National Assembly — Composition, Election, and Role
Exam Snapshot
The National Assembly is the Upper House of the Federal Parliament, acting as a permanent legislative body and representative of the states. It comprises 59 members, with a unique electoral system that balances federal and local representation.
Core Concept
- Composition: Total of 59 members. 56 are elected from the seven provinces (8 from each), and 3 are nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.
- Provincial Quota Breakdown: Each province elects 8 members consisting of 3 women, 1 Dalit, 1 person with disability or minority, and 3 "other" candidates.
- Electoral College: Members are elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the Provincial Assembly and the Chair/Vice-Chair of Village Bodies and Mayor/Deputy Mayor of Municipalities.
- Election System: Election is held under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, ensuring proportional representation of diverse groups.
- Role: Serves as a chamber for legislative review and ensures the representation of provinces, preventing the dominance of the House of Representatives. It is a permanent house that cannot be dissolved.
Nepal Law Anchors
- Article 86: Composition of the National Assembly.
- Article 87: Qualification for members.
- Article 88: Oath of members.
Confusable Terms
- National Assembly vs. House of Representatives: The NA (Upper House) represents provinces and is permanent, while the HoR (Lower House) represents people directly and can be dissolved.
- Nominated Members: Only 3 members are nominated (by the President); all others (56) are elected.
MCQ Traps
- Direct Election: NA members are NOT directly elected by the public; they are elected by an electoral college of local and provincial representatives.
- Dissolution: The NA is a permanent house and cannot be dissolved, unlike the House of Representatives.
- Tenure: Members serve for a term of 6 years, but one-third of the members retire every 2 years.
Example
If a province needs to elect 8 members, the voting is conducted by Provincial Assembly members and local government heads (Mayors/Deputy Mayors). If a vacancy arises for a nominated seat, the Council of Ministers recommends a name, and the President appoints them to represent specific sectors (e.g., experts/academics).
Memory Hook
"59 in the House, 56 elected (8 per province), 3 nominated by the President's hand."
Quick Revision
- Permanent house (cannot be dissolved).
- Total 59 members (56 elected + 3 nominated).
- 8 members per province.
- Elected by Provincial Assembly members + Local heads.
- Term of office: 6 years; one-third retire every 2 years.