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{{Short description|Supreme legislature of Mava}}
{{Short description|Supreme legislature of Mava}}
{{Infobox legislature
{{Infobox legislature
| name              = Assembly of the Republic of Mava
|background_color    =
| native_name        = Aawnuhiuakak Maava Naigaalyakii
| name              = Mava Council
| native_name_lang  =
| native_name        = {{nobold|Taapiit Maava}}
| transcription_name =
| legislature        =  
| legislature        = 50th Assembly of Mava
| coa_pic            = [[File:Emblem of Mava.png|125px]]
| coa_pic            = Emblem of the Assembly of Mava.png
| coa_res            = 125px
| coa_res            = 130px
| coa_alt            = Emblem of Mava
| coa_alt            =  
| coa_caption        = [[Flag and emblem of Mava|Emblem of Mava]]
| coa_caption        =  
| logo_pic          = [[File:Logo of Mava Council.png|200px]]
| logo_pic          =  
| logo_res          = 200px
| logo_res          =  
| logo_alt          = Logo of Mava Council
| logo_alt          =by
| logo_caption      = Logo of Mava Council
| logo_caption      =  
| house_type        = Unicameral
| house_type        = Unicameral
| body              =
| leader3_type       = Leader of the Council
| jurisdiction       =  
| leader3           = [[Kausaanek Malaati]]
| houses            =
| party3             =  
| term_limits        =
| election3         = 22 March 2023
| foundation        = {{Start date and age|1925|04|01|df=y}}
| members           = 16
| disbanded          = <!--{{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}}-->
 
| preceded_by        =Legislative Council of Mava
| structure1        = File:Mava Council composition.png
| succeeded_by      =
| new_session        =
| leader1_type      = President
| leader1           = Vauta Laumaasi
| party1             = Independent{{efn|Elected as a member of the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands.}}
| election1         = 11 January 2023
| leader2_type      = Deputy President
| leader2           = Aamikat Uuyukluq
| party2            = Labour Movement
| election2          = 11 January 2023
| seats              = 45
| house1            =
| house2            =
| structure1        = File:Mavean_Assembly_2022.png
| structure1_res    = 250px
| structure1_res    = 250px
| structure1_alt    = Structure of the Assembly of Mava
| structure1_alt    = Composition of the Mava Council
| structure2        =
| political_groups1  = {{legend|#888888|Nonpartisan: 16 seats}}
| structure2_res    =
| committees1        =
| structure2_alt    =
| committees2        =
| political_groups1  = '''Government (28)'''
| joint_committees  =
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#4f819d|border=silver}} Progressive Party (28)}}
| voting_system1    = Block voting
'''Opposition (17)'''
| last_election2     = 11 May 2023
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#9b1d3a|border=silver}} Labour Movement (10)}}
| next_election2    = before 8 May 2025
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#ffa200|border=silver}} Democracy and Renewal (4)}}
| session_room      =
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#316b7f|border=silver}} Mavean People's Party (2)}}
| session_res        =  
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#dcdcdc|border=silver}} Independent (1)}}
| session_alt        =
| political_groups2  =
| meeting_place     = Maavaakitat, Paas, [[Mava]]
| committees1        =  
| website            = {{plain list|
| committees2        =  
*[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Mava Council - official website]
| joint_committees  =
| footnotes          =
| term_length        = 2 years
|structure2_res=250px|structure1_res=250px}}
| authority          =
| salary            =
| seats1_title      =
| seats1            =
| seats2_title      =
| seats2            =
| seats3_title      =
| seats3            =
| seats4_title      =
| seats4            =
| seats5_title      =
| seats5            =
| seats6_title      =
| seats6            =
| seats7_title      =
| seats7            =
| seats8_title      =
| seats8            =  
| voting_system1    = First-past-the-post
| voting_system2    =
| first_election1    = 7 May 1925
| first_election2    =
| first_election3    =
| last_election1     = 11 May 2023
| last_election2    =
| last_election3    =
| next_election1    =
| next_election2    =  
| next_election3    =
| redistricting      =
| motto              =
| session_room      = Territorial Legislature Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada 03.jpg
| session_res        = 260px
| session_alt        = The seat of the legislature is the Akitat'áwnuhiu’akak in Pa'as
| meeting_place     = Akitat'áwnuhiu’akak
| website            = [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ www.aawnuhiuakak.mv]
| constitution      = Constitution of Mava
| footnotes          = {{Notelist}}  
}}
}}
{{Politics of Mava}}
{{Politics of Mava}}
The '''Assembly of the Republic of Mava''' (Mavean: ''Aawnuhiuakak Maava Naigaalyakii '') is the democratically-elected legislature of [[Mava]]. Located in Pa'as, it comprises 45 members known as "Assemblymen/Assemblywomen" (Mavean: ''Aawnuhiuakakaag/Aawnuhiuakakig''), who are elected to represent individual geographical constituencies by the plurality system. In accordance with the Constitution, legislative power is vested in the Assembly as the supreme representation of the Mavean people, with executive power shared with the government. The most recent election to the Assembly was held on 11 May 2023, with the Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands winning an outright majority.
'''Mava Council''' ([[Mavean language|Mavean]]: ''Taapiit Maava''; "Council of Mava"), officially the '''Council of the Mava Islands''', is the unicameral legislature of the [[Atitlan|Atitlanese]] unincorporated territory of [[Mava]]. The Council was established in 1929 with limited powers, assuming its present status and responsibilities in 1960.


