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{{Short description|Supreme legislature of Mava}}
{{Short description|Supreme legislature of Mava}}
{{Infobox legislature
{{Infobox legislature
|background_color    = #417f94
|background_color    =  
| name              = National Parliament of the Republic of Mava
| name              = Mava Council
| native_name        = {{nobold|Kausaakkavtaagikyakii Maava Yakiinaigaalu}}
| native_name        = {{nobold|Taapiit Maava}}
| legislature        = 50th Parliament of Mava
| legislature        =  
| coa_pic            = [[File:Coat of Arms of Mava.png|100px]]
| coa_pic            = [[File:Emblem of Mava.png|125px]]
| house_type        = Bicameral
| coa_res            = 125px
| houses            = {{ublist
| coa_alt            = Emblem of Mava
| House of Elders
| coa_caption        = [[Flag and emblem of Mava|Emblem of Mava]]
| House of Representatives
| logo_pic          = [[File:Logo of Mava Council.png|200px]]
}}
| logo_res          = 200px
| leader1_type      = President of the House of Elders
| logo_alt          = Logo of Mava Council
| leader1            = Vauta Laumaasi
| logo_caption      = Logo of Mava Council
| party1            = Independent
| house_type         = Unicameral
| election1          = 12 May 2021
| leader3_type      = Leader of the Council
| leader2_type      = Speaker of the House of Representatives
| leader3            = [[Kausaanek Malaati]]
| leader2            = Aamikat Uuyukluq
| party3            =  
| party2            = Independent
| election3          = 22 March 2023
| election2          = 11 January 2023
| members            = 16
| members            = {{ublist
| '''86'''
| 25 (House of Elders)
| 61 (House of Representatives)
}}
 
| house1            = House of Elders
| structure1        = House of Elders composition.png
| political_groups1  = {{Color box|{{party color|Independent}}}} Independent (25)
 
 
| house2            = House of Representatives
| structure2         = File:Mavean_Parliament_2023.png
| structure2_res    = 250px
| structure2_alt    = Structure of the House of Representatives
| political_groups2  = '''Government (39)'''
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#4f819d|border=silver}} Progressive Party (39)}}
'''Opposition (22)'''
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#9b1d3a|border=silver}} Labour Movement (15)}}
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#ffa200|border=silver}} Democracy and Renewal (5)}}
*{{nowrap|{{Color box|#dcdcdc|border=silver}} Independent (2)}}


| structure1        = File:Mava Council composition.png
| structure1_res    = 250px
| structure1_alt    = Composition of the Mava Council
| political_groups1  = {{legend|#808080|Nonpartisan: 16 seats}}
| committees1        =
| committees1        =
| committees2        =
| committees2        =
| joint_committees  =
| joint_committees  =
| voting_system1    = Block voting
| last_election2    = 11 May 2023
| last_election2    = 11 May 2023
| next_election2    = before 8 May 2025
| next_election2    = before 8 May 2025
| session_room      = Territorial Legislature Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada 03.jpg
| session_room      =
| session_res        = 260px
| session_res        =  
| session_alt        = The seat of the legislature is the Kausaakkavtaagikakitat in Paas
| session_alt        =
| meeting_place    = Kausaakkavtaagikakitat<br/>Paas, Mava<br/>
| meeting_place    = Maavaakitat, Paas, [[Mava]]
| website            = {{plain list|
| website            = {{plain list|
*[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ House of Elders - official website]
*[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Mava Council - official website]
*[https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ House of Representatives - official website]}}
| footnotes          =
| footnotes          =
|structure2_res=250px|structure1_res=250px}}
|structure2_res=250px|structure1_res=250px}}
}}
{{Politics of Mava}}
{{Politics of Mava}}
The '''Parliament of the Commonwealth of Mava''' ([[Mavean language|Mavean]]: ''Kausaakkavtaagikyakii''; <small>lit.</small> National Lawmakers) is the bicameral legislature of [[Mava]], consisting of the House of Peers (''Paaquakitattaagik''; <small>lit.</small> Senior's Assembly) and the House of Representatives (''Kaavikuakitattaagik''; <small>lit.</small> Delegate's Assembly). Both chambers meet at the Kausaakkavtaagikakitat in Paas.
'''Mava Council''' ([[Mavean language|Mavean]]: ''Taapiit Maava''; "Council of Mava"), officially the '''Council of the Mava Islands''', is the unicameral legislature of the [[Atitlan|Atitlanese]] unincorporated territory of [[Mava]]. The Council was established in 1929 with limited powers, assuming its present status and responsibilities in 1960.
 
