Chamber of Deputies (Saint-Baptiste)

Chamber of Deputies Chambre des députés
8th term
History
Founded	1 July 1947
Leadership
Speaker	Cyrille Boudet since 6 October 2019
Prime Minister	Henri Vasseur since 13 November 2021
Leader of the Opposition	Marcel Thibodeau since 13 November 2021
Structure
Seats	15
Political groups	Government (6)   PAREF (6) Confidence and supply (1)   Inite (1)   POB (1) Opposition (7)   PP (4)   PLB (3)   Victory SB (1)   PAP (2)   Independent (1)
Elections
Voting system	Single transferable vote
Last election	22 September 2019
Next election	On or before 18 September 2022
Meeting place
Place Rose, Port-Anne
Website
www.chambredeputes.sb

The Chamber of Deputies (Principean: Chambre des députés) is the unicameral parliament of Saint-Baptiste. Formed in 1947 after the independence of the island state, the Chamber of Deputies makes up the legislative branch of the Baptistois government.

Consisting of fifteen deputies (Principean: député), the Chamber is elected every three years by single transferable vote in three constituencies. Constitutionally, since 1990 the Chamber has held the power to legislate, debate, and pass ordinances and laws, as well as nominate the Prime Minister and their cabinet.

History

The interior of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Chamber of Deputies was initially set up as a 10-member legislative assembly in Saint-Baptiste's first constitution during independence negotiations in 1947, which gave the Chamber authority over drafting and voting on bills, although the President was granted an extensive veto power. The Chamber of Deputies however only met in session for less then a year, as the passing of the Security Act following the bombing of the Hôtel Royal in 1948 suspended the Chamber indefinitely as an emergency measure. The Security Act would be repealed in 1990 following the drafting of a new constitution, which gave a revived Chamber increased powers in a semi-presidential system, including the introduction of the position of Prime Minister, nominated by the Chamber. The first elections under this new constitution were held in 1991, and the Chamber of Deputies has met without interruption since. In 2022, the method of electing deputies was changed from first-past-the-post voting to single transferable vote after a referendum officially reforming the Chamber of Deputies.

Colloquially, the Chamber of Deputies is often referred to by local Baptistois and foreign media as Place Rose ("Pink Square"), referring to the pink stucco and wood exterior of the three-building complex the Chamber resides in. Also included within this complex are the residences and offices of both the Prime Minister and the President.

Speaker

The speaker, officially the President of the Chamber of Deputies (Principean: Président de la Chambre des députés) is the presiding officer of the Chamber of Deputies. They are elected by their peers at the beginning of the legislative term, and their role includes directing and moderating debate, officiating discussion, and opening and ending legislative sessions.

The current speaker is Cyrille Boudet of the Baptistois Liberal Party, who has held the position since 2019.

Last election

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Baptistois Liberal Party	5,053	42.64	8	–2
	Saint-Baptiste Reform Party	4,599	38.81	5	+2
	Baptistois Labour Party	1,581	13.34	1	0
	Fanmi	522	4.41	0	0
	Independent	94	0.79	0	New
Total		11,849	100.00	14	0
Valid votes		11,849	99.30
Invalid/blank votes		84	0.70
Total votes		11,933	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		23,910	49.91

Composition since 1947

Saint-Baptiste Labour Party   Independent   Rally for Progress   Rally of Progressive Democrats   People's Action Party   Defense of the Republic   National Constitutional Party
1947–1951	3 1 5
1951–1955	1 8
1955–1959	9
1959–1963	9
1963–1967	9
1967–1971	9
1971–1975	9
1975–1979	1 8
1979–1983	9
1983–1986	2 7
1986–1990	5 9 1
1990–1994	5 1 9
1994–1998	9 6
1998–2000	7 1 7
2000–2004	4 1 10
2004–2008	4 11
2008–2012	8 7
2012–2016	3 11 1
2016–2020	5 9 1
2020–2024	5 1 8 1