Botswana is a parliamentary republic in which the President of Botswana is both head of state and head of government. The nation's politics are based heavily on British parliamentary politics and on traditional Batswana chiefdom. The legislature is made up of the unicameral National Assembly and the advisory body of tribal chiefs, the Ntlo ya Dikgosi. The National Assembly chooses the president, but once in office the president has significant authority over the legislature with only limited separation of powers. The Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) rules as a dominant party; while elections in Botswana are considered free and fair by observers, the BDP has controlled the National Assembly since independence. Political opposition in Botswana often exists between factions in the BDP rather than through separate parties, though several opposition parties exist and regularly hold a small number of seats in the National Assembly.
The Government of Botswana often abbreviated as GOB, is the union government created by the constitution of Botswana having the executive, parliament, and the judiciary. The Seat of the Government is located in Gaborone, Botswana. The government is led by the president.
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. A president can only serve 2 full terms. The President is both Head of state and of government in Botswana's parliamentary republican system. Parliament of Botswana is the supreme legislative authority. The President of Botswana is Mokgweetsi Masisi, who assumed the Presidency on 1 April 2018 after winning the 2019 general election and returning his Botswana Democratic Party with a majority of 19 seats in the 65 seat National Assembly.
The National Assembly is the sole legislative body of Botswana's unicameral Parliament, of which consists of the President and the National Assembly. The House passes laws, provides ministers to form Cabinet, and supervises the work of government. It is also responsible for adopting the country's budgets. It is advised by the Ntlo ya Dikgosi, a council of tribal chiefs which is not a house of Parliament.
Phandu Tombola Chaka Skelemani is a Motswana who is the current speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana. He served in the government of Botswana as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2008 to 2014. A member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), Skelemani is a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Botswana and a member of the Pan-African Parliament from Botswana, and he served as Attorney-General of Botswana from 1992 to 2003.
An ex officio member is a member of a body who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term ex officio is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right of office'; its use dates back to the Roman Republic.
Edison Setlhomo K. Masisi was a politician and diplomat in Botswana and he is the father of the current President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi. He served as member of parliament of Mosopa between 1965 and 1999. Masisi attended Tiger Kloof along with future president Quett Masire. After qualifying as a teacher, he taught at Moshupa (1950-1964), which he served as head teacher (1957-1964). In 1964, he resigned to contest the Moshupa seat on the BDP ticket. The following year, he won in the election and was appointed as assistant Minister of Education, Labour and Social Services. He served as the second minister of state for Foreign Affairs in the Office of the President from 1969–1971. He was moved to the Ministry of Education in 1972 and later or Ministry of Health (1978-1979). In 1989, he was elected as the deputy speaker of the National Assembly, where remained in the position until 1999. In 1993, he was appointed as assistant Minister of Finance and Development Planning. He retired from active politics in 1999.
Moutlakgola Palgrave Kediretswe Nwako was a former politician and diplomat in Botswana. Nwako served as the first foreign minister from 1966-1969. He was Speaker of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1989 to 1999.
The Constitution of Botswana commenced on September 30, 1966.
Ponatshego Honorius Kefaeng Kedikilwe is a Motswana politician who was Vice-President of Botswana from 2012 to 2014. A member of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), he has also served as Minister of Minerals, Energy, and Water Resources since 2007.
Margaret Nnananyana Nasha is a Botswana politician who served as the Speaker of the National Assembly from 2009 to 2014. She was the first woman to hold the position.
Gladys Keitumetse Theresa Kokorwe is a Botswana politician who was the Speaker of the National Assembly from 2014 to 2019. She is a member of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP).
The 2024 Botswana general election will be held to determine the composition of the 13th Parliament of Botswana as well as local councils across the country. Up for election are 61 seats of the National Assembly as well as 490 local council seats, all elected through the first-past-the-post voting system.
Gaefalale Gaolebale Sebeso (1908–1992) was a Motswana politician. He served as a member of National Assembly of Botswana from 1965 to 1989, representing Tswapong South and serving as deputy speaker for the duration of his tenure. He was a member of the Botswana Democratic Party.
The 9th Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 2004 to 2009. It had fifty-seven standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 2004 Botswana general election.
The 7th Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1994 to 1999. It had forty standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 1994 Botswana general election.
The 6th Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1989 to 1994. It had thirty four standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 1989 Botswana general election.
The 4th Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1979 to 1984. It had thirty two standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 1979 Botswana general election.
The 3rd Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1974 to 1979. It had thirty two standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 1974 Botswana general election.
The 2nd Parliament of Botswana was the meeting of the National Assembly of Botswana from 1969 to 1974. It had thirty one standard members, four specially elected members, and two ex officio members. Its members were chosen in the 1974 Botswana general election.
