Politics of Abayad

Political System of the Republic of Abayad
Polity type	Unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic
Constitution	Constitution of the Republic of Abayad
Formation	August 9, 1866.
Legislative branch
Name	National Assembly of the Abayadi Republic
Type	Bicameral
Meeting place	Abayadi Republican Palace
Presiding officer	Layla, Prime Minister
Executive branch
Head of State
Title	Chancellor of the Republic of Abayad
Currently	Arun Salid
Appointer	Direct Popular Vote
Head of Government
Title	Prime Minister of Abayad
Currently	Layla Qadir
Appointer	Chancellor of the Republic of Abayad, confirmed by the National Assembly
Cabinet
Name	Government of Zhenia
Current cabinet	Qadir Cabinet
Leader	Prime Minister of Abayad
Deputy leader	Deputy Cabinet Leader, traditionally also Minister of Home Affairs
Appointer	Prime Minister, with advice and consent from National Assembly
Headquarters	The Republican Palace
Ministries	15
Judicial branch
Name	Abayadi Supreme Court
Constitutional Court
Seat	Chief Justice

The Politics of Abayad take place in a framework of a Unitary semi-presidential representative democratic republic whose government is based on a parliamentary system, whereby the Chancellor is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics in Abayad are divided into four primary branches: the Chancellor, the National Assembly, the government (used to refer to the Prime Minister and their Cabinet), and the Judiciary, as established by the Constitution. The structure of the constituent provinces of the republic is complex, multilayered, and non-uniform due to the country's history of fragmentation. Consequently, there is no common administrative unit encompassing the republic, although all ultimately remain subservient to the national government.

Executive power is shared by the Chancellor and Prime Minister, who is advised by the Cabinet of Ministers. Legislative power is vested within the National Assembly, a two-chambered legislature comprising the Chamber of Merchants and the People's Chamber. Judicial power is exercised by the judiciary, consisting of the Supreme Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Commercial and Administrative Claims, the Constitutional Court, and all unitary and provincial tribunals.

Politics in Abayad are dominated by two primary parties: the Institutional Revolutionary Party (IRP) and the Rally for Democracy Party (RDM). Both founded in 1906 following the lifting of the ban on political parties, they are the only parties to have Chancellors or Prime Ministers elected, or to have the control of majorities in the National Assembly. Minor parties include the Labor Party (LP), Party for National Understanding (PNU), Party for Abayadi Renewal (PAR), the Abayadi Social Republicanist Party (ASRP), and the Party for Solidarity and Urban Development (PSD). Most smaller parties formed in the late 20th century as a result of dissatisfaction with the two main parties, although they have remained in power.

According to a survey by the National University in 2019, 74 percent of Abayadis believe that the republic's electoral system is transparent and trust official results.

Political Culture

In the aftermath of the 1866 Revolution, the Constitution of the Republic of Abayad provided a legal framework for the new government. It banned all forms of political parties, as revolutionary leader Karom Fasan feared that sectarianism would lead to the republic's fracturing and dissolution. Nevertheless, two primary ideological factions arose early in Abayad's political history, the Populists and Drivers. Populists favored state intervention in the economy to promote income equality, whereas the Drivers preferred free market economic strategies. These groups do not translate perfectly to modern politics, and can be seen more as early wings of the IRP. Abayad's first Chancellor, Asraf Hamal, was a close ally of Fasan's from the days of the revolution, and played a crucial role in shaping what would become the IRP. In fact, hard-line members of the IRP today who subscribe to Hamal's ideas refer to themselves as Hamalists, cementing his legacy. The abolition of the ban on parties in 1906 came as part of a wave of political liberalization in Abayad that ended the proto-IRP's strangehold on politics, and beginning the two-party era. The Rally for Democracy Party, originally named the Liberal Party, became the other major force in Abayadi politics, with the IRP forming in response of legalization of party politics.

National Assembly

Main article: National Assembly of the Republic of Abayad

The National Assembly of the Republic is the supreme legislative body in Abayad, and the nation's Government is drawn from it and answerable to it. The National Assembly is bicameral, consisting of the Chamber of Merchants and People's Chamber, formed as a compromise between the former ruling Merchant Class and the revolutionary victors of the 1866 Revolution.

Chamber of Merchants

Merchant's Deputies are elected from specially drawn electoral boundaries called Masras. Every ten years, masra lines are redrawn according to tax records to ensure that each one receives equal representation in the National Assembly. Each financial person/corporation of significant size receives votes based on their wealth to elect deputies. Constitutionally, there can not be more than 33% of the People's Chamber standing in the Chamber of Merchants. The Chamber of Merchants must ratify by simple majority any bill passed by the People's Chamber as well as the nominated Prime Minister, but not for a vote of no confidence.

People's Chamber

Abayad is divided into electoral constituencies by the National Electoral Boundary Commission. Each constituency elects People's Deputies to the People's Chamber at general elections, and, if required, at snap elections, in a proportional amount to its population. People's Deputies serve five year repeatable terms and generally are thought of as being the more powerful of the two houses, having more powers and wider authority to exercise them. The People's Chamber elects the Prime Minister, can pass a motion of no confidence to trigger a snap election, and proposes as well as voting on bills.