Senate (Montecara)
Senate il Senàt | |
|---|---|
| 29th Convocation | |
| File:MontecaraCoA.png | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 9 July 1936 |
New session started | 5 October 2020 |
| Leadership | |
President | Everàrd Torsièl since 5 October 2020 |
First Vice President | Metelo Adorno since 5 October 2020 |
Second Vice President | Aurelia Corxiòn since 5 October 2020 |
First Secretary | Olivia Casèl since 5 October 2020 |
Second Secretary | Albìn io Saco since 5 October 2020 |
| Seats | 125 |
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 21–25 September 2020 |
Next election | 25–29 September 2023 |
| Redistricting | Electoral commission |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Sàla Maxòr, Palaço di Senàt | |
 | |
| Palaço di Senàt | |
| Website | |
| senat.go.mc | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Montecara | |
The Senate (Montecaran: il Senàt) is the upper house of the legislature of Montecara. It is elected by universal suffrage. The Senate elects the Colegio, Montecara's collective executive, at the beginning of every three-year mandate.
History
Montecara's Senate traces its lineage to the ancient Senate of the Solarian Republic, the ultimate source of state authority. As an independent state after the fall of the Solarian Empire, Montecara's leading patrician families constituted their own deliberative assembly to fill the power vacuum that was created when central state authority receded. As it existed from the fall of the Latin Republic through the late 18th century, the Senate was largely an aristocratic body that served the interests of Montecara's ruling class. It was a forum for leading families to smooth out friction created by competing business interests, promote trade, provide for a navy and an army that would defend them and their property, and create laws that kept the plebeians in check. It also performed the crucial function of choosing the Doxe, the head of state of the crowned republic, who ruled for life. Elections of senators were sporadic and perfunctory, with certain families guaranteed that their candidate of choice would be elected by his fellows. Although this system was undemocratic by modern standards, it provided an essential mechanism for preventing the internecine conflicts that plagued other medieval city-states and forced the wealthy to work together to promote their, and the state's, best interests.
Composition
Montecara is divided into 25 Senate districts, each of which elects five Senators by single transferable vote. Senators are elected to a three-year mandate. There are no term limits.
Legislative procedure
The main responsibility of the Senate is to draft and pass legislation in the form of laws. Usually, the legislative process begins with the issuance of a mandate, which is a concise proposal that directs the Senate to take legislative action on a particular topic. Mandates may originate from the College of State, from a motion of the Senate, or from an initiative of the Popular Assembly. Once a mandate has been received by the Senate, the drafting process begins. The mandate is assigned to the appropriate committee, which usually begins its duties by writing a first draft of the proposed law. Professional staff do the bulk of the work of researching and drafting proposals, with Senators directing the process and accepting or rejecting the drafts as they develop.
Once this first draft is complete and approved by the committee, the consultation process begins. This process, which is intended to check the draft proposal for accuracy, enforceability, and acceptability, involves soliciting comment from concerned parties, including civil society organizations, the private sector, experts in relevant academic or technical fields, and interest groups. Once the consultation process is complete, the committee and its staff prepare a revised draft of the proposal along with a report of their findings which will accompany the proposal as it advances through the legislative process.
Organization
Officers
The Senate is presided over by a council of five officers collectively known as the Bancone. This consists of the president, two vice presidents, and two secretaries. The president is responsible for convening the Senate for regular debate and presiding at its sessions; the vice presidents assist in these functions and preside in the absence of the president. The secretaries are responsible for organizing and reading out documents, maintaining the Senate's calendar and files, and generally attending to day-to-day operations. Officers are elected at the first meeting of each new convocation.
Committees
Standing committees
- Committee on State Affairs
- Committee on Foreign Affairs
- Committee on Finance
- Committee on Defense and Security
- Committee on Trade and Industry
- Committee on Social Protection
- Committee on Planning and the Environment
- Committee on Education and Culture
Special committees
- Executive Committee
- General Committee
- Style Committee