Institute for Security Studies: Budget Guide for Members of Parliament

Parliament is required to represent the people and to ensure government by the people under the Constitution. It does so by choosing the president, by providing a national forum for public consideration of issues, by passing legislation and by scrutinising and overseeing executive action.

Parliament’s oversight of the executive is strengthened by its ability to analyse budgets before and after they are implemented. To perform this oversight function effectively and participate in public debates, Parliamentarians must have a good understanding of budgeting and public finance.

Parliament’s role in the budget has been formally reinforced by the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act (‘Money Bills Amendment Act’), which was passed in 2009. The establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office is an example of institutional support for the implementation of the Act.

Len Verwey, formerly from the Institute for Democracy in Africa, has written a budget guide for MPs that looks at the budget cycle, Parliament's role in the budget, budget and public finance legislation, and more. You can read the guide here.