Home > Union of South Africa

Unlike Canada and Australia, the Union was a unitary state, rather than a federation, with each colony's parliaments being abolished and replaced with provincial councils. There was a bicameral ParliamentAlternative meanings: Parliamentary system, Parliament (band), Parliament (cigarette). A parliament is a legislative body, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system derived from that of the United Kingdom., consisting of a House of AssemblyHouse of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral legislature, in some countries, often at subnational level. Historically, the House of Assembly in British crown colonies superseded the (usually unelected) Legislative Cou and SenateA senate is a deliberative body, often the upper house or chamber of a legislature. The word senate is derived from the Latin word senex (old man), via the Latin word senatus (senate). The Latin word senator has been adopted by English with no change in s elected mostly by the country's white minority.

Owing to disagreements over where the Union's capital city should be, a compromise was reached in which the seat of government would be PretoriaPretoria is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the executive (administrative) capital; it is situated in the province of Gauteng. Cape Town is the legislative capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. It is a very pleasant and cos in the Transvaal, the seat of parliament would be Cape TownCape Town ( Afrikaans: Kaapstad , is one of South Africa's three capital cities serving as the legislative capital ( Pretoria being the executive capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital). It is also the capital of the Western Cape province. It is mo in the Cape Province, and the judiciary would be in BloemfonteinBloemfontein lit. fountain of flowers), is one of South Africa's three capital cities serving as the judicial capital ( Pretoria being the executive capital and Cape Town the legislative capital). It also serves as the capital of the Free State province., in the Orange Free State. Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, was given compensation. This arrangement continues to this day, with government ministers and most civil servants and diplomats moving from Pretoria to Cape Town every year when Parliament is in session, and back to Pretoria when it is not.

A self-governing Dominion of the British Empire, and later the Commonwealth of Nations, the Union remained under the British Crown, represented in South Africa by a Governor-General. Effective power was exercised by the Prime Minister. Louis Botha, formerly a Boer general, was appointed first Prime Minister of the Union, heading a coalition representing the white Afrikaner and English-speaking communities.

The Union of South Africa became the Republic of South Africa on May 31, 1961 and left the Commonwealth in the face of condemnation of its apartheid policies.