Grand Synod of Velikoslavia
Grand Synod | |
|---|---|
| 93rd Synod of Velikoslavia | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Procedurate | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 250 deputies |
 | |
Political groups | Government
|
| Elections | |
| Mixed-member proportional | |
Last election | 17 June 2022 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Orchid Palace | |
| Website | |
| www.synkletos.gov.vlk | |
The Grand Synod of Velikoslavia is the unicameral legislature of Velikoslavia. It has existed since 1837.
History
Universal Pact of Governance
In 1837, Alexis II signed the Universal Pact of Governance in the disastrous wake of the Velikoslavian Civil War that his predecessor had waged. The pact created the Synod, which was originally 50 seats comprised of high ranking nobility and government officials.
Layout and Parties
The Grand Synod uses Mixed-member proportional representation to elect representatives. There are 177 elected seats that 59 electoral districts vote and elect three Deputies using first past the post voting. On the same ballot, voters also vote for their preferred party and these 73 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.
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 Velikoslavia; 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 Tsar. 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 Velikoslavia. 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. Each of these electoral disctricts are presided over by the High Electorate, who is responsible for managing Synod elections. These fifty individuals are responsible for working with the local Fylke Councils and drawing electoral districts. They are appointed by the Interior Minister, as well as the Statsministris and Procedurate who sit in council together every ten years to appoint these officials. The number of districts is fixed at 150, however, this number could theoretically be changed at the recommendation of the High Electorate, a successful vote in the synod, and the approval of the sitting monarch. In order to run as a deputy for a district, the candidate must get at least 500 signatures from registered voters of that district, pay a deposit of Ψ2500, and attain the sponsorship of at least two Fylke Councils within the district they are wanting to represent. The candidate that receives the most votes is declared the winner and is sitting deputy of their Fylke 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 two 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 two 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 district. 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 district in which they represents.
The Procedurate 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 Ψ150,000 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 Procedurate. 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.
Officers
Procedurate
The Procedurate 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 pact. The Procedurate no longer controls the vote of the monarch and now fills the role of a Speaker. It 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 Procedurate provided the monarch approves. If a clear majority is unable to be formed, the larger parties may negotiate and form a coalition of government and appoint a Procedurate. In this case, the official may be from a party with fewer seats since the majority party was unable to establish clear elective dominance.
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 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 Procedurate 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 Procedurate 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 Procedurate serves as the official moderator for debates with authority to order the Synod 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 Procedurate 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 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 Procedurate. 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 Procedurate.
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 Procedurate's 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.
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