National Assembly of Carucere
National Assembly of Carucere Assemblée nationale de Caruquère Asamble Nationale Karuke | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the National Assembly | |
| Type | |
| Type |
|
| History | |
| Founded | 12 April 1941 (First meeting) (83 years ago) |
| Leadership | |
Presidency | Alain Berset |
| Seats | 310 members |
| Elections | |
| Single non-transferable vote | |
The National Assembly of Carucere (Gaullican: Assemblée nationale Caruquère, Papotement: Bouga Nationale Karuke), commonly known as the Bouga, is a legislative body and electoral college in Carucere and is one of two legislative bodies on the national level, the other being the Senate.
The National Assembly consists of delegates elected by popular vote with seats allocated to Carucere's ethnic and religious groups. The National Assembly typically consists of a few hundred popularly elected delegates as well as non-voting representatives from professional associations, labour unions, student associations, and major cultural and social institutions. The body has several features that differentiates it from the Senate. The Assembly doesn't hold legislative sessions, but instead convenes at least once a year at a plenary session ("plenum"), and functions as a top forum for discussion about relevant policy issues. 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 but was detached from the legislative assemblies system.
Often referred to the fourth branch of government, the Assembly is the country's highest political authority. Its most significant role is serving as an electoral college to elect the President and other members of the Council of State. It also has the authority to recall any member of the Council. It normally participates in the political process by serving as a public forum for discussing major issues that are effecting the country. At the end of each session, the Assembly publishes a report typically consisting of its findings and discussions, issues concerning to its members, and its suggestions for resolutions for these issues. As a result, each session is a highly public event and typically garners significant attention. Laws that affect the conduct and functions of local assemblies and all constitutional changes, are presented to the Assembly for approval. Nevertheless it has no formal legislative powers aside from its ability to submit its proposals to the Council of State for consideration. In addition, it serves as a hybrid of auditor and ombudsman overseeing the other branches of the federal government. It summons officials to the Assembly for questioning and issues recommendations to judges based on its findings. By convention the President of the National Assembly is typically a member of the Council of State.