Congress of States

Congress of States Sāmjitōḫ
15th congress of Tarinθikluu̯ī VI
Type
Type	Bicameral legislature of Northern States
Houses	House of Prelates House of Representatives
History
Founded	February 20, 614 (614-02-20)
Leadership
President of the Congress	TBD, Progressive Party
Speaker of the House of Representatives	TBD, Green Party
Structure
Seats	57 prelates 471 representatives
House of Prelates political groups	New Democracy: 20   Social Alliance: 19   Green: 6   Centre: 6   Democratic Socialist: 2   Lay Alliance: 3
House of Representatives political groups	New Democracy: 115   Social Alliance: 102   Green: 60   Centre: 39   Rural Development: 34   North Alliance: 28   Radical Action: 22   Very Green: 17   Democratic Socialist: 17   Lay Alliance: 15   Reform: 8   New Age: 5   Children's Welfare: 3   Unionist: 3   New Spirituality: 2   Pirate: 1
Meeting place
Congress Hill

The Congress of States (Northian: Sāmjitōḫ; Dutch: Congres van Staten; often abbr. the Congress) is the bicameral federal legislature of the Northern States. It meets in quarterly sessions in the capital city of Cleiden. The Congress operates under the terms of the Instrument of 894 and its subsequent amendments, defining its powers apart from those of the constituent states. According to the terms of these documents, the Congress defray public expenses upon the states, declare war and peace, and legislate on other issues of common relevance. Both houses must assent to the same bill before it becomes a statute.

The legislature consists of two chambers, the higher house the House of Prelates, and the other the House of Representatives. The House of Prelates consists of two classes of members, the 33 civil prelacies and 24 free prelacies; the civil prelacies are those selected by the civil (i.e. state) authority and are thus always entitled to a seat in the house, and the free prelacies are those who are elevated to the status of a prelate by mere royal command, which expires at the death or resignation of the holder. After 1810, congressional prelates do not need to be members of the clergy despite the name of the house. The House of Prelates also functions as the apex court of DNS.

The House of Representatives consists of 471 representatives elected every three years proportionally from the entire Northern States. Due to the principle of responsible government, the Federal Government is accountable to the House of Representatives in modern politics, which means the lower house has more political influence than the upper house. By custom, all budgetary measures are introduced lower house

See also

• Northern States