Council of State (Belmonte)
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Belmonte |
The Council of State of Belmonte (Luzelese: Conselho de Estado de Belmonte), also known as State Council of Belmonte, is the official advisory body of the president of Belmonte in the exercise of his or her tenure as head of state.
History
The origins of the State Council started after the Belmontese Revolution and the creation of the Third Republic in 1836, where it was agreed by both conservative and liberal politicians in the Riachuelo Agreement to strip most of the presidential powers in favour of a parliamentary system, however, the role would remain influential as a mediator of conservative and liberal interests, leading to the need of the creation of a advisory council with members from both parties to advise the president on political matters and ensure its non-partisan role.
At the time, the council was composed of the president, the premier, the presidents of both houses of Congress, representatives of the Armed Forces and five members appointed by the ruling party and other five members appointed by the opposition, as well formers presidents. Its membership number was relative with the president being able to appoint other members - although with congressional consent - changing in size several times.
Throughout the Third Republic, the State Council became one of the main organizations that maintained the national oligarchic political order set by the Riachuelo Agreement, keeping national stability even in moments of crisis or larger animosity between both parties. However, with the breaking of the agreement in 1906, most of its functions would be rendered useless due to the emergence of a multi-party system and high polarization of politics during the period.
The council would be abolished after the National Renovation Coup and some of its functions would be absorbed in the now-powerless cabinet during the Berquó regime. The State Council was re-established again with the promulgation of the 1935 Constitution, with a decreased scope of powers as most of the remaining presidential powers were stripped as well. Today, the council is mostly seen as a formality among Belmontese politics, holding no practical power at all.
Role
The State Council acts as the formal advisory body of the President of the Republic over state affairs, assisting on national matters throughout the term to ensure the role's constitutional obligations. Furthermore, besides being convened when the president seems necessary, the council must meet before the convocation of general or extraordinary elections and the appointment or dismissal of the premier, the cabinet, other federal officers as well as commanders of the Armed Forces; settling the date for elections; accreditation of diplomatic representatives and declarations of war.
Members
The constitution states that the State Council is composed of the premier and the leader of the opposition - although the council isn't responsible to account for the nonpartisanship of the president anymore even though it's expected for the holder of the office to act as such - as well as the presidents of both houses of the National Congress and former presidents, the latter holding the office for life.
Members of the State Council are immune from prosecution, not being able to be brought into court without previous removal by the president.
Current members
| Office | Member |
|---|---|
| President of Belmonte and the Council | Caetano Villa-Lobos |
| Premier of Belmonte | Graça Fonseca |
| Leader of the opposition | João Sócrates |
| President of the Senate | Carlos Marinho |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | Aline Soares |
| Former presidents | Afonso de Pádua |
| Raposo Noronha |