National Assembly of Carucere
National Assembly of Carucere Assemblée Grande de Caruquère Nasyonal Bouga Karuke | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the National Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type |
|
| History | |
| Founded | 12 April 1941 (First meeting) (83 years ago) |
| Leadership | |
Presidency | Jean Juidange |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 110 members |
Political groups | Non-partisan |
| Elections | |
| Appointment by local assemblies | |
The National Assembly of Carucere (Gaullican: Assemblée nationale Caruquère, Papotement: Nasyonal Bouga Karuke), commonly known as the Bouga, is a legislative body in Carucere on the highest level of the Carucerean legislative assembly system and is one of two legislative bodies on the national level, the other being the Senate.
The National Assembly consists of delegates appointed by community and municipal assemblies, and also representatives from professional associations, labour unions, student associations, and major cultural and social institutions. The National Assembly consists of a few hundred delegates, although the exact number typically varies. The body has several features that differentiates it from the Senate. Without elections, the Assembly is a continuous body and has no formal legislative periods. The Assembly operates by the consensus model, featuring loose political groups instead of political parties. By convention the National Assembly uses the delegate model of representation, where each delegate is bound to the wishes of their appointee and have no autonomy.
The Assembly and the legislative assembly system directly originates from assemblies established as far back as the 1880s, making the institution older than the country itself. These assemblies were initially formed as the governing bodies of Gowsa communities, but the practice spread to Bahian communities by the 1910s. During the Functionalist era, the assemblies were banned by the Red Hibiscus Society, where they transformed into underground political organizations. Afterwards the assemblies reformed back into local government institutions, but maintained many aspects of their political activism. During the 1930s and 1940s, assemblies helped coordinate the opposition to the Democratic Party; in 1941 the National Assembly was founded as its coordinating body. After the 1972 constitution, the National Assembly was formally integrated into the federal government. The National Assembly served as the main oppositional force during the Presidency of Jean Preval.
Often referred to the fourth branch of government, the Assembly participates in the political process by invoking public referendums for legislation or plebiscites for constitutional amendments. All laws, especially those that affect the conduct and functions of local assemblies and all constitutional changes, are presented to the Assembly for approval. Furthermore it traditionally serves as a hybrid of auditor and ombudsman overseeing the other branches of government. The President of the National Assembly is also a member of the National Council of Carucere.