Until elections in 1993, Tinkhundla leaders were appointed by the King. Swaziland's bicameral parliament holds a total of 95 representatives. The 30-member Senate consists of 20 members appointed by the King, and ten elected by the lower House. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are chosen by the King from among the members of parliament. Parliament sits for five years, but the Monarch has the right to dissolve it at any time.
Parliament rules with an accompanying structure of published laws.
Legislation originates in either House, except for appropriations which must originate in the House of Assembly. All legislation passed by Parliament must receive the King's assent, which may be withheld totally or partially. The past few years have witnessed a dramatic change in the nature of parliamentary election through the use of secret ballot. The Embassy is encouraged by the progress of the new parliament as its members have been struggling to define the institution's role and carve out its power base. The use of Parliament to represent the people and the responsibility that carries is clearly new, and MPs are learning how to fulfill their role, with an increasing amount of vigor as expressed in their questioning of government.