Grand Synod of Velikoslavia
Grand Synod Synod | |
|---|---|
| 75th Synod of Tarsas | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Proedros | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 620 deputies 500 elected 120 life deputies |
| File:Tarsan senate diagram.svg | |
Political groups | Government
|
| Elections | |
| Mixed-member proportional | |
Last election | 17 June 2018 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Palan Titarios | |
| Website | |
| www.synkletos.gov.tar | |
The Imperial Senate of Tarsas is the unicameral legislature of Hellenic Empire. It has existed for 1064 years, making it one of the oldest legislative bodies in continuous operation in the world.
The power of the Synod comes from the práxeis exousías, or the Acts of Power, issued by Arga I and signed by the Patriarch of Marvios. The powers of the Synod were expanded and increased under the Hadriatic Reforms under Hadrian II in 1868. The body is composed of 620 seats; 500 of which are elected and 120 of which are life seats held by peerages. The Synod meets in the Palan Titarios in Aenonesos. The Synod is led by the Proedros and the Patriarch of Marvios, who acts as the speaker of the senate and the deputy elected official to the Magistros, who is appointed. The current Synod is the 75th since the Hadriatic Reforms.
History
The Synod originated from the Tarsan Assembly, a local legislature established under the Latin Empire to assist with the governance of the province of Tarsas. The Assembly grew in size and scope until it contained over a thousand members by 860. In 954, Arga I reorganized the Assembly with the Práxeis Exousías and declared the formation of the Great Synod of the Hellenic Empire. The Synod remained politically irrelevant except during times of dynastic changes where a new ruling house would take the throne. In 1314, the Synod came into conflict with Geleon I and briefly fought the War of Acts of Succession when the they attempted to depose his heir, Eumenes, by supporting his brother Adronikos. Geleon achieved victory in the war and crippled forces loyal to Adronikos. Geleon crippled the Synod by executing a third of sitting deputies and limiting the number of deputies to just 50 individuals. The Synod was subsequently moved to Zakros where it would remain until 1886. New seats were only added with the addition of new Peerages.
Hadriatic Reforms
In 1886, Hadrian II decreed the Hadriatic Reforms that began to serve as the constitution for the Hellenic Empire. Before the reforms, the Synod operated out of Zakros with all seats occupied by the nobility. The structure was dominated by the Proedros, which at the time controlled the monarch's vote and five additional others awarded by the original Práxeis Exousías. The position was a life appointment and had the sole ability to regulate what political factions were permitted. The body was widely ineffective and could only pass legislation that served as a suggestion to the Emperor. This practically relegated the Synod to an advisory council of nobles.
The Hadriatic Reforms reorganized and transformed the body into a modern political legislature. The reforms themselves are still used as the modus operandi of the body. Modern political factions began to form as newly elected deputies began to work with others who share their ideology. The Conservative Alliance around the first newly elected Proedros, Damien Phrygia, 14th Duke of Stratos and the Liberal Party under Alexos Vesarches both formed within the first months after the reforms. The body was streamlined by the reforms with 700 seats total; 500 elected and 200 life seats granted to peerages. The number of elected seats were set but the number of life seats was set to change as the number of peerages change. An elective term of two years was imposed on all elected seats, requiring for deputies to stand for reelection in their districts every September.
Maximilian Reforms
In 1912, Maximus I initiated further reforms to address the number of vacant seats left in the wake of the shrinking noble class after the Tax Reforms of Hadrian II. The privilege of a Synod seat was not necessarily issued with a new peerage but the monarch maintained the sole ability to increase or decrease the number of seats. The Office of the Proedros was also further elevated to replace the office of Vice Magistros. This set the Proedros as one of the most powerful men in the nation under the two imperial appointments of the Magistros and the Megas domestikos. A ten seat majority requirement was also put into place in order to protect the position of the Proedros from rapidly changing hands during a two year term. The reforms also established the ability for parties to form coalitions in the event that election results are inconsequential.
Layout and Parties
The Grand Synod uses Mixed-member proportional representation to elect representatives. There are 315 elected seats that 315 themes vote and elect their Deputy using first past the post voting. On the same ballot, voters also vote for their preferred party and these 185 seats are awarded on a proportional system based on party appointments. A party must attain at least 7% of the national vote in order to receive appointed seats. Outside of party lines within their own parties, 120 life seats composed of peers make up a significant political force. Many Synod votes can be swayed by courting the votes of Life Deputies. There are six parties comprised of elected officials and three parties solely comprised of Life Deputies. Party membership is not restricted by law, however Life Deputies rarely join parties outside of their own interest groups, choosing instead to congregate among members of their own class.
Membership
Qualifications
The Qualifications of Sitting Deputies Act, which was the first act the new Synod passed in 1886, stipulated certain requirements for election eligibility. A candidate must a). Own some form of land or physical property within the borders of the Hellenic Empire; b). they must at least be 25 years of age; c). they must have held citizenship for 20 years; d). they must reside in the district they wish to represent.
