Maryland County’s district #2 Representative, Anthony F. Williams, has proposed a comprehensive revision of the Standing Rules of the House of Representatives in order to ensure stability at the House, enhance governance, restore public confidence and ensure the efficient conduct of legislative business.
The proposal aims to directly address several concerns that emerged during the recent impasse at the House of Representatives, particularly those pertaining to Constitutional requirements, as underscored in the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Among other things, Representative Williams proposed the strengthening of legislative efficiency and member attendance. The proposal noted that, in alignment with Article 33 of the Constitution of Liberia the revised rules must provide clear guidance on how a small number of members may adjourn from day-to-day while ensuring the attendance of absent representatives, further noting that the goal is to streamline legislative activities, avoid unnecessary delays and maintain the integrity of the House.
According to Representative William’s proposal, House Standing Rules must explicitly outline clear leadership transition protocols to prevent procedural disputes and ensure the stability of governance. Also, in strict adherence to Articles 33 and 49, the revision process should address mechanisms that prevent unauthorized legislative maneuvers and safeguard Constitutional compliance in all parliamentary decisions.
The lawmaker further requested members of the House to adopt structured mediation mechanisms to resolve disputes effectively. “I propose the establishment of conflict resolution frameworks within the Standing Rules to prevent future impasses and division,” Representative Williams observed.
In his proposal, addressed to Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, the Pleebo-Sodoken lawmaker called for the establishment of additional standing committees to reflect the evolving political and socio-economic realities of the nation, emphasizing that the committees must be designed to address pressing national concerns and ensure thorough legislative oversight and policymaking.
He also implored his colleagues to review and refine committee functions, stating that existing statutory and standing committees must undergo a critical review to eliminate overlapping functions, as streamlining responsibilities can cause committees to operate more efficiently and build synergies for stronger legislative impact.
The lawmaker further proposed that, in order to prevent future disruptions, the House should enforce disciplinary actions against members who violate established procedures, underscoring that stronger enforcement mechanisms within the Standing Rules will guarantee smooth legislative operations and prevent internal conflicts.
He also proposed for public accountability and transparency, describing legislative integrity as paramount. “A review of our rules must ensure transparent voting procedures, clear documentation of legislative decisions, and public accessibility to key unclassified records. The absence of procedural clarity has contributed to skepticism—this revision must restore confidence in our governance at the House of Representatives.
Representative Williams’ proposal comes a few weeks after members of the House of Representatives have settled a long-running dispute that divided them and crippled the functions of the first branch of government.
Even though the matter was dragged to the Supreme Court, Justices of the court informed the lawmakers that they could not do for the House of Representatives what it has failed to do for itself. This statement was in direct reference to the fact that there was no rule on how minority members could adjourn from day-to-day while ensuring the attendance of absent representatives.
Observers were then left with the opinion that the Supreme Court could not completely solve the problem, and consequently the matter dragged on for several months.
However, Representative William has championed the cause to initiate a complete reform of the House’s Standing Rules—to take into consideration all these issues and avoid future conflict.
The proposal, which was crafted about a week ago, pointed out that a thorough revision of the Standing Rules is not just merely necessary, but imperative for the stability of the House and the future of Liberian democracy. The reformative instrument was introduced in plenary on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 for deliberation and action.
