Legislative Services Department

1. Establishment of the Department (Our History)

Section 105 of the constitution of Sierra Leone, Act no.6 of the 1991 clearly makes provision that the Sierra Leone House of Parliament shall be the Supreme Legislative authority in the State. In lieu of the above provision, in tandem with Section 13 sub-section (1) of the Parliamentary Service Act, 2007 and international best practices, the Legislative Services Department was established in 2013 under these laws to minimize the enormous and growing responsibilities of the Clerk of Parliament. Thus, the department functions as a specialist creature within the parliamentary service charged with the responsibility to provide procedural support in the legislative process. This gives the department the unique opportunity to support the office of the Clerk in the smooth running of the House.Further, the department serves as a driving force in the advancement of parliamentary best practice.Prior to the establishment of the department, the law making process was under the Office of the Clerk supervised by the Deputy Clerk. In current time, the established department is still under the supervision of the Office of the Clerk but however headed by a Director and a Deputy Director

2. Who We Are & Why Do We Exist?

We associate with other International legislative bodies like the Society of Clerks-at-the Table (SOCATT) to provide a means by which the Parliamentary Practice of various Legislative Chambers of the Commonwealth may be made more accessible to Clerks-at-the Table or those having similar duties, in any such legislature in the exercise of their professional duties.Also, we foster an environment of sharing and learning among officers of Parliament with regard to Parliamentary Operations.The Legislative Services Department functions as a specialist Department addressing Para-legal and procedural matters relating to law making process which is cardinal in achieving the smooth running of the parliamentary services. The Legislative Services is made up of two units- the Bills Unit and the Table Unit, which are headed by Principal Legislative Clerks respectively.

The Bills Unit:
Section 13 (2)(f) of the Parliamentary Service Act 2007 espouses the establishment of a Parliamentary Counsel to support the Office of the Clerk of Parliament in the discharge of its law making duties. The said office is yet to be actualized thus the Bills Unit has been created within the Legislative Services to champion those issues meant to be addressed by the Parliamentary Counsel. Thus, the Bills unit is responsible for the monitoring, supervision, and timely facilitation of the safe passage of all bills, statutory and constitutional instruments. Some of the Staff assigned to this unit are legal minded and proffer legal counsel as and when necessary. The Bills Unit is currently made-up of six staff.
The Table Unit:
The Standing Orders with its diverse clauses when subject to application in the Chamber by MPs, tends to elude any straight-jacket interpretation and adaptation. In that regard, the Table Unit was established to provide support and advice to Mr. Speaker, Clerk of Parliament, Leadership, Members of Parliament and MDAs, on practices and procedural matters, in concurrence with the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, Standing Orders, Chamber ethics and international best practice. Furthermore, the Unit maintains and provides easy access to legislative information and documentations. It maintains legislative records and are responsible for the day-to-day administrative activities of the Department. The Table unit is currently made up of six staff.

3. Our Mandate

We have a mandate to promote a culture of legislative excellence through the provision of professional services to the Speaker, Leadership, Members of Parliament, and public and also to serve as a driving force in the advancement of Parliament and the promotion of democratic good governance. Thus, staff of the department gives in their best to accomplish the goal of the department and by extension the parliament as a whole.

4. Core Values

We believe in Team work, transparency and accountability to actualize the goal of the department.

5. Guiding Principles

We are guided by a sustainable culture of legislative excellence, serving as a driver of dynamic achievements, assimilating new horizons all towards inexhaustible productive democracy and creative good governance for the good of the nation.A “religious” commitment to service, informed by mastery of the national Constitution, the Standing Orders and studies on how parliaments work, that is supportive of the responsibilities of Members of Parliament to deliver on the trust of the people.

6. Our Services

a) We give technical advice from time to time to Mr. Speaker, MPs, Ministers and their Deputies on parliamentary procedures regarding tabled proposals for legislation— a high profile service of support being that in the marathon passage of the annual budget.
b) We provide technical interventions in the deliberations on bills and statutory instruments committed to the legislative committee for close scrutiny
c) Recording amendments on bills and ensure that those made during the legislative process are correctly reflected in the final Act.
d) Liaise with the Government Printer Department to ensure bills are gazetted as specified in the standing orders of the house, and with State House for presidential assent
e) Production of the votes and proceedings of sittings of the House
f) Monitors and register the attendance of MPs as provided in the Constitution and the Standing Orders (Section 77 (1) (e)) and S.O.77 respectively) to curb absenteeism and promote serious commitment to the development of the lives of the people
g) Production of matrixes of legislative business recording each sitting and meeting of sessions (from the first sitting of a new parliament to dissolution after five sessions)
h) Drafting of question for Ministers and formulating the texts of answers
i) Provide a Record-keeping of legislative documents.
j) Guide members in the process of generating Private Member’s Bill.
k)Help first time MP’s to understand the legislation process i.e the process on how bills are passed, how statutory instruments become legal and how motions are ratified.
l)Provide administrative updates on the work of the department as and when needed.
m) Learning among officers of Parliament with regard to Parliamentary Operations
n) We prepare and submit attendance matrixes of absenteeism for the attention of Mr. Speaker.
o) We Prepare procedures used in the Chamber for Mr. Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leaders and Ministers and Deputies.
p) Calling Mr. Speaker’s attention on the necessary Standing Orders and Constitutional provisions that should be invoked during sittings

7. Feedback and Responses

8. Departmental Organogram

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTURE-ORGANOGRAM