The House of Chiefs of Botswana

Botswana

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...

 is an advisory body of the country's Parliament

Parliament of Botswana

The Parliament of Botswana consists of the President and the National Assembly. In contrast to other Parliamentary systems, the Parliament elects the President directly for a set five year term of office. There are no term limits...

.

Composition

The House of Chiefs consists of 35 members. Eight members are hereditary chiefs from Botswana's principal tribes (baKgatla

Rulers of baKgatla

-List of Rulers of baKgatla:Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana**Colonial heads of Botswana ***Rulers of baKwêna...

, baKwêna

Rulers of baKwêna

-List of Rulers of baKwêna:Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana...

, baMalete

Rulers of Balete (baMalete)

-List of Rulers of Balete :Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana**Colonial heads of Botswana...

, bamaNgwato

Rulers of Bangwato (bamaNgwato)

-List of Rulers of the Bangwato :Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount ChiefNote...

, baNgwaketse

Rulers of baNgwaketse

The following is a list of rulers of baNgwaketse, a territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief- See also :*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana...

, baRôlông

Rulers of baRôlông

-List of Rulers of baRôlông:Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-Sources:*http://www.rulers.org/botstrad.htmlAt this point the Barolong found themselves separated by the Botswana - South Africa border...

, baTawana

Rulers of baTawana

-List of Rulers of baTawana:Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana**Colonial heads of Botswana ***Rulers of baKgatla...

, and baTlôkwa

Rulers of baTlôkwa

-List of Rulers of baTlôkwa:Territory located in present-day Botswana.Kgôsikgolo = Paramount Chief-See also:*Botswana**Heads of state of Botswana**Heads of government of Botswana**Colonial heads of Botswana ***Rulers of baKgatla...

). Another 22 members are indirectly elected and serve five-year terms. Of these, four are chosen from sub-chiefs in the districts

Districts of Botswana

||Botswana is divided into 16 administrative districts: 10 rural districts and 6 urban districts. These are administered by 16 local authorities...

 of North-East, Chobe

Chobe District

Chobe District is a district of Botswana, with the headquarters in Kasane. Until 2006, it shared with Ngamiland the North-West District Council as local government. Chobe National park is in the Chobe District...

, Ghanzi

Ghanzi

Ghanzi is a town in the western part of the Republic of Botswana in southern Africa. At the time of the 2001 census, there were 9,934 people living in the town with another 861 nearby. It is the administrative center of Ghanzi District and is known as the "Capital of the Kalahari"...

, and Kgalagadi

Kgalagadi

Kgalagadi is a district in southwest Botswana, lying along the country's border with Namibia and South Africa. The administrative center is Tshabong. Kgalagadi covers a vast area of the Kalahari Desert. It has a total area of 105,200 km², and has a population of only 42,000...

. The remaining 5 members are appointed by the country's president. They must be at least 21 years of age, proficient in the English language

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, and have not participated in active politics in the past five years. Chiefs may not belong to political parties

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

.

Powers

The House of Chiefs acts as a purely advisory body to the Parliament and has no legislative or veto

Veto

A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...

 power. All bills affecting tribal organization and property, customary law, and the administration of customary courts go through the house before being discussed. Members must also be consulted when the constitution is being reviewed or amended. The body has the power to summon members of government.

See also

• National Assembly of Botswana
  National Assembly of Botswana
  The National Assembly of Botswana is the legislature of the country's unicameral Parliament. It is advised by the House of Chiefs, which is not a house of Parliament....
  
   - which, together with the President, forms the Parliament of Botswana
• History of Botswana
  History of Botswana
  The Batswana, a term also used to denote all citizens of Botswana, refers to the country's major ethnic group . Prior to European contact, the Batswana lived as herders and farmers under tribal rule.-Before European contact:...
  
  
• Legislative Branch
• List of Chairpersons of the House of Chiefs of Botswana