East African Legislative Assembly

=Founding and first session of the East African Legislative Assembly=

The East African Legislative Assemblyis a sub organ of the larger East African Community, being the Legislative arm of the Community. EALA had its first sitting in Arusha, Tanzania on November 29, 2001. It had been founded the day before.

Membership

Nine members that come from each country and five ex-officio members make up the membership of the East African Legislative Assembly. Members are elected by legislative vote by their own countries, not nessacarily from within them. To make sure there are women represented there are 2 female members from Kenya, 3 from Tanzania and 4 from Uganda.

There are three Ex-officio members that are ministers, from each country who are responsible for Regional Cooperation, also included is a Secretary General and a Counsel to the Community.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the East African Legislative Assembly are:

* To meet with the National Assemblies of member countries on matters relating to the Community.

* To debate, discuss and approve the budget of the Community.

* To consider annual reports on the activities of the Community, annual audit reports of the Audit Commission and any other reports referred to it by the Council of Ministers.

* To discuss all matters pertaining to the Community and make recommendations to the Council as it may deem necessary for the implementation of the Treaty.

* May for purposes of carrying out its functions, establish any committee or committees for such purposes as it deems necessary.

* To recommend to the Council the appointment of the Clerk and other officers of the Assembly.

* To make its own rules of procedure and those of its committees.

* To perform any other duties that are allowed and permitted by the Treaty.

Committees

EALA is empowered to make its own Rules of Procedure and to constitute Committees. The adopted Rules of Procedure (as amended in February 2003) provide for a Committee System of Seven Standing Committees, but may also appoint Select Committees when need arises.

The Seven Standing Committees are:

* Accounts

* Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources

* General Purpose

* House Business

* Legal, Rules and Privileges

* Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution

* Trade Communication and Investment

The composition and leadership of each of these Committees is equally shared among the Partners States.

Activities since Inauguration

Since its inauguration, EALA has held several sittings as a Plenary in Arusha, Kampala and Nairobi. During these sittings, EALA has…

* Adopted its Rules of Procedure

* Elected the Speaker of the Assembly

* Recommended to the Council of Ministers the appointment of the Officers of the Assembly

* Approved the Budgets for EAC for the 2002/2003, and 2003/2004 Financial Years

* Asked the Council of Ministers 19 Questions, which were duly answered

* Adopted five Resolutions

* Held Seminars on a wide range of issues in relation to their Mandate

* Passed six Bills into law.

The Committees have continuously got briefs from the Secretariat and given advice with regard to progress in the implementation of the Treaty

Extermnal link

[http://www.eac.int/eala/ East African Legislative Assembly website]