When a Money Bill is passed by the National Assembly, the Speaker signs an authenticated copy and certifies that it is a Money Bill. That certificate is conclusive for all purposes and cannot be challenged. Money Bills are transmitted to the Senate for recommendations only, not amendment or veto. The Senate has 90 days to respond with its suggestions.

Why it matters for the National Assembly proceedings?

The Speaker’s certification that a bill is money bill is the official announcement that it does not require the Senate’s approval and can be assented to by the President without it. The constitutional intent behind not requiring Senate’s vote on the money bill is to prevent the indirectly elected House from blocking the budget passed by the directly elected House.

What is in it for citizens?

For citizens, the Money Bill classification matters because it determines whether the Senate can effectively scrutinise and amend legislation. Bills certified as Money Bills avoid the full bicameral process.

Source: Rules 141–142, Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007

The proceedings of the National Assembly are governed by the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007. The current rules were passed on 23 February 2007 and have since been amended 21 times, most recently on 22 October 2024.

This post is part of FAFEN’s series on parliamentary literacy. Read more of this series here