Nebraska legislature is non-partisan - examiner

MBABANE – In its analysis of the State’s political system, the Nebraska examiner explains that their legislature is non-partisan as they don’t elect senators by party and, even more significantly, the Parliament is not organised by party.

In Nebraska, senators may be members of political parties. They don’t take their party manifestos and policies to the chambers. It may happen that members of a political party dominate the house, but that doesn’t mean their organisation automatically controls the leadership and proceedings and lawmaking. Instead of the party telling senators what positions to take and how to vote, all senators have their own voice. Senators can listen to their constituents and their own consciences rather than knuckling under to party dictates. It is said that the resulting policies tend to be more thoughtful and nuanced, to take into account real people and their needs and desires instead of just party doctrine. Section 79 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini provides that the system of government for the

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT NEBRASKA’S LEGISLATURE?

With 49 members, known as ‘senators’, the Nebraska Legislature is the smallest State legislature of any USA State. Unlike the legislatures

country is a democratic, participatory, Tinkhundla-based system which emphasises devolution of State power from central government to Tinkhundla areas and individual merit as a basis for election or appointment to the public office.

Dr. PQ Magagula, a Political Analyst and retired lecturer at the University of Eswatini, said the Nebraska’s political system appeared to be an interesting subject to get familiar with.

“It’s interesting to read about. I wasn’t aware of that,” Dr. Magagula said.

He said the law or any regulation de-legitimising partisan politics inside the chambers was clearly a violation of the US Constitution on freedom of association.

It must be said that the US Constitution does not mention political parties, yet they play an important role in the American Government. They began to emerge with disputes over the ratification of the Constitution, becoming known as the of the other 49 USA States and the US Congress, the Nebraska Legislature is a unicameral legislature, thus not separated into two houses.

Federalists and the Anti-Federalists. George Washington specifically warned against ‘the baneful effects of the spirit of party’ in his farewell address in 1796.

Yet, no sooner did Washington retire from office than political parties became a permanent fixture of American elections.

Dr. Magagula insisted that equating the Nebraska political system to Tinkhundla could be the violation of the USA Constitution. He did say that political parties, in many jurisdictions, touched base with communities to ascertain if their deployed party candidates would be accepted by the constituents.

He said the party system differed from one jurisdiction to another.

In April 2022, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the People’s United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) said they were not in the struggle for multiparty democracy, but that of liberation from royal supremacy.