Volksraad (Orange Free State)

The Volksraad of the Orange Free State (Afrikaans: Volksraad van die Oranje-Vrystaat) was the unicameral parliament of the Orange Free State, and the supreme authority of the country.^[2]

Type

Unicameral

Established1854

Disbanded31 May 1902

Seats57^[1]

Quick facts Type, History ...

Volksraad van die Oranje-Vrystaat
Coat of arms of the Orange Free State
Type
Type	Unicameral
History
Established	1854
Disbanded	31 May 1902
Structure
Seats	57[1]
Length of term	4 years
Meeting place
Bloemfontein

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The Volksraad had 57 members representing major town and districts in the republic.^[3] The members, elected for four years, half of them retiring every second year^[2], had to be of European blood, over twenty-five years old, resident in the republic for at least one year, possessed real estate of the value of £200, and never convicted a crime.^[2][3] Burghers were able to vote. The districts represented by members of the Volksraad were Bloemfontein, Fauresmith, Caledon River, Winburg, Harrismith, Kroonstad, Boshof, Bethulie, Philippolis and Jacobsdal.^[4]

The Volksraad met once a year in ordinary session^[2] in Bloemfontein. The Volksraad met in Kroonstad in 1900^[3], during the Second Boer War.