Ossorian House of Commons
House of Commons Teach na Muintir | |
|---|---|
| 39th Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type | of the Parliament of Ossoria |
| History | |
New session started | 2015 |
| Leadership | |
Cainteoir Tionól | Cillín Ó Domhnalláin, CNP |
Innis Ní Gearailt, CNP | |
Lewella Ní Coileáin, CUP | |
Ceannaire an Fhreasúra | Arwel Ó hEaghra, SPP |
Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais | Sorcha Ní Mháille, CNP |
Príomh-Aoire an Fhreasúra | Domnall Ó Cíosáin, SPP |
Bean an Dorais | Lewella Ní Aogáin |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 600 Teachtaí Dála |
 | |
Political groups | The Government (332) Crown Nationalist Party: 280 seats Constitutional Union Party: 52 seats
The Most Loyal Opposition (183) Social Progressive Party: 137 seats Allied Greens: 46 seats
Other Opposition (81) Centrist Party: 38 seats Sons of the Gaels: 11 seats One Nation Party: 8 seats We Alone: 7 seats Pirate Party: 5 seats National Reform Party: 4 seats Liberal Democratic Party: 3 seats United Freeholders: 3 seats Worker's Liberation Party: 2 seats
Independents Independents: 4 seats
|
Length of term | up to 5 years |
| Elections | |
| Mixed-member proportional | |
Last election | 2020 |
Next election | 2025 |
| Redistricting | Constituency seats apportioned based on population, each state guaranteed at least one seat |
The House of Commons (Teach na Muintir, literally 'House of the People'), often informally referred to simply as 'The Commons' or 'The Assembly', is the chamber of Parliament responsible for representing the common people, and is directly elected by the Commoner and Yeoman classes, as well as members of the Low Lords. The House is comprised of 600 members called Assembly Delegates (Teachtaí Dála), often simply called Delegates or TDs, and acts as the responsible house of Parliament.
Selection
The seats in the Commons are selected using mixed-member proportional representation. The first group of 300 seats are elected by electoral districts throughout the Realm using first-past-the-post, while the remainder are apportioned to the political parties whose members are selected through Closed party-list until the whole Assembly reflects the proportional vote. Each Constituent State is guaranteed at least one Constituency seat, with the remainder apportioned among the States based on population.
A party becomes eligible for List seats if they either win a single Constituency seat or they win 5% of the national party vote. Delegates are permitted to stand for district election as well as be placed on their party's list, though their name is removed from the list if they win their district seat.
Assembly elections are held at five-year intervals, though special elections held between these intervals are permitted and held at the request of the Taoiseach and the consent of the Monarch.
Debate Chamber
The Commons meets in a bifurcated debate chamber comprised two opposing rows of seats facing a central aisle, at the head of which the Cainteoir Tionól (Assembly Speaker) sits on a raised throne overlooking the assembly. The majority coalition is seated to the right of the throne, while those in opposition sit to the left.
This layout was chosen so as to encourage a confrontational atmosphere between the two sides and thus encourage debate, in contrast to the more collaborative atmosphere encouraged in the House of Keys or the hierarchical layout of the House of Lords. This chamber is in the Commons Wing the Parliamentary Palace.
Voting Methods
- Voice vote - The Speaker or their deputy will put the question to the House, first asking for all present Deputies in favor of the motion to respond with "aye" (tá), then asking all opposed to respond with "no" (níl). The Speaker then declares what they believe the result to be.
- Division of the House - If a voice vote does not have an obvious majority, the Speaker will call for a division of the assembly, alternatively any Deputy may call for a division by calling "vote" (vótáil) following a voice vote. Delegates will then proceed to the voting lobbies on either side of the Commons Chamber, where they will wait for ten minutes to allow TDs to arrive from elsewhere on the Parliamentary Estate before the doors are locked. As they leave the voting lobbies, TDs will scan their RFID badge in a tally computer to register their vote. A clerk assigned to each lobby monitors the vote to ensure its integrity, they also conduct a count as TDs leave the lobbies. Once all the TDs have voted, the clerks, under the supervision of the Sergeant at Arms, will print a card with the final tally, which they will compare with their own counts before they announce the results to the House and present to the Speaker, who validates the outcome of the vote.
Officers
- Cainteoir Tionól- "Assembly Speaker". The Cainteoir Tionól is elected by the House as its chief presiding officer and is often, but not always, a List Delegate of the largest political party of the majority coalition, though while they are the Cainteoir Tionól, their party membership is suspended while their place on their party's List is guaranteed and placed second so as to ensure their impartiality. The current Cainteoir Tionól is the Right Honorable Cillín Ó Domhnalláin.
- Taoiseach- "Chieftain". The Taoiseach is elected by the House as its leading Delegate and is often, but not always, the leader of the largest political party in the House. The Taoiseach functions as the first minister of government and is generally responsible for overseeing the day-to-day affairs of the High Kingdom in cooperation with the Monarch, though how much effective authority they have is reliant on the Monarch's pleasure and any major policy decisions must carry the Monarch's personal seal. The current Taoiseach is Innis Ní Gearailt of the Crown Nationalist Party.