The current Parliament was established in the 1925 Constitution, replacing the colonial-era Legislative Council. The Council was established by the Atitlanese colonial authorities in 1908 to advise the governor in policymaking. The council did not have the power of veto and had only a consultative role, with no power to even propose legislation. In 1925, upon independence, the Council was replaced with the current Parliament. Between 1925 and 1943, the Parliament was largely subordinate to the personalist regime of Kuraava Tanigak. Following constitutional amendments in 1943, which replaced the presidential system with a parliamentary system, Parliament assumed exclusive control over the legislative power and also took over nominal executive powers.


The members of the House of Representatives are elected for two years via bloc voting. Members represent multi-member constituencies (apart from Taak, which has a single-member at-large constituency). The 25 members of the House of Elders are appointed by the President-in-Council. For laws to pass, they must receive the approval of the House of Elders and must be confirmed to be "in the spirit of the law" by the House of Elders.
The Mava Council consists of sixteen elected members, with a select number of non-voting attendants able to sit at the council's pleasure. Attendants do not have speaking or voting rights and sit as observers. The [[List of leaders of Mava|Leader of the Council]] is elected to preside over the Council's sessions and lead an Executive that functions as the cabinet.


==History==
==History==
The Parliament of Mava was created on 1 April 1925 through the Mavean Independence Act, passed by the Atitlanese Congress. The members were carried over from the membership of the Legislative Council, which had served as the appointed advisory body to the colonial governor. Under the interim provisions, Mava was governed by a Transitional Government of the Parliament, appointed by Parliament to govern until elections could be held. The first elections were held on 14 May 1925, with Kuraava Tanigak appointed president by Parliament. The body was made permanent following the passage of the first Mavean constitution in September 1925, with the division of its powers between the newly established Nominated Assembly and Legislative Assembly.
The Mava Council was established in 1929 with limited powers over planning applications, cultural matters, and some law enforcement. It was created at the instigation of the governor, Francisco Jose Valladares, in order to alleviate anger at the continued exclusion of native Maveans. The body was initially appointed by the governor, but became fully elected in 1935.
 
The 1943 constitution radically increased the powers of parliament, transforming Mava from a presidential to a parliamentary republic. The prime minister, a member of the Legislative Assembly, formally became head of government and answerable to the Legislative Assembly rather than the president. The Legislative Assembly also assumed powers to dismiss governments with the abolition of the assembly-independent system, and its members became the sole initiators of legislation, with the president previously able to propose bills. The Nominated Assembly had its power of veto removed, now only able to recommend amendments and supervise the drafting of laws. It remains responsible for ensuring the legality of any laws passed in the lower house.
 
Under the 1943 constitution, the president of the parliament appointed a "Grand Committee of the National Parliament", composed of members of both houses appointed for the purpose of electing the president and approving the nominations of judges and other officials. The body was abolished in 1994; an Electoral College was created to elect the president, whilst responsibility for approving nominations was transferred to the House of Representatives.
 
==Composition==
Parliament consists of the President; an upper house, the House of Elders; and a lower house, the House of Representatives. Each constituent part has its own responsibilities distinct from the other parts, although all three work in conjunction as part of the legislative process. Members of the lower house are called "members of the Legislative Assembly" (''Kausaakkavakakat''; <small>lit.</small> "Lawmaker"), whilst members of the Nominated Assembly are called "Nominated Members" (''Paaqok'' <small>lit.</small> "Senior").


No individual may sit in both chambers at the same time.
In 1960, the Law on the Status of Mava formalised the islands' political status and granted the Council full powers equal to (and in some cases exceeding) those of state congresses. At the same time, the Council assumed the authority of electing a Leader to serve as the island's head of government, and of approving the Executive to coordinate government policy.


===House of Elders===
==Electoral system==
The legislative authority of the House of Elders is subordinate to that of the House of Representatives, and it has no power in its own right to restrict or deny the authority of the latter. However, it plays an important role within the legislative process, with all legislation required to be presented to the Nominated Assembly prior to its promulgation by the president.
The sixteen seats in the Mava Council are elected every three years, with eight seats elected at a given time. Councillors are elected by first-past-the-post plurality-at-large voting, with voters allowed to cast as many votes as there are available seats. The candidates with the most votes are elected to fill the vacant seats. Should a seat become vacant between elections, the seat goes to the candidate with the next largest vote share.


