House of Representatives (Omerica)
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House of Representatives Chambre des députés (French) | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Martina Casanova, Socialist | |
Manager of Government Business | Alex O’Brien, Socialist |
Leader of the Opposition | Lisa Granger, Liberal |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 240 |
| File:Current House of Representatives of Omerica.png | |
Political groups | Government (127)
Opposition (97) Crossbench (16) |
| Elections | |
| Single transferable vote | |
Last election | 2 June 2017 |
Next election | 4 June 2021 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Hall of the People, Palace of the Federation, Port-des-Saints | |
| United Republics of Omerica |
 This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Omerica |
Foreign policy |
The House of Delegates is the directly-elected lower house of the Federal Diet of Omerica, sitting alongside the House of Plenipotentiaries. The chamber consists of 240 members and sits in the Hall of the People (Salle du peuple) in the Palace of the Federation.
Election and members
The House consists of 240 representatives, commonly referred to as MPs in English and députés in French. The Instrument of Government allows the House to sit for up to five years from the date of its first meeting after an election unless earlier dissolved by the President; however, since the passage of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2000, elections have been scheduled for the first Friday in June in the fourth year after the previous election.
Members are elected by single transferable vote (French: scrutin à vote unique transférable). The electoral system produces broadly proportional representation in the House, but the small average constituency size usually favours larger political parties—particularly the Omerican Socialist Party and Reformist Party—at the expense of smaller parties. As a result, Omerican politics are multi-party, with coalition and minority governments being the norm.
Eligibility to vote in federal elections is determined by republic legislation, with the proviso that no Omerican citizen over the age of 18 may be denied the right to vote; notably, the Romainbourg, South Provence and Bridgecastle set lower minimum ages than constitutionally required, while Strathavon allows 17-year-olds to vote if their eighteenth birthday occurs before the fourth Friday in June, the traditional last day of the academic year.
Candidates for election are required to be eligible to vote in the republic in which they are standing for election—implying a requirement to live in the republic—and have been Omerican citizens for at least five years by the close of nominations. To stand for election, candidates must collect at least 100 signatures from enrolled voters in the constituency they wish to contest or be nominated by a registered political party. Additionally, candidates are disqualified if they are:
- sitting judges or civil servants;
- undischarged bankrupts;
- dual citizens;
- convicted traitors; or
- currently serving a sentence for an indictable offence.