Congress of States
Congress of States Humiiaktō | |
|---|---|
| 15th congress of Tarinθikluu̯ī VI | |
| Type | |
| Type | Bicameral legislature of Northern States |
| Houses | House of Prelates House of Representatives |
| History | |
| Founded | February 20, 614 |
| Leadership | |
President of the Congress | TBD, Progressive Party |
Speaker of the House of Representatives | TBD, Green Party |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 57 prelates 471 representatives |
 | |
House of Prelates political groups | New Democracy: 20 Social Alliance: 19 Green: 6 Centre: 6 Democratic Socialist: 2 Lay Alliance: 3
|
 | |
House of Representatives political groups | New Democracy: 115 Social Alliance: 102 Green: 60 Centre: 39 Rural Development: 34 North Alliance: 28 Radical Action: 22 Very Green: 17 Democratic Socialist: 17 Lay Alliance: 15 Reform: 8 New Age: 5 Children's Welfare: 3 Unionist: 3 New Spirituality: 2 Pirate: 1
|
| Meeting place | |
| Congress Hill | |
The Congress of States (Northian: Humiiaktō; Dutch: Congres van Staten; often abbr. the Congress) is the bicameral federal legislature of the Northern States. It meets in quarterly sessions in the capital city of Cleiden. The Congress operates under the terms of the Instrument of 894 and its subsequent amendments, defining its powers apart from those of the constituent states. According to the terms of these documents, the Congress defray public expenses upon the states, declare war and peace, and legislate on other issues of common relevance. Both houses must assent to the same bill before it becomes a statute.
The legislature consists of two chambers, the higher house the House of Prelates, and the other the House of Representatives. The House of Prelates consists of two classes of members, the 33 civil prelacies and 24 free prelacies; the civil prelacies are those selected by the civil (i.e. state) authority and are thus always entitled to a seat in the house, and the free prelacies are those who are elevated to the status of a prelate by mere royal command, which expires at the death or resignation of the holder. After 1810, congressional prelates do not need to be members of the clergy despite the name of the house. The House of Prelates also functions as the apex court of DNS.
The House of Representatives consists of 471 representatives elected every three years proportionally from the entire Northern States. Both houses are legally co-equal in their powers; yet owing to the principle of responsible government, the Federal Government is accountable to the House of Representatives in modern politics, which means the lower house has more political influence than the upper house. All budgetary measures are introduced lower house, though the upper may debate and pass them as well.
Name
The Northian name Humiiaktō is a compound of hā/hm- "together, united" and aktō "a putting". It means the putting together of all the states.
Practices
Unlike sessions of the Privy Council which are summoned by the reigning king, the Congress of States is convoked at the behest of one or more constituent state. To begin the process of convocation, it is in order for the priesthood to declare a holy day where the states shall meet at a certain place and give and receive reconciliation from each other.
Emissaries are then appointed and sent from the convoking state to the other states with a letter signed by the "wholy body of the state" (pās kāti vixs xarfs) requesting the presence of the wholy body of the other state be present at the appointed place, for "reason of the common well-being and security". The Congress is considered fully convoked even if not in session as soon one emissary is appointed by one or more state.