Article 2 Amendment of section 50 of the Constitution (Presiding in Assembly)

for subsection (3) substitute—

“(3)

When the Assembly first meets after a general election and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business except the election of the Speaker, it shall elect a Deputy Speaker from among the elected members of the Assembly other than a member of the Executive Council; and if the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant for any other reason than the dissolution of the Assembly, the Assembly shall, as soon as convenient, elect another member to that office.”; and

for subsection (4) substitute—

“(4)

A person must vacate the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker—

(a)

on dissolution of the Assembly;

(b)

if that person resigns the office by written notice to the Governor;

(c)

if a motion for that person’s removal from office receives in the Assembly the affirmative votes of two-thirds of all members thereof;

(d)

if, being a member of the Assembly, that person ceases to be a member for any reason other than a dissolution of the Assembly or if, by virtue of section 39, that person is required to cease to perform the functions of a member;

(e)

if that person becomes a member of the Executive Council; or

(f)

in the case of a Speaker who is not a member of the Assembly, if any circumstances arise that cause the Speaker to be disqualified for election as a member of the Assembly by virtue of section 37(1).”.