The National Legislature of South Sudan is the legislature

Legislature

A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...

 of South Sudan

South Sudan

South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...

. The National Legislature consists of:

• The National Legislative Assembly
  National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan
  The National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan was established in 2011 by the interim constitution of the South Sudan 2005. It is one of the two chambers comprising the National Legislature of South Sudan.-Composition:...
  
  ; and
• The Council of States
  Council of States of South Sudan
  The Council of States of South Sudan was established in 2011 by the interim constitution of South Sudan 2011. It is one of the two chambers comprising the National Legislature of South Sudan.-Composition:The Council of States comprises:...
  
  .

The National Legislature has its seat in Juba, South Sudan.

Role

The legislative competences of the National Government of South Sudan are vested in the National Legislature in respect of all matters assigned to it in Schedules A, C and D of the Transitional Constitution (read together with Schedule E of the Transitional Constitution). This role includes:

• considering and passing amendments to the Constitution;
• enacting legislation;
• discussing statements by the President of South Sudan and taking decisions as may be necessary;
• authorizing annual allocation of resources and revenue;
• reconsidering a bill which has been rejected by the President;
• impeaching the President;
• approving any declaration of war;
• confirming any declaration of a state of emergency.

Eligibility

A candidate for membership of the National Legislature must:

• be a South Sudanese;
• be at least twenty-one years of age;
• be of sound mind;
• be literate; and
• not have been convicted during the last seven years of an offence involving honesty or moral turpitude.

Members of the National Legislature and the Council of Ministers are eligible for membership of state legislatures or state councils of ministers. A memeber of the National Legislative Assembly cannot also be a member of the Council of States (and vice versa). The term of the National Legislature shall be four years from July 9, 2011. The Constitution is a transitional Constitution and the terms relating to future general elections are not contained in it. However, there are provisions included for by-elections should vaccancies arise during the first four year period.

History

The establishment of the Natinoal Legislature is one of the new institutions created upon the independence of South Sudan in 2011. In substance, it is also a successor to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly

Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly

The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly was established in 2005 by the Interim constitution of the Southern Sudan 2005. Pending elections in 2010, all 170 members were appointed according to the following formula as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement : 70% of seats to SPLM, 15% to NCP, and 15%...

, itself established in 2005 by the Constitution of Southern Sudan

Constitution of Southern Sudan

The Constitution of Southern Sudan was the 2005 Interim Constitution of Southern Sudan, as established by the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement within the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement ending the Second Sudanese Civil War, signed into practice on 9...

.