The speaker is chosen from among the members of the Assembly at its first sitting following a general election and whenever the office is vacant.

[1] The speaker acts as a "referee", taking charge of debates to make sure that the MPs can participate freely while keeping to the rules.

Each political party in the Assembly elects a chief whip to run its affairs.

The presiding officers, the chief whips, and the leader of government business (the person appointed by the Cabinet to liaise with Parliament) together decide on the programme of work.

The speaker of the National Assembly is elected to and removed from office in terms of S52 of the Constitution.