The Illness and Health Guidelines voted and passed in 1965 declare that a deputy may be removed if declared mentally unfit. Deputies are required to go through evaluations each year to assess their health and wellness. A deputy declared unfit by the Health and Wellness Assessment will then be assessed by a synod committee, who will decide if the deputy is fit to continue serving. Vacated seats are filled for the remainder of the term by an appointed representative but that representative must be a member of the outgoing deputy's party and reside in the district they represent.
Certain convictions also disqualify deputies from holding office. High treason disqualifies one from holding office without a pardon from the Emperor. Those who have served a prison sentence for two years or more may not serve in the synod. A Seirá Exódou, or Order of Banishment, may be issued by the sitting monarch which permanently bares an individual from running for or holding any public or appointed office in the Hellenic Empire. Those found guilty of rigging elections, using foreign funds to influence elections, and other serious electoral offenses are barred from office unless a pardon is issued by the monarch. Deputies may hold other elected or appointed positions during their synod term provided they are not in foreign governments.
Elections and term
Each seat of the synod represents a single district, or Theme. Each of these Themes are presided over by the Ministry of Interior, who operates the Thematic Council. These fifty seats are responsible for working with the local Banner Councils and drawing electoral districts. These officials are appointed by the Interior Minister, as well as the Magistros and Proedros who sit in council together every ten years to appoint these officials. The number of Themes is fixed at 620, however, this number could theoretically be changed at the recommendation of the Thematic Council, a successful vote in the synod, and the approval of the sitting monarch. In order to run as a deputy for a Theme, the candidate must get at least 500 signatures from registered voters of that Theme, pay a deposit of Ψ2500, and attain the sponsorship of at least two Banner Councils within the Theme they are wanting to represent. The candidate that receives the most votes is declared the winner and is sitting deputy of their Theme for the next electoral term. Elections are conducted in June every two years for each elected synod seat.
Term
A deputy may hold a seat for no more than four years without winning an election to maintain the seat however there are no synod term limits. The monarch may choose to dissolve the synod earlier than the four year term and call for elections but this rarely if ever happens. Deputies who leave their seats prior to the end of their term, whether through death or losing eligibility, are replaced by temporary party appointments from their Theme. These temporary appointments must run for reelection and are not considered elected deputies until they are elected. They must also be from the party that the outgoing deputy is a member of and from the Theme in which he represents.
The Proedros may issue a Sýstasi Apélasis, or Recommendation of Expulsion, and recommend to expel a certain deputy from the synod. The sýstasi apélasis is then sent to the monarch where he holds an investigation and enacts or vetoes the sýstasi apélasis. Enacting such an order will bar the deputy in question from participating in synod sessions for a ten day period in order to either censure the individual or remove them so they cannot vote against their own impeachment proceedings. In order to vacate a seat, the synod must then pass an árthra tis momfís, which will begin impeachment proceedings against the deputy in question. Deputies under impeachment proceedings are replaced in the same manner as if they vacated their seat until the proceedings conclude. If the proceedings fail in court, then the deputy is permitted to retain their seat and another árthra tis momfís may not be brought against them for the remainder of their term. If the deputy is successfully impeached, then the temporary replacement remains until the next election.
Salary and benefits
Each deputy receives a full compensation package of Ψ250,000 a year in order to support themselves during their term. Each deputy also may claim up to a certain amount of funds to hire office staff and pay other expenses incurred when executing the duties of office. Deputies may receive additional benefits for higher offices, such as the Majority and Minority leader and the Proedros. Each deputy is also entitled to full health benefits paid for by the Ministry of Health. Those in office may also receive a retirement account through various investment and cash options. This account grows the more terms that a deputy serves. Deputies also receive state privileges which includes protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties, except for in instances of treason.
Life Deputies
Prior to the Hadriatic Reforms, Life deputies were nearly the sole membership of the Synod. These positions were not reduced significantly by the reforms themselves but were directly affected by the tax reforms that were part of the system. As the number of rural nobility shrank, various newly impoverished lords surrendered their lands and their titles were dissolved for financial compensation. The Reforms also detached the award of a peerage from the Synod, severely limiting the number of new Life deputies. There are currently 120 Life deputies, however, this number can be altered at will by the monarchy by awarding new peerages seats. There have been calls to dissolve or reduce the number of life seats by the influential New Democracy (Political Party) but this has met with significant resistance from the monarch and the Golden Dawn. The vast majority of Life deputies are members of the conservative Golden Dawn and Enótita. A portion of them are registered members of the center-right National Progressive League.
Life deputies are not eligible for salary or wage compensation but are awarded a budget for office expenses and travel. They may also still collect health benefits for their positions.
