Excerpts From the Constitution Amendment Act 2013, Being an Act to Amend the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991. Amendment of section 79 of Act No 6 of 1991
“The Speaker 79 (1) The Speaker of Parliament shall be elected by the Members of Parliament from among persons who are-
(a) Members of Parliament and who had served as such for not less than five years; or
(b) Qualified to be Members of Parliament and who had served as such for not less than ten years”.
(c) And who are not less than forty years.
1.The Speaker shall be elected by a resolution in favour of which there are cast the votes of not less than two-thirds
Provided that if three successive resolutions proposing the election of a Speaker fail to receive the votes of two-thirds of the Members of Parliament, the Speaker shall be elected by a resolution passed by a simple majority of all the Members of Parliament.
No person shall be elected as speaker—if he is a member of the Armed Forces; or
1. if he is a Minister or a Deputy Minister.
2. The Speaker shall vacate his office—
1. if he becomes a Minister or a Deputy Minister; or
2. if any circumstances arise that, if he were not the Speaker, would disqualify him from election as Speaker; or
3. when Parliament first meets after any dissolution; or
4. if he is removed from office by a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the Members Parliament
3. No business shall be transacted in Parliament (other than an election to the office of Speaker) at any time if the office of Speaker is vacant.
4. Any person elected to the office of Speaker who is not a Member of Parliament shall before entering upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe before Parliament the oath as set out in the Third Schedule in this Constitution.
5. The Speaker, or in his absence the Deputy Speaker, shall preside over all sittings of Parliament, except when the President is present.