Tionól

Tionól of Caldia
33rd Legislature
Type
Type	Unicameral
Leadership
Ceann Comhairle	Proinnsias Ó Loingsigh (PSD)
Structure
Seats	399
Political groups	Government (218)   Social Democrats (218) Opposition (181)   Liberty (89)   National Party (57)   Centre (12)   Labour (8)   Greens (6)   Caldish Democrats (5)   Independents (2)   Homeland (1)   Pensioners (1)
Length of term	5 years
Elections
Voting system	Mixed-member proportional representation (MMP)
Last election	18 February 2019
Next election	12 June 2022
Meeting place
Meeting Chamber Carrowdun Palace, Spálgleann
Website
tionól.gl

The Tionól of Caldia, often simply the Tionól, is the supreme legislative body in Caldia. It alone possesses legislative supremacy and thereby ultimate power over all other political bodies in Caldia. Its head is the Monarch of Caldia (currently King Kenneth IV) and its seat is Carrowdun Palace in Spálgleann.

The legislature is bicameral, consisting of an upper house (the Seanad Glítteann) and a lower house (the Comhthionól Náisiúnta). The monarch forms the third component of the legislature (the King-in-Tionól).

In 1814, the Seanad was established by the Constitution of Caldia and the first democratic national elections were held in the country that same year. The Comhthionól was created following the Silent Revolution through the Instrument for Governance Act of 1857.

Name

The name Tionól literally means meeting in Ghaillish. It can also be translated as assembly. Tionól was derived from the name of the bodies that advised the High Chiefs of the petty kingdoms that existed before the unification of Caldia

Sessions

In a normal legislative year, there are two legislative sessions. The first session marks the return of the legislature from the Nativity and Winter Recesses. The monarch presides over the official State Opening of the Tionól on the he first Monday following the Epiphany holiday. The State Opening starts with a procession down the Royal Mile starting from Clochnoc Fortress and terminates at Carrowdun Palace. It also sees a speech from the throne made by the monarch, which outlines the government's agenda for the first session. Both chambers are present for the official opening of the first legislative session. The first session ends in July with the Summer Recess. The Tionól reconvenes on the third Sunday of August for the start of the second session, which ends with the close of the legislature for that legislative year on the third Sunday of December. The close is presided over by the monarch.

Carrowdun Palace

Chamber

In a legislative year with a general election, there are three legislative sessions. Instead of ending in July, the first session ends when the Comhthionól is dissolved by the monarch on 12 May, a month before the election is set to take place, following the issuing of the writ of elections. A care-taker government led by the current government is then in place until the Comhthionól reconvenes on the first Monday following the election. However, it cannot reconvene unless a government can be formed, meaning the recess may last longer than the first Monday. The second session then lasts from June to July and the third from August to December. The Seanad always goes into recess at the same time as the Comhthionól

The Tionól is generally in session Monday to Thursday. However, it will meet on Friday's when there is legislation the Government or the Ceann Comhairle designates as urgent. Many TCs take advantage of the lack of regular Friday sessions and opt to return to their constituencies for the weekend to handle local matters. Recesses, however, officially declare the Tionól closed on designated Fridays. This means that the presiding officer in either chamber cannot call the chamber back for an emergency session. However, the monarch is able to issue a writ of return. Cabinet meetings take place on Monday mornings, meaning Cabinet ministers are absent from the Comhthionól. This time is traditionally reserved by the introduction of private member's bills. On Wednesday's at noon, the Taoiseach holds a session of Taoiseach's Questions. Party leaders and backbenchers are invited to ask him or her questions about the government's agenda for the legislative session. Four cabinet member's also usually make themselves available for questioning after the Taoiseach is finished.

Unlike the Comhthionól, the Seanad only sits on Fridays. However, the Cathaoirleach can summon senators for a special session on any day of the week the Tionól is not in recess. A weeks notice must be given before the Seanad can convene for a special session. During a Seanad election year, the chamber is dissolved on the second Monday of May by the monarch and reconvenes on the first Monday after the election.

Recesses

During the the 2020 calendar year, the Tionól is scheduled to be in recess a total of nine times.

In an election year, the legislature enters a General Election Recess from 12 May to the first Monday after the 12 June election. It goes into recces following the following the dissolution of the Comhthionól Náisiúnta on 12 May.

Name	Dates	Notes
Winter Recess	1 January - 7 January	Is an extension of the Nativity Recess.
Liberation Day Holiday Recess	12 February	The public holiday for Liberation day was observed on Monday 12 February.
Easter Recess	6 April - 13 April	The recess is in accordance with the Easter Holiday and moves on a yearly basis.
Beltane Holiday Recess	1 May
National Day Holiday Recess	20 May
Summer Recess	1 July - 17 August
St. Ellen's Day Holiday Recess	7 September - 11 September
October Recess	5 October - 9 October
Nativity Recess	14 December - 31 December