Provincial council (South Africa)

In South Africa, the term "provincial council" refers to the unicameral legislature of each of the nine provinces. These councils are formally known as Provincial Legislatures. Each legislature is responsible for enacting legislation within its province on matters assigned to it by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.

The size of each Provincial Legislature is determined proportionally to the population of the province it represents, ranging from a minimum of 30 members to a maximum of 80. Members of the Provincial Legislatures (MPLs) are elected through a system of proportional representation, using closed party lists. This means that voters cast their ballots for a political party, and seats are allocated to each party in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

The Provincial Legislature's primary functions include:

• Legislation: Passing laws (Acts) on provincial matters. These matters generally include areas like health, education (excluding university education), housing, agriculture, roads, and local government. However, the national Parliament can also legislate on these matters where uniformity across the country is required or to set minimum standards.
• Oversight: Overseeing the provincial executive, ensuring that the provincial government is accountable and transparent in its actions. This is done through committees, questions in the legislature, and debates.
• Representation: Representing the interests and concerns of the people within the province.
• Electing the Premier: The Provincial Legislature elects the Premier of the province from amongst its members. The Premier is the head of the provincial government.

The powers and functions of the Provincial Legislatures are outlined in the Constitution of South Africa. The relationship between the provincial legislatures and the national Parliament is defined by cooperative governance principles, which emphasizes collaboration and coordination between the different levels of government.