The Assembly is a unicameral body responsible for creating and amending all laws in Mava. It was founded in 1925 through the interim Mavean Independence Act and was permanently established in the 1925 Mavean Constitution. Between 1925 and 1994, the Assembly was de facto bicameral, with a "Grand Committee of the Assembly" acting as a technocratic review body within the assembly. The committee was abolished by a constitutional amendment in 1993.
The Mava Council consists of sixteen elected members, with a select number of non-voting attendants able to sit at the council's pleasure. Attendants do not have speaking or voting rights and sit as observers. The [[List of leaders of Mava|Leader of the Council]] is elected to preside over the Council's sessions and lead an Executive Board that functions as the cabinet.


==History==
==History==
The Assembly of Mava was created on 1 April 1925 through the Mavean Independence Act, passed by the Atitlanese Congress. The members were carried over from the membership of the Legislative Council, which had served as the appointed advisory body to the colonial governor. Under the interim provisions, Mava was governed by a Transitional Government of the Assembly, appointed by the Assembly to govern until elections could be held. The first elections were held on 14 May 1925, with Kuraava Tanigak appointed president by the Assembly. The body was made permanent following the passage of the first Mavean constitution in September 1925.
The Mava Council was established in 1929 with limited powers over planning applications, cultural matters, and some law enforcement. It was created at the instigation of the governor, Francisco Jose Valladares, in order to alleviate anger at the continued exclusion of native Maveans. The body was initially appointed by the governor, but became fully elected in 1935.


The 1943 constitution radically increased the powers of the Assembly, transforming Mava from a presidential to a parliamentary republic. The prime minister, a member of the Assembly, formally became head of government and answerable to the Assembly rather than the president. The Assembly also assumed powers to dismiss governments with the abolition of the assembly-independent system.
In 1960, the Law on the Status of Mava formalised the islands' political status and granted the Council full powers equal to (and in some cases exceeding) those of state congresses. At the same time, the Council assumed the authority of electing a Leader to serve as the island's head of government, and of approving the Executive Board to coordinate government policy.


Under the 1943 constitution, the president of the assembly appointed a "Grand Committee of the Assembly", composed of elected members appointed for their knowledge and expertise. The committee was responsible for scrutinising bills passed by the wider house, recommending amendments, and presenting bills for promulgation. The body was abolished in 1994 to promote the equality of elected members and because it had become a largely rubber-stamp body, bills rarely receiving anything more than a brief review before presentation to the president.
==Electoral system==
The sixteen seats in the Mava Council are elected every three years, with eight seats elected at a given time. Councillors are elected by first-past-the-post plurality-at-large voting, with voters allowed to cast as many votes as there are available seats. The candidates with the most votes are elected to fill the vacant seats. Should a seat become vacant between elections, the seat goes to the candidate with the next largest vote share.


