Members	58
Political groups1	Government (34), National People's Party: 34 seats, Opposition (24), United Democratic Party: 15 seats, Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction: 4 seats, Gambia Democratic Congress: 2 seats, People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism: 2 seats, National Reconciliation Party: 1 seat
Term length	5 years
Voting system1	First-past-the-post (53 seats), Presidential appointment (5 seats)
Last election1	9 April 2022
Next election1	2027
Meeting place	National Assembly Building, Banjul
Website	https://www.nationalassembly.gm/

Contents

History
Composition and elections
Powers and functions
Leadership and committees
Building and facilities
See also

National Assembly (Gambia). The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative body of The Gambia, forming a core component of the nation's Parliament. Established by the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia, it succeeded the House of Representatives following the 1994 military coup. The Assembly is responsible for enacting legislation, approving the national budget, and providing oversight of the executive branch led by the President of the Gambia.

History

The legislative history of The Gambia traces back to colonial institutions like the Legislative Council of the Gambia, established under British rule. Following independence in 1965, the House of Representatives served as the legislature until the 1994 coup led by Yahya Jammeh. After a transition period, the current National Assembly was inaugurated on 2 April 1997 under the new 1997 Constitution of the Gambia, which was ratified by a national referendum. For over two decades, the Assembly was dominated by Jammeh's Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction until the political upheaval following the 2016 presidential election and the subsequent 2017 constitutional crisis. The 2017 parliamentary elections marked a significant shift, bringing the United Democratic Party to a majority, a change consolidated by the National People's Party's victory in the 2022 elections.

Composition and elections

The National Assembly is composed of 58 members, known as Members of Parliament. Fifty-three members are directly elected from single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system across the country's administrative regions, including the Banjul Capital District. The remaining five members are appointed directly by the President of the Gambia, a provision outlined in the 1997 Constitution of the Gambia. Elections are held every five years, coinciding with the presidential term. Major political parties represented include the ruling National People's Party, the United Democratic Party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, and the Gambia Democratic Congress.

Powers and functions

The Assembly's primary power is the enactment of laws for The Gambia, covering all matters except those explicitly reserved for local governments under the Local Government Act. It holds critical financial authority, including the approval of the annual national budget and all taxation measures proposed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. The legislature exercises oversight of the executive through mechanisms such as question time, committee investigations, and the power to approve or reject key presidential appointments, including Secretaries of State and justices of the Supreme Court of the Gambia. It also has the power to initiate motions of no confidence and to amend the constitution, subject to a two-thirds majority vote.

Leadership and committees

The presiding officer of the Assembly is the Speaker, elected by MPs from among their own ranks or from qualified citizens; the current Speaker is Fabakary Jatta. The Speaker is assisted by a Deputy Speaker, currently Seedy Njie. The executive government's business in the house is managed by the Majority Leader, Billay G. Tunkara, while the main opposition party is led by the Minority Leader, Alhagie S. Darboe. The work of the Assembly is largely conducted through standing committees, which include the Public Accounts Committee, the Finance and Public Accounts Committee, the Selection Committee, and committees focused on specific sectors like Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Legal Affairs.

Building and facilities

The National Assembly convenes in the National Assembly Building, located in the capital city of Banjul on Independence Drive. The building houses the main chamber for plenary sessions, offices for the Speaker, Clerk, and other parliamentary officials, as well as committee rooms and libraries. The complex is a central feature of the Banjul administrative quarter, near other key institutions like the Arch 22 monument and the State House. Proceedings are broadcast to the public by the Gambia Radio and Television Service.