National Assembly

General Information

Parliament name (generic / translated)	National Assembly
Structure of parliament	Unicameral
Leadership
President	Elizabeth Yamide Frances Renner (F)
Secretary General	Dodou C.M. Kebbeh (M)
Composition
Members (statutory / current number)	53 / 53
Women (current number)	4 (7.55%)
Mode of designation	Directly elected 48 Appointed 5
Term	5 years
Last renewal dates	25 January 2007

Legal Framework
Electoral law	19 April 1996
Mode of designation	Directly elected 48 Appointed 5
Voting system	Majority: Simple majority vote. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within 90 days. No by-elections are held in the last nine months of the Assembly's term. Voting is not compulsory
Voter requirements	age: 18 years Gambian citizenship residence or birth in constituency where registered disqualifications: allegiance to a foreign State, insanity, sentence of imprisonment, registration as voter in another country
Candidates
Eligibility	Qualified electors age: 21 years Gambian citizenship ordinary residence of at least one year in constituency where running declaration of assets to Independent Electoral Commission as required by law ability to speak English well enough to take part in the proceedings of the Assembly ineligibility: undischarged bankrupts, sentence of death or imprisonment of at least six months (in the preceding 5 years), certain government contractors, electoral offence
Incompatibilities	magistrates and judges members of the armed, police or security forces members of the Independent Electoral Commission
Candidacy requirements	nomination by at least 300 voters of the same constituency monetary deposit of 5,000 dalasis, reimbursed if candidate is successful or obtains at least 20% of the votes cast for the elected candidate

Appointment and term of office
Title	Speaker of the National Assembly
Term	duration: 5 years (term of legislature) reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution
Appointment	elected by the members of the Assembly election is held at the start of the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly before taking the oath
Eligibility	any member duly presented can be a candidate
Voting system	formal vote in public ballot by raising of hands simple majority
Procedures / results	the Chief Justice presides over the Assembly during the voting the Independent Electoral Commission supervises the voting the Chief Justice announces the results immediately the results cannot be challenged
Status
Status	hold equivalent rank to minister State figure represents the Assembly with the public authorities is de facto member of bodies outside Parliament is de facto President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Defence and Security represents the Assembly in international bodies in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions
Board
Material facilities	allowance + expense allowance official car secretariat