==Powers and role==
If there are fewer candidates than there are available seats, they are declared to have been elected automatically. The unfilled seats remain vacant until a sufficient number of candidates have declared their intention to fill them. At this point, a by-election is held to fill those seats.
Under the constitution, there is no legal or constitutional separation between the executive and legislative branches. The government is officially called the "Executive Committee of the Assembly" and derives its powers from the Assembly. In practice, there is a separation of functions, although officially the government and assembly constitute one single corporation governed by the constitution and relevant laws.


The Assembly is constituted in the Constitution as the supreme representative body of the people of the Republic of Mava. It is convened in two sessions each year, the first session on the second Monday of January and the second session on the second Monday of September. Extraordinary sessions may be called by the President, the Prime Minister or by one-fifth of members.
==Powers and functions==
The council derives its powers principally from the aw on the Status of Mava 1960 and the Organic Statute of Mava 1961 (which serves as the islands' constitution). It as 'general power of competence' over all policy areas under the authority of the local government, i.e. it is permitted to act in any matter whatsoever which does not conflict with or undermine the actions or interests of the [[Atitlan|Atitlanese government]] or other parties. The main responsibilitiy of the council is to provide for "the peace, order and good government of the Mava Islands," and to enact laws for the achievement of this.


The constitution and laws relating to the Assembly provide for the following functions:
All bills must be proposed for debate in the Council, although no councillor may propose a bill altering the powers of the Atitlanese government without the Governor's leave. As part of the council's consensus-based decision making, bills are generally debated to achieve consensus, with amendments seeking broad agreement amongst all councillors. The Leader, who normally does not participate in votes, may cast a vote in the event of a tie.
* Adopting, amending, or repealing enactments to the constitution;
* enacting, amending, or repealing statutory laws;
* approve the budget;
* elect the president;
* approve nominations for judicial offices and appointments to the Council of State;
* approving the nomination of the prime minister;
* hold the government to account;
* convene as a court of impeachment for trials of public officers;
* approve international treaties.
The president's role in the legislative branch is nominal. They summon  and dissolve the Assembly and formally open its sessions following an election. They may address its members and send messages to it. However, they are obliged (although not legally required) to sign laws passed in the Assembly; they may refer laws for judicial review, but this is rarely done.


==Elections==
The council has the power to pass two types of legislation: ordinances and regulations. Ordinances are the equivalent of legislative acts and constitute the majority of legislation passed in the council. Under the Law on the Status of Mava and the subsequent Organic Statute of Mava, council ordinances are recognised as having the same authority as federal acts in matters delegated to the local government. Ordinances are officially referred to in law as an "Ordinance under Section 31 of the Organic Statute of Mava" or a "Section 31 Ordinance." Regulations govern the procedures and rules of government bodies (including the council) and have little relevance to the public aside from in their interactions with these bodies.
General elections occur whenever the Assembly is dissolved. Dissolutions occur automatically two years from the date of the first meeting of the Assembly, although it is common for dissolutions to occur in March, at least six weeks prior to the date of the next election. Elections are usually held in the second week of May (generally a Thursday), following an electoral campaign of no less than 35 days. Candidates are usually nominated by political parties, although a small number of independent candidates have won seats. Candidates are usually elected in local party meetings in the relevant constituency, although the law does not mandate this and several candidates have historically been selected by the national party rather than local members.


Candidates are required to file a nomination paper bearing the signatures of at least 50 constituents. Each constituency returns one member of the assembly using the first-past-the-post electoral system, under which the winning candidate needs only the plurality of the vote instead of an outright majority. To stand as and vote for a candidate, one must be a Mavean citizen and at least eighteenth years of age. Additional eligibility requirements are imposed on electoral candidates.
Councillors are also responsible for the election of the Executive Board, which serves as the executive branch of the government. The Executive Board is officially a committee of the council and answerable to it. It has the sole authority to appoint or dismiss a member of the Executive Board, usually done at the request of the Leader of the Council.


