Federal Congress (Morrawia)

Federal Congress of Morrawia Morawský federální kongres
48th Federal Congress
Official seal of the Federal Congress of Morrawia
Official logo of the Federal Congress of Morrawia
Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	Senate of the Republic House of Representative
History
Founded	March 1, 1836 (1836-03-01)
Preceded by	National Assembly
New session started	March 8, 2024
Leadership
President of the Senate	Anna Raṡínowá (L) since March 15, 2024
President pro tempore	Jolana Woṙíṡkowá (L) since March 8, 2024
Senate Majority Leader	Milan Wáclawík (L) since March 8, 2024
Speaker of the House	Karel Lipawský (L) since March 24, 2024
House Majority Leader	Sláwek Neumann (L) since March 8, 2024
Structure
Seats	140 (Senate of the Republic) 741 (House of Representatives)
Political groups	Majority (71)   Liberal (69)   Independent (2) Minority (69)   Republican (60)   National Democratic (3)   Socialist (2)   Conservative (2)   Federalist (1)   Frontist (1)
Political groups	Majority (428)   Liberal (425)   Independent (3) Minority (313)   Republican (286)   Independent (1)   Socialist (15)   National Democratic (6)   Conservative (3)   Federalist (2)
Committees	Senate List Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Appropriations Banking, Housing & Development Budget Commerce & Transportation Defense & Security Environment Ethics (select) (non-standing) Finance Governmental Affairs Health, Education, Labour & Social Policy Intelligence (select) (non-standing) International Affairs Law & Judiciary Native Affairs (permanent select) (non-standing) Rules & Administration (non-standing) Science, Energy & Natural Resources Small Businesses Veterans' Affairs
Committees	House List Agriculture Anaverese Affairs (select) (non-standing) Appropriations Armed Services Budget Constitution & Law (permanent select) Education Entrepreneurship Energy & Commerce Ethics Finance & Banking Foreign Affairs Healthcare Homeland Security Human Rights (permanent select) Intelligence (permanent) (non-standing) Judiciary Natural Resources Oversight, Accountability & Administration Petitions & Grievances (non-standing) Science, Technology & Space Transportation & Infrastructure Veterans' Affairs Workforce & Labour Affairs
Joint committees	Joint Congressional List Congressional Affairs Economy & Growth Human Rights Taxation Saltstil Pact & Foreign Relations (non-standing) Veligrad Pact Cooperation (non-standing)
Length of term	4 years (House) and 6 years (Senate)
Authority	Legislative
Salary	₮457,440 (ACU 114,360)
Elections
Voting system	Single Transferable Vote (Senate)
Voting system	Instant-runoff (House)
First election	March 3rd, 1836 (founding)
First election	March 3rd, 1842 (all congressional seats filled)
Last election	March 7th, 2024 (Senate)
Last election	March 7th, 2024 (House)
Next election	March 9th, 2026 (Senate)
Next election	March 9th, 2028 (House)
Meeting place
Capitol Building Králowec, F.D. Republic of Morrawia
Website
federalcongress.gov.mo
Constitution
Morrawian Constitution, article II

The Federal Congress, or simply Congress, is the legislature of the federal government of the Republic of Morrawia. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the Morrawian House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Morrawian Senate of the Republic. It meets in the Capitol Building in Králowec, F.D. Morrawian Senators and Morrawian Representatives are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate may be filled by a governor's appointment. Federal Congress has 881 voting members: 140 senators and 741 representatives. The Morrawian vice president, as President of the Senate, has a vote in the Senate only when casting a tie-breaking vote. The House of Representatives has one non-voting member.