Elders are appointed by the President-in-Council based on their being distinguished individuals in their respective field. 25 members are appointed, representing different areas of society and selected for their knowledge and expertise. The following structure of appointments is followed, although there is no legal basis for it: 5 members from the judiciary; 5 members from the social sector (including the voluntary sector); 5 members from industry and commerce; 5 members from organised labour; 3 members representing culture and the arts; and 2 members representing agriculture and fisheries. Members are appointed for life and are required to sit as independents.
If there are fewer candidates than there are available seats, they are declared to have been elected automatically. The unfilled seats remain vacant until a sufficient number of candidates have declared their intention to fill them. At this point, a by-election is held to fill those seats.


The primary role of the House of Elders is quasi-judicial. It ensures that legislation approved in the House of Representatives complies with the constitution and with existing law - formally described as "in keeping with the spirit of the law." In the majority of cases, this requires only a review of the law by a select panel of members rather than the participation of the whole house. Aside from its power of review, the House of Elders may also recommend amendments to proposed legislation, which is returned to the House of Representatives for consideration. The House of Representatives is not required to approve, or even debate, amendments proposed in the House of Elders, although the regard of the upper house usually requires a debate.
==Powers and functions==
The council derives its powers principally from the aw on the Status of Mava 1960 and the Organic Statute of Mava 1961 (which serves as the islands' constitution). It as 'general power of competence' over all policy areas under the authority of the local government, i.e. it is permitted to act in any matter whatsoever which does not conflict with or undermine the actions or interests of the [[Atitlan|Atitlanese government]] or other parties. The main responsibilitiy of the council is to provide for "the peace, order and good government of the Mava Islands," and to enact laws for the achievement of this.


===House of Representatives===
All bills must be proposed for debate in the Council, although no councillor may propose a bill altering the powers of the Atitlanese government without the Governor's leave. As part of the council's consensus-based decision making, bills are generally debated to achieve consensus, with amendments seeking broad agreement amongst all councillors. The Leader, who normally does not participate in votes, may cast a vote in the event of a tie.
The House of Representatives is the elected component of the Mavean Parliament, with each member elected by a plurality of voters in each of the country's electoral constituencies. The requirements to run one of the 61 seats in the House of Representatives are that they be at least 18 years old, not be completing any criminal sentence, and be elegible to vote in national elections. Members hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved, after which they may seek re-election.


The House of Representatives is the "principal legislative body" and is established as the more powerful of the two parliamentary houses. All legislation is required to be introduced to the House of Representatives and be approved by its members. The House of Representatives also has exclusive control over money matters, possessing power of the purse and ultimate responsibility for the budget.
The council has the power to pass two types of legislation: ordinances and regulations. Ordinances are the equivalent of legislative acts and constitute the majority of legislation passed in the council. Under the Law on the Status of Mava and the subsequent Organic Statute of Mava, council ordinances are recognised as having the same authority as federal acts in matters delegated to the local government. Ordinances are officially referred to in law as an "Ordinance under Section 31 of the Organic Statute of Mava" or a "Section 31 Ordinance." Regulations govern the procedures and rules of government bodies (including the council) and have little relevance to the public aside from in their interactions with these bodies.


In addition to its legislative role, the House of Representatives is responsible for nominating the prime minister for appointment by the President. The house may, by a constructive motion of no confidence, request the president to dismiss the government. However, no such motion has ever been successful. Furthermore, the House of Representatives constitutes part of the membership of the Electoral College, alongside the House of Elders, which is tasked with electing the President. The government is officially responsible to the House of Representatives and answers to it.
Councillors are also responsible for the election of the Mava Council Executive, which serves as the executive branch of the government. The Executive is officially a committee of the council and answerable to it. It has the sole authority to appoint or dismiss a member of the Executive, usually done at the request of the Leader of the Council.


==Committees==
==Committees==
Parliament has a number of joint committees that draw membership from both houses. There are currently 11 committees, the majority of which correspond with government departments:
The Council has three committees responsible for 'matters of general concern', i.e. matters not covered by a Executive portfolio but is nonetheless under the authority of the Council. These are:
* Joint Committee on Finance and the Economy
* Committee on the Application of Law - makes recommendations on whether applicable Atitlanese laws should be extended to Mava.
* Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs
* Committee on Privileges - investigates concerns relating to the privileges and benefits extended to councillors.
* Joint Committee on Public Security
* Committee on Administration - reviews rules relating to the administration of the Council.
* Joint Committee on Public Health, Sport, and Fitness
* Joint Committee on Education, Culture, and Youth
* Joint Committee on the Environment
* Joint Committee on Justice
* Joint Committee on Administration
* Joint Committee on Media and Youth
* Joint Committee on Equality and Integration
* Joint Committee on Fisheries and Employment