Members serve a two year term. Should a member die, resign, or otherwise cease to hold their seat, a by-election is held in the relevant constituency under the same rules and procedures as in general elections. Individuals expelled by the Assembly are not permitted to run in the following by-election, although they may be a candidate in the next general election (even if no subsequent by-election is held).
==Committees==
The Council has three committees responsible for scrutinising the government and studying and making recommendations on 'matters of general concern'. These are:


===Constituencies===
* Administrative Committee - responsible for overseeing the administration of the Council, the management of properties, and making recommendations on the incorporation of Atitlanese law.
45 members are returned from single-member constituencies. Each district is divided into a number of seats based on their population. The allocation of constituencies is reviewed every ten years by the Mavean Elections Office.


{| class="wikitable"
* Technical, Industrial, and Business Committee - responsible for oversight in matters pertaining to electricity and heating, fire and rescue, technical services, planning and development, business and enterprise, and transport.
|-
* Civil Society, Culture, and Public Services Committee - responsible for oversight in matters pertaining to the promotion of Mavean culture, encouraging cooperation between ethnic and linguistic groups, public amenities and open spaces, and emergency services.
!District !! Seats
* Control Committee - responsible for auditing the government.
|-
| Aasqaalet || 4
|-
| Miilep || 8
|-
| Pa'as || 14
|-
| Pmaak || 8 
|-
| Sigaak || 5
|-
| Sittiyaa || 2
|-
| Taagokiajut || 3
|-
| Outer Islands || 1
|-
|}
The current set of constituency boundaries came into effect ahead of the May 2015 assembly elections. Prior to this, Pa'as had 16 seats, which were re-allocated to Aasqaalet and Pmaak.


===2023 election===
==Oath of office==
{{Election results
Councillors, on their election, are required to make the following oath or affirmation.
|+ Summary of the 12 May 2022 Assembly elections results
{{blockquote|I, [Name], having been elected to Mava Council, declare that I take that office upon myself, and will duly and faithflly fulfill the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability, and according to law.}}
|-
Failure to do so prevents them from taking their seats and receiving a salary, and are automatically declared "un-elected" sixty days from the first meeting of the Council.
|image=[[File:Mavean Assembly 2022.png|360px]]
 
|party1=Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands
|votes1=17291
|seats1=28
|sw1=-1.21
|sc1=-2
|color1=#4f819d
 
|party2=Political Congress of the Mavean Labour Movement
|votes2=8102
|seats2=10
|sw2=+4.33
|sc2=+6
|color2=#9b1d3a
 
|party3=Democracy and Renewal
|votes3=3755
|seats3=4
|sw3=-1.71
|sc3=-2
|color3=#ffa200
 
|party4=Mavean People's Party
|votes4=1921
|seats4=2
|sw4=-1.24
|sc4=-1
|color4=#316b7f
 
|party5=Independents
|votes5=920
|seats5=1
|sw5=-0.17
|sc5=-1
|color5=#dcdcdc
 
|total_sc=0
 
|valid=31989
|invalid=491
|electorate=51072
|source=Mavean Elections Office
}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 212: Line 86:


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Assembly of Mava]. aawnuhiuakak.mv
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Mava Council]. maava.mv/an/council


{{Elezia}}
{{Elezia}}
[[Category:Mava]]
[[Category:Mava]]

Latest revision as of 19:25, 21 May 2024

Mava Council

Taapiit Maava
Emblem of Mava.png
Emblem of Mava
Logo of Mava Council.png
Logo of Mava Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Leader of the Council
Kausaanek Malaati
since 22 March 2023
Structure
Seats16
Composition of the Mava Council
Political groups
  Nonpartisan: 16 seats
Elections
Block voting
Last election
11 May 2023
Next election
before 8 May 2025
Meeting place
Maavaakitat, Paas, Mava
Website
Mava
Emblem of Mava.png
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Mava
  • Monarch
    • Macuilxochitzin
  • Representative
    • Jose Miguel Artigas
  • Leader of the Council
  • Chief Magistrate
    • Alujut Saujak
  • Recent elections
    • Legislative: 2000
    • 2004
    • 2008

    • 2012
    • 2016
    • 2019
    • 2023
    • Next
    • Referendums: 1996

Mava Council (Mavean: Taapiit Maava; "Council of Mava"), officially the Council of the Mava Islands, is the unicameral legislature of the Atitlanese unincorporated territory of Mava. The Council was established in 1929 with limited powers, assuming its present status and responsibilities in 1960.

