(3) The President may send messages to either House, and the messages must be read by a Vice-President or a Minister. 132 Standing Orders The Senate and the National Assembly, individually or jointly, may make rules and orders with respect to— (a) the appointment of committees and the delegation of functions to them; (b) the order and conduct of business and proceedings in and between the Houses; (c) the passing of Bills; and (d) the manner in which the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses may be exercised and upheld. 133 Validity of proceedings in Parliament (1) A vacancy in the membership of the Senate or the National Assembly, or the suspension of a Member of Parliament, does not prevent the Senate or the National Assembly from transacting its business. (2) The fact that a person who was not entitled to do so sat and voted in the Senate or the National Assembly or otherwise took part in the proceedings of the Senate or the National Assembly does not invalidate the proceedings. PART VI LEGISLATIVE POWERS 134 Bills Parliament's power to make laws is exercised by Bills passed by the National Assembly and the Senate and assented to by the President. 135 Procedure for passing Bills The procedure to be followed by the Senate and the National Assembly with regard to Bills is set out in the Fourth Schedule. 136 Presidential assent to Bills (1) When a Bill is presented to the President for assent, he or she must, within twenty-one days, either assent to it or, if he or she has reservations regarding the Bill, withhold his or her assent. (2) If the President withholds his or her assent to a Bill— (a) the President must ensure that the Bill is returned to the House from which it originated without delay, and in any event within fourteen days after the President withheld assent, accompanied by a statement of the President's reasons for withholding assent; and (b) the Bill must not be presented to the President again unless, within six months, at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate and the National Assembly, at a joint sitting, have resolved that the Bill should be presented to the President for assent. (3) When a Bill is presented to the President for assent following a resolution referred to in subsection (2), the President must assent to it within fourteen days. - 56 -