President’s Council, noun phrase

historical
Note:
Also abbreviation, see PC noun2.
a. A multi-racial body of 60 members (nominated as representatives of the various ethnic groups), created in 1980 to act as an advisory council for the State President. Also attributive.
1980 S. Jenkins in Rand Daily Mail 19 June 9You see constitutional commissions, President’s Councils, consultative procedures with blacks, the olive branch held out to Buthelezi, and so on, while at the same time you introduce tougher Terrorism Acts, or ban more people, or ruthlessly suppress demonstrations and marches, or introduce laws to control the Press.
1981 Rand Daily Mail 27 May 12The President’s Council has been a non-starter, rejected by the official Opposition as well as representative coloured, Indian and Black leaders.
1981 Daily Dispatch 22 Sept. 4Far-reaching powers, including the right to subpoena witnesses to testify before it, are to be conferred on the President’s Council.
1981 E. Prov. Herald 13 Oct. 1Labour backs leader’s President’s Council stand.
b. Under the tricameral constitution of 1983: a body of 60 members (of whom 25 were nominated and 35 elected) with certain legislative powers, such as the ratification of legislation.
Note:
The President’s Council ceased to exist when the transitional Constitution came into effect in 1994.
1983 C.W. Eglin in Hansard 16 May 7353The President’s Council, which alone can make a final and binding decision on matters of dispute between the three Houses, is dominated by the NP caucus and the NP’s President.
1983 R.B. Miller in Hansard 16 May 7314We would like to see a change in the formula for representation of elected members to the President’s Council...Instead of being elected by the majority of the House of Representatives and the House of Deputies,..it would be preferable to have proportional representation in respect of the representation of the different parties.
1983 Govt Gaz. Vol.219 No.8914, 50The President’s Council shall at the request of the State President advise him on any matter referred to it by the State President for its advice, and may, in its discretion, advise him on any matter (excluding draft legislation) which, in its opinion, is of public interest.
1986 E. Prov. Herald 20 June 4The President’s Council met briefly yesterday...President P W Botha is bound by the decision of the council, but since it has a built-in National Party majority, it is virtually certain to approve the Bills in the form approved by the white House of Assembly.
1987 G. Carpenter Intro. to S. Afr. Constit. Law 317The President’s Council which was established in 1980 was a purely advisory body appointed entirely by the State President...It was in essence nothing more or less than a permanent commission...The President’s Council constituted under the 1983 Constitution differs both in composition and in function. There are still 60 members, but only 25 of these are nominated by the State President. Ten of these so-called State President’s nominees are..appointed by opposition parties in the three houses...The remaining fifteen members are appointed by the State President acting in conjunction with the executive.
1992 P. Cull in Weekend Post 24 Oct. 20Dominated by the National Party there is little doubt the President’s Council will obey its master’s voice, and ensure that the legislation is signed and on the Statute Book in time.
A multi-racial body of 60 members (nominated as representatives of the various ethnic groups), created in 1980 to act as an advisory council for the State President. Also attributive.
Under the tricameral constitution of 1983: a body of 60 members (of whom 25 were nominated and 35 elected) with certain legislative powers, such as the ratification of legislation.
Derivatives:
Hence President’s Councillor  noun phrase, one serving on the President’s Council.
1981 Voice 11 Oct. 15Fringe benefits for President’s Councillors include a pension scheme, accident insurance, transport facilities, parking and tax-free expense allowances.
1987 E. Prov. Herald 9 Oct. 8Mr Colin Eglin admits the loss of two parliamentarians and a President’s Councillor is a setback for the PFP.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

19801992

Browse Related Words

By Category

Government and Administration
Organisations Parties and Movements

By Usage

historical
prescribed area, noun phrasen. phr.Pretoria, nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English