The President may, except when ^[4] the [Senate or] National Assembly is in session, if satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action, make and promulgate an Ordinance as the circumstances may require.

1. An Ordinance promulgated under this Article shall have the same force and effect as an Act of ^[1] and shall be subject to like restrictions as the power of to make law, but every such Ordi^[1] nance__
   1. shall be laid__
      1. before the National Assembly if it , and shall stand repealed at the expiration of from its promulgation or, if bef^[5] ore the expiration of that period a resolution disapproving it is passed by the Assembly, upon the passing of that resolution ^{[1] [4] [2] [3] [5]}
         Provided that either House may by a resolution extend it for a further period of one hundred and twenty days and it shall stand repealed at the expiration of the extended period, or if before the expiration of that period a resolution disapproving it is passed by a House, upon the passing of that resolution:
         Provided further that extension for a further period may be made only once; and
   2. may be withdrawn at any time by the President.
2. without prejudice to the provisions of clause (2),__
   1. an Ordinance laid before the National Assembly under sub-paragraph (i) of paragraph (a) of clause (2) shall be deemed to be a Bill introduced in the National Assembly; and
   2. an Ordinance laid before both Houses under sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph (a) of clause (2) shall be deemed to be a Bill introduced in the House where it was first laid.

¹ Ins. and subs. by the Constitution (Eighteenth Amendment) Act, 2010 (Act No. X of 2010), s. 27. ^{[2][1] [2]}