- Tánaiste- "Deputy". The Tánaiste is elected by the House as the second-ranking Delegate and is often, but not always, the leader of the second-largest political party of the majority coalition. The current Tánaiste is Lewella Ní Coileáin of the Constitutional Union Party.
- Ceannaire an Fhreasúra- "Leader of the Opposition". The Ceannaire an Fhreasúra is the leader of the largest opposition party in the House. The current Ceannaire an Fhreasúra is Arwel Ó hEaghra of the Social Progressive Party.
- Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais- "Chief Herdsman of the Government". The Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais oversees the whipping system in the governing party and is responsible for ensuring that TDs attend and vote in parliament in the desired way of the party leadership. The current Príomh-Aoire an Rialtais is Sorcha Ní Mháille of the Crown Nationalist Party.
- Príomh-Aoire an Fhreasúra- "Chief Herdsman of the Opposition". The Príomh-Aoire an Fhreasúra oversees the whipping system in the main opposition party and is responsible for ensuring that TDs attend and vote in parliament in the desired way of the party leadership. The current Príomh-Aoire an Fhreasúra is Domnall Ó Cíosáin of the Social Progressive Party.
- Bean an Dorais- "Lady of the Door". The Bean an Dorais (Fear an Doras, "Man of the Door" if the officeholder is male.) is responsible for security matters concerning the House, carries the mace during the opening of Parliament, and is also responsible for maintaining order during debates in the House of Commons, escorting members out of the chamber if ordered to do so by the Cainteoir Tionól. Like the parliamentary clerks, the Bean an Dorais is a professional functionary instead of an elected member of the House. The current Bean an Dorais is Lewella Ní Aogáin.
Powers
The powers of the House of Commons include:
- The power to introduce, debate and vote on legislation
- The power to review, amend, delay and/or veto legislation proposed by the other chambers
- The power to propose a list of candidates for executive appointments
- The power to request the creation of new dignities and Peers
- The power to select the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other officers of the House
- The power to initiate financial and budgetary legislation
- The power to approve or request a declaration of a war of aggression
Current composition
| Political Party (majority coalition in bold) |
Current Leader | Ideology | Position | Delegates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown Nationalist Party Páirtí Náisiúnach na Corónach |
Innis Ní Gearailt | Monarchism, Paternalistic conservatism | Centre-right | 280 | |
| Social Progressive Party Páirtí Forásach Sóisialta |
Arwel Ó hEaghra | Social democracy, Progressivism | Centre-left | 137 | |
| Constitutional Union Party Páirtí Bunreachtúil an Aontais |
Lewella Ní Coileáin | Constitutional monarchism, Progressive conservatism | Centre-right | 52 | |
| Allied Greens Glasaigh na gComhghuaillithe |
Glenys Ní Dhochartaigh | Green politics, Eco-socialism | Left-wing | 46 | |
| Centrist Party Páirtí Lárnach |
Andras Ó Cethernaig | Centrism, Liberal conservatism | Centre | 38 | |
| Sons of the Gaels Mic na nGaedheal |
Niall Ó Airt | Ultranationalism, Fascism | Far-right | 11 | |
| One Nation Party Páirtí Náisiún Amháin |
Micheál Ó Rothaich | Social nationalism | Left-wing | 8 | |
| We Alone Táimid Aonair |
Séamus Ó Mathúna | Isolationism, Traditionalist conservatism | Right-wing | 7 | |
| Pirate Party Páirtí Foghlaithe |
Macdara Ó Cualáin | Pirate politics | Left-wing | 5 | |
| National Reform Party Páirtí Náisiúnta Athchóirithe |
Glenna Ní Dhíoráin | Libertarianism, Neoliberalism | Right-wing | 4 | |
| Liberal Democratic Party Páirtí Daonlathach Liobrálach |
Liam Ó Ceallacháin | Republicanism, Liberalism | Left-wing | 3 | |
| United Freeholders Saoirshealbhóirí Aontaithe |
Manus Ó Baoill | Agrarianism, Social conservatism | Right-wing | 3 | |
| Worker's Liberation Party Páirtí Saoirse na nOibrithe |
Bedelia Ní Eidhin | Communism, Marxism–Leninism | Far-left | 2 | |
| Independents | N/a | N/a | N/a | 4 | |
Allocation of Constituencies
| Constituent State | Constituencies |
|---|---|
| The Kingdoms | |
| Kingdom of Kenlis | 153 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Ardliss | 40 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Dòrnach | 30 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Firada | 30 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Brecon | 6 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Lodainn | 5 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Rocelyn | 4 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Dídean | 3 Constituency Seats |
| Kingdom of Syllan | 2 Constituency Seats |
| The Dominions | |
| Alyksberg Free State | 2 Constituency Seats |
| Archduchy of Arzell | 4 Constituency Seats |
| Holy City of Armacht | 4 Constituency Seats |
| Hemar Confederacy | 11 Constituency Seats |
| Principality of Carmane | 2 Constituency Seats |
| Éirne Castellany | 1 Constituency Seat |
| Lordship of Vormsi | 3 Constituency Seats |