Questions are a way of making issues of the day public. They are also often used for political gain. Opposition parties often ask questions as a way of criticising a minister and the government, while members of the majority party will often ask questions which highlight a minister's achievements. Every year the Minister of Finance presents the Budget. This is a proposal for how government will collect money for that year, and how it will spend the money it raises on various government activities.
Parliament debates the budget and votes on it.
The NCOP must be involved in the final decision over how much money is divided between national, provincial and local levels of government. In addition to interpellation debates, various other kinds of debates are held in Parliament. For example, a debate is held on the President's opening of Parliament speech. A snap debate may be held when an issue of national importance must be discussed urgently. Debates are held around the annual Budget, and around bills which the Parliament has been asked to approve.