The Parliament of the Union of South Africa was the legislative branch of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961. The word 'Parliament' is pronounced as /ˈpɑːləmənt/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The stress in the word 'Parliament' falls on the second syllable. The spelling of 'Union of South Africa' is phonetically straightforward, pronounced as /ˈjuːniən əv saʊθ ˈæfrɪkə/. The stress in the word 'Union' falls on the first syllable and the stress in the word 'Africa' falls on the third syllable.
The Parliament of the Union of South Africa refers to the legislative body that governed the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961. The Union of South Africa was an independent state that emerged from the unification of four former British colonies – the Cape Colony, Natal Colony, Transvaal Colony, and Orange River Colony.
The Parliament of the Union of South Africa was established under the South Africa Act 1909 and consisted of two houses: the Senate and the House of Assembly. The Senate was composed of appointed members who represented the different provinces, while the House of Assembly consisted of elected members.
The Parliament held legislative authority and was responsible for enacting laws, making policies, and overseeing the government. It played a crucial role in shaping the political, social, and economic landscape of the country during this period.
The Parliament of the Union of South Africa served as the platform for discussions and debates on significant issues, such as racial segregation policies and the establishment of apartheid. It witnessed key moments in South African history, including the formation of the South African Native National Congress (later known as the African National Congress) and the passage of significant legislations like the Natives Land Act and the Group Areas Act.
With the advent of the Republic of South Africa in 1961, the Parliament of the Union of South Africa was replaced by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, marking the transition from a dominion to a republic.