unicameral National Assembly or Parliament (Bunge) (393 seats; 264 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 113 women indirectly elected by proportional representation vote, 5 indirectly elected by simple majority vote by the Zanzibar House of Representatives, 10 appointed by the president, and 1 seat reserved for the attorney general; members serve a 5-year term); note – in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the National Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives or Baraza La Wawakilishi (82 seats; 50 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 20 women directly elected by proportional representation vote, 10 appointed by the Zanzibar president, 1 seat for the House speaker, and 1 ex-officio seat for the attorney general; elected members serve a 5-year term)

elections: 

Tanzania National Assembly and Zanzibar House of Representatives – elections last held on 25 October 2015 (next National Assembly election to be held in October 2020; next Zanzibar election either October 2020 or March 2021); note the Zanzibar Electoral Commission annulled the 2015 election; repoll held on 20 March 2016

election results: 

National Assembly – percent of vote by party – CCM 55%, Chadema 31.8%, CUF 8.6%, other 4.6%; seats by party – CCM 253, Chadema 70, CUF 42, other 2; composition as of September 2018 – men 245, women 145, percent of women 37.2%

Zanzibar House of Representatives – percent of vote by party – NA; seats by party – NA; composition – NA

The National Assembly of Tanzania was established before independence in 1926 as Legislative Council of Tanzania Mainland, then known as Tanganyika. The Legislative Council was established under Tanganyika Legislative Council Order and Council, a law enacted by the British Parliament. The law was gazetted in Tanganyika on 18th June 1926 and the council was launched in Dar es Salaam on 7th December 1926 under the chairmanship of the Governor of Tanganyika, Sir. Donald Cameron. The council had 20 members all appointed by the Governor.

The first major change to the Legislative Council was done in 1953 when the first Speaker was appointed to replace the Governor as chairman of the council. The first speaker took office on 1st November 1953.

The second major change was in 1958 when for the first time the Council got few members elected by the people. This marked a very big change in the politics of Tanganyika because it was the first election to be allowed in the colony and it was the first time political parties – that were already registered – participated in elections. Three political parties participated in those elections namely, Tanganyika African Union (TANU), United Tanganyika Party (UTP) and African National Congress (ANC). However, only TANU won in some constituencies to become the first party to have members in the Legislative Council.

The third major change to the Legislative Council occurred in 1960 when the second elections of the council were held. The changes were part of preparations for the independence of Tanganyika. For the first time the people elected all members of the council after abolishment of all members appointed by the Governor. The name of the Legislative Council was changed to National Assembly. These changes were constitutionally necessary because the Queen of England or Head of the British Government accented the laws enacted by the Legislative Council. Changes to National Assembly meant that after independence the laws passed would not be sent to England for accent. Instead, the President of independent Tanganyika would accent all the laws.

Since change of name to National Assembly there have been few changes especially on the number and type of members. Nevertheless, its role and mandate has remained the same.

Tanzania Parliament like its counterparts, in other countries, is the Supreme Legislature of the country. It consists of the President of the United Republic and the National Assembly. It grants money for running the administration of the country and is a very effective instrument for overseeing Government programs and plans. It can also oversee the action of the Executive by being a watchdog to ensure that government is accountable for its administration. The most important function of Parliament is to make laws. The subjects on which Parliament can legislate have been laid down in the Constitution. Parliament is sovereign in the sphere of Legislation. The scheme of our Constitution being a United Republic,

In view of that Parliament can assume the following roles:

1. To pass laws for the good governance.
2. To provide, by giving legislative sanction to taxation and acquisition of means to carrying out the work of the government.
3. To scrutinize government policy and administration, including proposal for expenditure; and to debate major issues of the day.

Tanzania Parliament consists of the following categories of members: (Article 66 of the Constitution)

1. Members elected to represent constituencies.
2. Women members whose number shall increase progressively starting with twenty per cent of the members named in sub-paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of this paragraph, to be elected by the political parties that are represented in the National assembly in terms of Article 78 of the Constitution and on the basis of proportional representation amongst those parties.
3. Five members elected by the Zanzibar House of Representatives from among its members,
4. The Attorney General.
5. Not more than ten members appointed by the President
6. The Speaker (If The speaker is not among Members of the Parliament).

The 2015 general elections produced the following numbers:

Office of the Clerk

In order for the National Assembly to deliver effective and efficient services, Article 87 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Clerk of the National Assembly. The Clerk, who is a presidential appointee, is the Chief Executive of the Office of the National Assembly responsible for the efficient discharge of the business of the Office of the National Assembly in conformity with the provisions of the Constitution and other relevant laws.

Article 88 of the Constitution provides for the establishment of the Secretariat of the National Assembly consisting of such a number of officers that will be responsible for ensuring the efficient discharge of functions by the National Assembly and Members of Parliament. .

The main role of clerk is to advise the Speaker and Members of the Parliament on House of procedure and priviledge. He helps the Speaker to prepare for each sitting of the House and sits in the Chamber at the commencement of each sitting. He also records formal decisions of the House and give procedural advice to the Speaker or other MPs as needed.
The Clerk advises on the practice and procedure of the House; the formal and informal rules which govern its everyday activities. Assisting the Clerk in these activities is a staff of all departments in the Office of the National Assembly, who serve in a number of separate offices. https://www.parliament.go.tz/pages/office-of-the-clerk