Federal Congress convenes for a four-year term, commencing in March. Elections are held every even-numbered year on Election Days. The members of the House of Representatives are elected for the four-year term of a Federal. The Reapportionment Act of 1995 established that there be 741 representatives, and the Uniform Congressional Redistricting Act requires that they be elected from single-member constituencies or districts. It is also required that the congressional districts be apportioned among states by population every ten years using the Morrawian census results, provided that each state has at least one congressional representative. Each senator is elected at-large in their state for a six-year term, with terms staggered, so every two years approximately one-third of the Senate is up for election. Each state, regardless of population or size, has seven senators, so currently, there are 140 senators for the 20 states.

Article Two of the Morrawian Constitution requires that members of the Federal Congress must be at least 18 years old for the House and at least 30 years old for the Senate of the Republic, be a citizen of the Morrawia for five years for the House and nine years for the Senate, and be an inhabitant of the state which they represent. Members in both chambers may stand for re-election an unlimited number of times, though they are limited by the national retirement age as per relevant legislation.

The Federal Congress was created by the Morrawian Constitution and first met in 1836, replacing the National Assembly in its legislative function. Although not legally mandated, in practice since the 19th century, Federal Congress members are typically affiliated with one of the two major parties, in contemporary period, that is the Liberal Party or the Republican Party, and and in fewer cases with third or other party or independents affiliated with no party. In the case of the latter, the lack of affiliation with a political party does not mean that such members are unable to caucus with members of the political parties. Members can also switch parties at any time, although this is quite uncommon.

Public interaction

Main article: Federal Congress and citizens

Privileges

Pay

Main article: Salaries of members of the Federal Congress (Morrawia)

Some critics complain congressional pay is high compared with a median Morrawian income. Others have countered that congressional pay is consistent with other branches of government. Another criticism is that members of the Federal Congress are insulated from the health care market due to their much better coverage. Others have criticized the wealth of members of the Federal Congress. In January 2014, it was reported that for the first time over one third of the members of the Congress were millionaires. Federal Congress has been criticized for trying to conceal pay raises by slipping them into a large bill at the last minute.

Members elected since 1979 are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Like other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 2.5% of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 5.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. And like federal employees, members contribute one-third of the cost of health insurance with the government covering the other two-thirds. The size of a congressional pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest three years of their salary. By law, the starting amount of a member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of their final salary. In 2018, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was ₮154,491, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was ₮95,480.

Members of Congress make fact-finding missions to learn about other countries and stay informed, but these outings can cause controversy if the trip is deemed excessive or unconnected with the task of governing. For example, The Imperial Street Journal reported in 2015 that lawmaker trips abroad at taxpayer expense had included spas, ₮1 800-per-night extra unused rooms, and shopping excursions. Some lawmakers responded that "traveling with spouses compensates for being away from them a lot in Králowec" and justify the trips as a way to meet officials in other nations.

Postage

The franking privilege allows members of the Federal Congress to send official mail to constituents at government expense. Though they are not permitted to send election materials, borderline material is often sent, especially in the run-up to an election by those in close races. Some academics consider free mailings as giving incumbents a big advantage over challengers.

Protection

Members of Congress enjoy parliamentary privilege, including freedom from arrest in all cases except for treason, felony, and breach of the peace, and freedom of speech in debate. This constitutionally derived immunity applies to members during sessions and when traveling to and from sessions. The term "arrest" has been interpreted broadly, and includes any detention or delay in the course of law enforcement, including court summons and subpoenas. The rules of the House strictly guard this privilege. A member may not waive the privilege on their own but must seek the permission of the whole house to do so. Senate rules are less strict and permit individual senators to waive the privilege as they choose.

The Constitution guarantees absolute freedom of debate in both houses, providing in the Constitution that "for any speech or debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place". Accordingly, a member of the Federal Congress may not be sued in court for slander because of remarks made in either house, although each house has its own rules restricting offensive speeches, and may punish members who transgress.

Obstructing the work of the Federal Congress is a crime under federal law and is known as contempt of the Federal Congress. Each member has the power to cite people for contempt but can only issue a contempt citation – the judicial system pursues the matter like a normal criminal case. If convicted in court of contempt of the Federal Congress, a person may be imprisoned for up to one year.