The Act itself was designed on the basis of a number of constitutional principles. First was the understanding that Parliament's power to amend to money bills would have to be exercised responsibly. The Act therefore safeguards fiscal discipline in different ways, including providing for the introduction, and for the first time adoption, of a Fiscal Framework which sets key budgetary parameters for a particular financial year. Second, the Act had to give effect to the separation of powers in a parliamentary system of government. Accordingly, Parliament should not attempt to introduce new policy - the prerogative of the government. Amendments to money bills should rather be, under normal circumstances, motivated by concerns identified and documented during the legislatures oversight work. Third, any procedure should not unduly comprise the functioning of the state. Stringent timeframes were therefore set down for deliberations on the different bills. Fourth, the legislation should respond to the constitutional imperative of public involvement. Finally, for Parliament to amend budgets it would have to have sufficient institutional capacity. The Act therefore sets the foundation for a Parliamentary Budget Office with a mandate to undertake research and analysis and provide technical support and advice.