The Mava Council consists of sixteen elected members, with a select number of non-voting attendants able to sit at the council's pleasure. Attendants do not have speaking or voting rights and sit as observers. The Leader of the Council is elected to preside over the Council's sessions and lead an Executive Board that functions as the cabinet.

History

The Mava Council was established in 1929 with limited powers over planning applications, cultural matters, and some law enforcement. It was created at the instigation of the governor, Francisco Jose Valladares, in order to alleviate anger at the continued exclusion of native Maveans. The body was initially appointed by the governor, but became fully elected in 1935.

In 1960, the Law on the Status of Mava formalised the islands' political status and granted the Council full powers equal to (and in some cases exceeding) those of state congresses. At the same time, the Council assumed the authority of electing a Leader to serve as the island's head of government, and of approving the Executive Board to coordinate government policy.

Electoral system

The sixteen seats in the Mava Council are elected every three years, with eight seats elected at a given time. Councillors are elected by first-past-the-post plurality-at-large voting, with voters allowed to cast as many votes as there are available seats. The candidates with the most votes are elected to fill the vacant seats. Should a seat become vacant between elections, the seat goes to the candidate with the next largest vote share.

If there are fewer candidates than there are available seats, they are declared to have been elected automatically. The unfilled seats remain vacant until a sufficient number of candidates have declared their intention to fill them. At this point, a by-election is held to fill those seats.

Powers and functions

The council derives its powers principally from the aw on the Status of Mava 1960 and the Organic Statute of Mava 1961 (which serves as the islands' constitution). It as 'general power of competence' over all policy areas under the authority of the local government, i.e. it is permitted to act in any matter whatsoever which does not conflict with or undermine the actions or interests of the Atitlanese government or other parties. The main responsibilitiy of the council is to provide for "the peace, order and good government of the Mava Islands," and to enact laws for the achievement of this.

All bills must be proposed for debate in the Council, although no councillor may propose a bill altering the powers of the Atitlanese government without the Governor's leave. As part of the council's consensus-based decision making, bills are generally debated to achieve consensus, with amendments seeking broad agreement amongst all councillors. The Leader, who normally does not participate in votes, may cast a vote in the event of a tie.

The council has the power to pass two types of legislation: ordinances and regulations. Ordinances are the equivalent of legislative acts and constitute the majority of legislation passed in the council. Under the Law on the Status of Mava and the subsequent Organic Statute of Mava, council ordinances are recognised as having the same authority as federal acts in matters delegated to the local government. Ordinances are officially referred to in law as an "Ordinance under Section 31 of the Organic Statute of Mava" or a "Section 31 Ordinance." Regulations govern the procedures and rules of government bodies (including the council) and have little relevance to the public aside from in their interactions with these bodies.

Councillors are also responsible for the election of the Executive Board, which serves as the executive branch of the government. The Executive Board is officially a committee of the council and answerable to it. It has the sole authority to appoint or dismiss a member of the Executive Board, usually done at the request of the Leader of the Council.

Committees

The Council has three committees responsible for scrutinising the government and studying and making recommendations on 'matters of general concern'. These are:

  • Administrative Committee - responsible for overseeing the administration of the Council, the management of properties, and making recommendations on the incorporation of Atitlanese law.
  • Technical, Industrial, and Business Committee - responsible for oversight in matters pertaining to electricity and heating, fire and rescue, technical services, planning and development, business and enterprise, and transport.
  • Civil Society, Culture, and Public Services Committee - responsible for oversight in matters pertaining to the promotion of Mavean culture, encouraging cooperation between ethnic and linguistic groups, public amenities and open spaces, and emergency services.
  • Control Committee - responsible for auditing the government.

Oath of office

Councillors, on their election, are required to make the following oath or affirmation.

I, [Name], having been elected to Mava Council, declare that I take that office upon myself, and will duly and faithflly fulfill the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability, and according to law.

Failure to do so prevents them from taking their seats and receiving a salary, and are automatically declared "un-elected" sixty days from the first meeting of the Council.

See also

Notes

External links

Retrieved from "https://iiwiki.us/mediawiki/index.php?title=Mava_Council&oldid=804146"