Officers
Proedros
The Proedros of the Synod is an office that has existed as long as the institution. Historically, the office controlled the vote of he monarch and wielded enormous power as a result. The role of the office changed greatly after the Hadriatic Reforms. The Proedros no longer controls the vote of the monarch and now fills the role of Speaker. The Proedros is the highest official in the synod but still subject to the monarch. The party that wins the majority in the Synod is allowed to appoint an official to the post of Proedros provided the monarch approves. The post also carries the post of Vice Magistros, putting the office in a place of authority over the Ministers of Government, though it is still subject to the Magistros and the monarch. If a clear majority is unable to be formed, the larger parties may negotiate and form a coalition of government and appoint a Proedros. In this case, the official may be from a party with fewer seats since the majority party was unable to establish clear elective dominance.
Representative of the Church
Each session of the Synod has a representative of the Patriarch of Marvios in attendance. As the representative of the Tarsan Orthodox Church, the Bishop has the authority to speak for the Patriarch of Marvios and control the vote of the clergy. The clergy controls two votes within the Synod which gives the church influence within the legislature. The representative can also lodge a Writ of Cessation where the church can delay a bill that is voted through the Synod and request elements of it be further reviewed. The review process is conducted by the Committee of Moral Affairs, which is made up of seven clergy and five deputies. The committee cannot veto a bill but can lodge a formal complaint for the monarch to review bills that may be considered questionable on moral grounds. This may result in the monarch choosing to veto a bill based on the committee's recommendation.
Minority Leader
The Minority Leader is the generally the unifying official appointed by the largest party that is not in the government coalition with the ruling parties. This position may often be the appointment of a minority coalition made up of smaller parties that did not acquire enough seats to have an effective legislative agenda alone. In cases of a coalition, another official from a smaller party may be chosen rather than an appointment from the largest minority party, though this requires a vote across the coalition. The Minority Leader is responsible for appointing Shadow Ministers to the various ministries. This position is considered a powerful one since a Shadow Minister does not require the approval of the monarch. Though the position carries no power to direct of affect the ministries, the ability to choose an opposition voice within the government offices is still considered an influential role. The Minority Leader will often spearhead attempts by minority parties to amend legislation or pass their own legislation, serving as an influential voice during debates.
Procedure
Daily Procedure
The Synod meets for two sessions a month which convene on the first and third weeks of each month. The second and fourth weeks, and any additional days, are not meeting dates. Only the first and third full weeks of the month are counted as session dates. Traditionally, the Preodros opens the session of the Synod in his roll as speaker. He will introduce the bills that are to be debated and voted on for the day. Each day of the session is designed to last eight hours but may go longer if debates continue. Voting procedure is conducted as one vote per seat. The Synod has an office known as the Chartoularios which serves as a secretary official and is responsible for taking and counting votes. This official is appointed by the Procedural Committee and investigated by the Ethical Conduct Committee prior to his appointment. Appointees must be considered trustworthy so as not to rig Synod votes. A team of undersecretaries serve the appointee and may be asked to take votes again in heated sessions. Committees may hold session any time they wish with the exception of official recess periods that are either designated by the monarch or Proedros or officially legislated as government holidays and other important events.
If a session is unfruitful, a bill can be tabled for continued discussion either the next day or next session by a majority vote of the Synod.
Debates
Synod debates are moderated affairs with carefully outlined rules by the Procedural Committee. The Proedros serves as the official moderator for debates with authority to order the Athanatoi guards to remove unruly deputies or other persons, should he desire it. In theory, each deputy has a right to speak out on an issue during a debate provided he signals he wishes to speak to the Proedros and is called upon to do so. Many times, parties will appoint individuals who will speak for and represent the entire party in order to save time since in many cases, copies of committee approved legislation are sent out 1-2 days prior to voting for deputies to review.
Committees
The Imperial Synod uses committees to accomplish various tasks and review bills in specific categories. Committee membership is proportional based on the percentage of seats elected parties hold. This applies the same for both elected seats and party appointed seats. Parties are permitted to appoint members to the committee seats they are allotted. Committees are formed and disbanded based on a synod wide vote and the approval of the Proedros. The exceptions to this are the Procedural Committee, which the majority party controls eight out of fifteen seats, and the Ethical Conduct Committee, of which each party appoints two members. In the event that a party does not possess more than a single seat, the extra seat is filled by the Proedros.
There are currently fifteen committees but this number can be decreased or increased via special vote of the Synod at any time. These committees are responsible for drafting, reviewing, and voting on the floor status of bills that fall under their jurisdiction. A bill that is voted through its respective committee is then directly sent to the main Synod floor to be voted on. Rejected bills are generally sent back to the originating committee to be revised but the main floor may propose and vote on additions to bills with the Proedros' consent. Committees may also block legislation from reaching the main floor if it does not garner enough votes to leave the committee. Standing committees have the power to hold hearings and to subpoena witnesses and evidence provided they vote to hold an investigation. Such investigations must be reviewed by a Circuit Judge of the Judiciary in order to subpoena witnesses. An investigation may be blocked or approved by the monarchy personally should he so choose, giving it full permission to be carried out.