6. Legislation and the making of Acts

The power to make laws

Section 105: Subject to the Constitution, Parliament is the supreme legislative authority for Sierra Leone.

Section 106: Parliament makes laws by Bills passed by Parliament and signed by the President. An Act comes into operation on the date of its publication in the Gazette or on another date it prescribes. Laws are styled Acts.

Stages of a Bill

Publication and first reading: A Bill is published in the Gazette and introduced in Parliament, where its title is read.

Second reading: Parliament debates the principles of the Bill.

Committee stage: The Bill is examined clause by clause and amendments may be made.

Third reading: The House votes on the Bill as a whole.

Presidential assent: The Bill goes to the President for signature.

The President's refusal

Return with reasons: If the President refuses to sign, the unsigned Bill must be returned to Parliament within fourteen days with reasons.

Override: Parliament can then pass the Bill again with the support of at least two-thirds of all Members, after which the President must sign it.

Kinds of legislation

Public and private Bills: Public Bills concern the general public; private Bills concern particular persons, bodies or places.

Entrenched provisions: Some provisions of the Constitution can be amended only by special majorities and, for the most protected clauses, a referendum (section 108).