41 Voting 69.—(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, any question proposed for decision in Parliament must be determined by a majority vote of the members present and voting. (2) On a question proposed for decision in Parliament— (a) the person presiding does not have a casting vote; and (b) in the case of an equality of votes, the question is deemed to be lost. (3) The person presiding must not be counted when considering the number of members for the purpose of voting, or determining if a quorum is present. Committees 70. Parliament must, under its rules and orders, establish committees with the functions of scrutinising Government administration and examining Bills and subordinate legislation and such other functions as are specified from time to time in the rules and orders of Parliament. Standing orders 71.—(1) Parliament may make standing orders and rules for the order and conduct of business and proceedings in Parliament and its committees and for the way in which its powers, privileges and immunities may be exercised and upheld. (2) Before the first sitting of the first Parliament elected under this Constitution, the Prime Minister shall, in consultation with the Attorney-General, prepare, and publish in the Gazette, the standing orders of Parliament, for adoption by Parliament at its first sitting. Petitions, public access and participation 72.—(1) Parliament must— (a) conduct its business in an open manner, and hold its sittings and those of its committees, in public; and (b) facilitate public participation in the legislative and other processes of Parliament and its committees. (2) Parliament and its committees may not exclude the public, including any media, from any sitting unless, in exceptional circumstances, the Speaker has ordered the exclusion of the public on grounds that are reasonable and justifiable. Powers, privileges, immunities and discipline 73.—(1) Every member of Parliament, and anyone else speaking in Parliament, has— (a) freedom of speech and debate in Parliament or its committees, subject to the standing orders; and