Botswana

National Assembly

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Oversight

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government
Yes

Sources: National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act & Standing Orders

Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials
Yes

Sources: National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act & Standing Orders

Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
No
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments
Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year
1,232
(2022)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
537
(2022)
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
43.6%
(2022)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries
Yes

Sources: National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act & Standing Orders

Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
0
(2022)

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Parliament does not play a role

Notes: The President is designated from the party that wins the electoral majority and forms a government.

Sources: Constitution, art. 32

The Head of Government is also the Head of State
Yes
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
No information available

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
Not applicable

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
Not applicable (there is no procedure)

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
The whole Government
Other

Notes:

If the National Assembly at any time passes a resolution supported by a majority of all the Members of the Assembly who are entitled to vote declaring that it has no confidence in the Government of Botswana, Parliament shall stand dissolved on the fourth day following the day on which such resolution was passed, unless the President earlier resigns his or her office or dissolves Parliament.

Other: Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the parliament.

Sources: Constitution, art. 59(d), 60(e) and 92.

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No