==Elections==
==Oath of office==
General elections to the House of Representatives occur whenever the assembly is dissolved. Dissolutions occur automatically two years from the date of the first meeting of the house, although it is common for dissolutions to occur in March, at least six weeks prior to the date of the next election. Elections are usually held in the second week of May (generally a Thursday), following an electoral campaign of no less than 35 days. Candidates are usually nominated by political parties, although a small number of independent candidates have won seats. Candidates are usually elected in local party meetings in the relevant constituency, although the law does not mandate this and several candidates have historically been selected by the national party rather than local members.
Councillors, on their election, are required to make the following oath or affirmation.
 
{{blockquote|I, [Name], having been elected to Mava Council, declare that I take that office upon myself, and will duly and faithflly fulfill the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability, and according to law.}}
Candidates are required to file a nomination paper bearing the signatures of at least 50 constituents. Each constituency (except from Taak) returns several members of Parliament using the block voting electoral system, in which voters may cast as many votes as there are available seats, with a simple plurality required. To stand as and vote for a candidate, one must be a Mavean citizen and at least eighteenth years of age. Additional eligibility requirements are imposed on electoral candidates.
Failure to do so prevents them from taking their seats and receiving a salary, and are automatically declared "un-elected" sixty days from the first meeting of the Council.
 
Members serve a two year term. Should a member die, resign, or otherwise cease to hold their seat, a by-election is held in the relevant constituency under the same rules and procedures as in general elections. Individuals expelled by the House of Representatives are not permitted to run in the following by-election, although they may be a candidate in the next general election (even if no subsequent by-election is held).
 
===Constituencies===
61 members are returned from multi-member constituencies or single-member constituencies. Each district is divided into a number of constituencies based on their population, each returning an allocated number of members. The distribution of constituencies is reviewed every ten years by the Mavean Elections Office, with a requirement that each seat represents approximately 1,150 people.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!District !! Seats !! MPs
|-
| Aasqaalet || 3 || 11
|-
| Miilep || 2 || 5
|-
| Paas || 8 || 23
|-
| Pmaak || 4 || 9
|-
| Kungaatiibisa || 1 || 1
|-
| Taagokiajut || 1 || 3
|-
| Sigaak || 2 || 5
|-
| Saayup || 1 || 3
|-
| Taak || 1 || 1
|-
|}
The current set of constituency boundaries came into effect ahead of the May 2015 parliamentary elections. Prior to this, Paas had 25 seats, which were re-allocated to Aasqaalet and Pmaak.
 
===2023 election===
{{Election results
|+ Summary of the 12 May 2022 parliamentary elections results
|-
|image=[[File:Mavean Parliament 2023.png|360px]]
 
|party1=Progressive Party of the Mavean Islands
|votes1=14291
|seats1=39
|sw1=-1.21
|sc1=0
|color1=#4f819d
 
|party2=Political Congress of the Mavean Labour Movement
|votes2=11102
|seats2=15
|sw2=+4.33
|sc2=+1
|color2=#9b1d3a
 
|party3=Democracy and Renewal
|votes3=3755
|seats3=5
|sw3=-1.71
|sc3=+1
|color3=#ffa200
 
|party4=Mavean People's Party
|votes4=1921
|seats4=0
|sw4=-1.24
|sc4=-1
|color4=#316b7f
 
|party5=Independents
|votes5=3920
|seats5=2
|sw5=-0.17
|sc5=-2
|color5=#dcdcdc
 
|total_sc=0
 
|valid=31989
|invalid=491
|electorate=51072
|source=Mavean Elections Office
}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 195: Line 83:


==External links==
==External links==
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ National Parliament of Mava]. aawnuhiuakak.mv
* [https://i.imgur.com/LJrd3HN.jpg/ Mava Council]. maava.mv/an/council


{{Elezia}}
{{Elezia}}
[[Category:Mava]]
[[Category:Mava]]

Revision as of 12:06, 6 May 2024

Mava Council

Taapiit Maava
Emblem of Mava.png
Emblem of Mava
Logo of Mava Council.png
Logo of Mava Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Leader of the Council
Kausaanek Malaati
since 22 March 2023
Structure
Seats16
Composition of the Mava Council
Political groups
  Nonpartisan: 16 seats
Elections
Block voting
Last election
11 May 2023
Next election
before 8 May 2025
Meeting place
Maavaakitat, Paas, Mava
Website
Mava
Emblem of Mava.png
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Mava
  • Monarch
    • Macuilxochitzin
  • Representative
    • Jose Miguel Artigas
  • Leader of the Council
  • Chief Magistrate
    • Alujut Saujak
  • Recent elections
    • Legislative: 2000
    • 2004
    • 2008

    • 2012
    • 2016
    • 2019
    • 2023
    • Next
    • Referendums: 1996

Mava Council (Mavean: Taapiit Maava; "Council of Mava"), officially the Council of the Mava Islands, is the unicameral legislature of the Atitlanese unincorporated territory of Mava. The Council was established in 1929 with limited powers, assuming its present status and responsibilities in 1960.

