Senate of Volyna

The Senate is the upper house of the Volynian Parliament, which, along with the National Assembly—the lower chamber—constitutes the legislature of Volyna. It is made up of 54 senators elected through a limited voting system. Senators have six-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every three years.

Powers

Under the Constitution of Volyna, the Senate has nearly the same powers as the National Assembly. Bills may be submitted by the administration or by either house of Parliament. Because both houses may amend the bill, it may take several readings to reach an agreement between the National Assembly and the Senate. When the Senate and the National Assembly cannot agree on a bill, the administration can decide, after a procedure called join committee deliberation, to give the final decision to the National Assembly, whose majority is normally on the government's side, but as regarding the constitutional laws the administration must have the Senate's agreement. This does not happen frequently; usually the two houses eventually agree on the bill, or the administration decides to withdraw it. This power however gives the National Assembly a prominent role in the law-making process, especially since the administration is necessarily of the same side as the Assembly, for the Assembly can dismiss the administration through a motion of censure.

The power to pass a vote of censure, or vote of no confidence, is limited. As was the case in the Second Republic's constitution, new cabinets do not have to receive a vote of confidence. Also, a vote of censure can occur only after 10 percent of the members sign a petition; if rejected, those members that signed cannot sign another petition until that session of Parliament has ended. If the petition gets the required support, a vote of censure must gain an absolute majority of all members, not just those voting. If the Assembly and the Senate have politically distinct majorities, the Assembly will in most cases prevail, and open conflict between the two houses is uncommon.

The Senate also serves to monitor the administration's actions by publishing many reports each year on various topics.

Composition

President

The president of the Senate is elected by senators from among their members. The current incumbent is Sava Perepelytsya. The President of the Senate is, under the Constitution of the Third Republic, first in the line of succession—in case of death, resignation or removal from office (only for health reasons)—to the presidency of the Volynian Republic, becoming Acting President of the Republic until a new election can be held. The President of the Senate also has the right to designate three of the nine members of the Constitutional Council, serving for nine years.