National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
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Name	National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is the unicameral legislature of Papua New Guinea, located in Port Moresby, the country's capital. The parliament is composed of members of parliament elected by the people of Papua New Guinea through a general election, with the most recent one being the 2017 Papua New Guinean general election. The parliament is responsible for making laws of Papua New Guinea and exercising parliamentary control over the Government of Papua New Guinea, led by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. The current prime minister is James Marape, who is also the leader of the Pangu Party.

● History

The history of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea dates back to the country's independence from Australia in 1975, with the first parliament being established under the Constitution of Papua New Guinea. The constitution was drafted by a Constitutional Planning Committee led by Chief Minister Michael Somare, who later became the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. The parliament has undergone several changes since its establishment, including the introduction of a new electoral system in 2007, which was implemented by the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea. The parliament has also been involved in several significant events, including the 2011 Papua New Guinean constitutional crisis, which involved a dispute between Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill over the prime ministership. Other notable events include the 1980s Bougainville Civil War, which was sparked by a conflict between the Bougainville Revolutionary Army and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, and the 1997 Sandline affair, which involved a controversy over the hiring of Sandline International mercenaries by the government.

● Structure

The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea is a unicameral legislature, consisting of a single chamber with 111 members of parliament. The parliament is led by a Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, who is currently Job Pomat. The speaker is assisted by a Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, who is currently Koni Iguan. The parliament is divided into several committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, the Privileges Committee, and the Bills and Legislation Committee. These committees are responsible for scrutinizing bills and laws introduced by the government, as well as exercising parliamentary control over the Executive Council of Papua New Guinea. The parliament also has a number of parliamentary groups, including the Papua New Guinea National Party, the United Resources Party, and the People's National Congress Party, which are led by prominent politicians such as Peter O'Neill and Mekere Morauta.

● Members

The members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea are elected by the people of Papua New Guinea through a general election, which is held every five years. The most recent election was the 2017 Papua New Guinean general election, which saw the election of James Marape as the prime minister. The members of parliament are responsible for representing their electorates and exercising parliamentary control over the government. Some notable members of parliament include Michael Somare, Peter O'Neill, and Mekere Morauta, who have all served as prime minister. Other notable members include Julius Chan, Rabbie Namaliu, and Paias Wingti, who have all played significant roles in the country's politics. The members of parliament are also involved in various parliamentary groups, including the Papua New Guinea Trade Union Congress and the Papua New Guinea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

● Electoral System

The electoral system used in Papua New Guinea is a limited preferential voting system, which was introduced in 2007. Under this system, voters rank candidates in order of preference, and the candidate with the most first-preference votes is declared the winner. The electoral system is managed by the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea, which is responsible for conducting elections and ensuring the integrity of the electoral process. The commission is led by a Chief Commissioner, who is currently Patilias Gamato. The electoral system has been the subject of controversy in the past, with some critics arguing that it is prone to electoral fraud and corruption. Despite these challenges, the electoral system has been praised for its ability to promote democracy and good governance in Papua New Guinea, with organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme and the Australian Agency for International Development providing support for electoral reform.

● Procedures and Powers

The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea has a number of procedures and powers that enable it to exercise parliamentary control over the government. These include the power to introduce and debate bills, as well as the power to scrutinize government budgets and financial reports. The parliament also has the power to conduct inquiries and investigations into matters of public importance, such as the 2011 Papua New Guinean constitutional crisis and the 1997 Sandline affair. The parliament is also responsible for exercising parliamentary control over the judiciary of Papua New Guinea, including the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and the National Court of Papua New Guinea. The parliament's procedures and powers are outlined in the Constitution of Papua New Guinea and the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 1964. The parliament is also guided by a number of parliamentary conventions, including the convention of collective responsibility and the convention of individual ministerial responsibility.

● Role

in Government The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea plays a critical role in the government of Papua New Guinea, as it is responsible for making laws and exercising parliamentary control over the Executive Council of Papua New Guinea. The parliament is also responsible for approving the government budget and financial reports, as well as conducting inquiries and investigations into matters of public importance. The parliament works closely with other institutions, including the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and the National Court of Papua New Guinea, to ensure the rule of law and good governance in Papua New Guinea. The parliament is also involved in a number of regional organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth of Nations, which promote regional cooperation and economic development in the Pacific region. Overall, the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea plays a vital role in promoting democracy and good governance in Papua New Guinea, and its work is critical to the country's development and prosperity. Category:Papua New Guinea