The Mava Council consists of sixteen elected members, with a select number of non-voting attendants able to sit at the council's pleasure. Attendants do not have speaking or voting rights and sit as observers. The Leader of the Council is elected to preside over the Council's sessions and lead an Executive that functions as the cabinet.

History

The Mava Council was established in 1929 with limited powers over planning applications, cultural matters, and some law enforcement. It was created at the instigation of the governor, Francisco Jose Valladares, in order to alleviate anger at the continued exclusion of native Maveans. The body was initially appointed by the governor, but became fully elected in 1935.

In 1960, the Law on the Status of Mava formalised the islands' political status and granted the Council full powers equal to (and in some cases exceeding) those of state congresses. At the same time, the Council assumed the authority of electing a Leader to serve as the island's head of government, and of approving the Executive to coordinate government policy.

Electoral system

The sixteen seats in the Mava Council are elected every three years, with eight seats elected at a given time. Councillors are elected by first-past-the-post plurality-at-large voting, with voters allowed to cast as many votes as there are available seats. The candidates with the most votes are elected to fill the vacant seats. Should a seat become vacant between elections, the seat goes to the candidate with the next largest vote share.

If there are fewer candidates than there are available seats, they are declared to have been elected automatically. The unfilled seats remain vacant until a sufficient number of candidates have declared their intention to fill them. At this point, a by-election is held to fill those seats.

Powers and functions

The council derives its powers principally from the aw on the Status of Mava 1960 and the Organic Statute of Mava 1961 (which serves as the islands' constitution). It as 'general power of competence' over all policy areas under the authority of the local government, i.e. it is permitted to act in any matter whatsoever which does not conflict with or undermine the actions or interests of the Atitlanese government or other parties. The main responsibilitiy of the council is to provide for "the peace, order and good government of the Mava Islands," and to enact laws for the achievement of this.

All bills must be proposed for debate in the Council, although no councillor may propose a bill altering the powers of the Atitlanese government without the Governor's leave. As part of the council's consensus-based decision making, bills are generally debated to achieve consensus, with amendments seeking broad agreement amongst all councillors. The Leader, who normally does not participate in votes, may cast a vote in the event of a tie.

The council has the power to pass two types of legislation: ordinances and regulations. Ordinances are the equivalent of legislative acts and constitute the majority of legislation passed in the council. Under the Law on the Status of Mava and the subsequent Organic Statute of Mava, council ordinances are recognised as having the same authority as federal acts in matters delegated to the local government. Ordinances are officially referred to in law as an "Ordinance under Section 31 of the Organic Statute of Mava" or a "Section 31 Ordinance." Regulations govern the procedures and rules of government bodies (including the council) and have little relevance to the public aside from in their interactions with these bodies.

Councillors are also responsible for the election of the Mava Council Executive, which serves as the executive branch of the government. The Executive is officially a committee of the council and answerable to it. It has the sole authority to appoint or dismiss a member of the Executive, usually done at the request of the Leader of the Council.

Committees

The Council has three committees responsible for 'matters of general concern', i.e. matters not covered by a Executive portfolio but is nonetheless under the authority of the Council. These are:

  • Committee on the Application of Law - makes recommendations on whether applicable Atitlanese laws should be extended to Mava.
  • Committee on Privileges - investigates concerns relating to the privileges and benefits extended to councillors.
  • Committee on Administration - reviews rules relating to the administration of the Council.

Oath of office

Councillors, on their election, are required to make the following oath or affirmation.

I, [Name], having been elected to Mava Council, declare that I take that office upon myself, and will duly and faithflly fulfill the duties of it according to the best of my judgement and ability, and according to law.

Failure to do so prevents them from taking their seats and receiving a salary, and are automatically declared "un-elected" sixty days from the first meeting of the Council.

See also

Notes

External links

Retrieved from "https://iiwiki.us/mediawiki/index.php?title=Mava_Council&oldid=799330"