A no-confidence resolution requires a written notice signed by at least 20% of total Assembly membership i.e. currently 67 members in 336-strong House. Once filed, it is listed on the Order of the Day on the first working day that comes after one clear day of notice of no-confidence resolution. Once the resolution is moved, it cannot be voted on before three days, nor later than seven days. The Assembly cannot be prorogued while it is pending.

Why it matters for the National Assembly proceedings?

The 20% signature threshold ensures a no-confidence motion represents a serious political challenge, and not just a tactical nuisance. The three-to-seven day voting window balances deliberation against urgency. The no-prorogation rule prevents the government from closing the session to avoid the vote.

What is in it for citizens?

The no-confidence mechanism is one of the most significant accountability tools in a parliamentary system. For citizens, the 67-signature threshold, the mandatory voting window, and the ban on prorogation all create observable, verifiable events. Whether those signatures are genuine and whether the vote is held on time are matters of public record.

Source: Rule 37, 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.