Ossorian House of Lords

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House of Lords

Teach na dTiarnaí
30th Session
Type
Type
History
New session started
2019
Leadership
Tiarna Cainteoir
Earless Gráinne Ní Aonghuis
Chief Whip
Baron Liam Ó Fhaoláin
Structure
Seats579 Peers
OssLords.svg
Political groups
  Duchies (59)
  Earldoms (163)
  Baronies (357)

The House of Lords (Teach na dTiarnaí) is the chamber of Parliament responsible for representing the landed aristocracy of the High Kingdom proper. The Chamber is comprised of 579 members collectively referred to as Peers.

Membership

Membership in the Chamber is automatically granted by holding a landed title, which is limited to members of the High Lords of Ossoria (Ard Tiarnaí). As such, barring special circumstances which would cause a title to be revoked, membership in the Chamber is hereditary. The Chamber is currently composed of 59 duchies, 163 earldoms, and 357 baronies. All members are also entitled to a single, nonvoting and observational cadet seat for their heir which are not counted among the Members of the House. Should a Peer be unable to sit in the House while it is in session, they may name a proxy to sit, debate, and vote in their name, though the proxy requires the permission of the Tiarna Cainteoir (Lord Speaker) in order to do so. The Chamber may expel or readmit a Peer following a 3/5 vote.

Debate Chamber

The Chamber meets in a semicircular debate chamber facing a central dais where the Tiarna Cainteoir sits on a raised throne looking out towards the Chamber. Seating is arranged according to rank, with higher-ranking nobles seated closer to the central podium. This layout was chosen so as to encourage a non-partisan, albeit hierarchical, atmosphere among the Peers, in contrast to the more adversarial atmosphere encouraged in the House of Commons or the collaborative layout of the House of Keys. This chamber is in the Lords Wing on the eastern side of Inverin Palace.

Officers

  • Tiarna Cainteoir- "Lord Speaker". The Tiarna Cainteoir is elected by the Chamber as its chief presiding officer. The current Cainteoir Tionól is the Earless Gráinne Ní Aonghuis.

Powers

The Chamber's powers include:

  • The power to introduce, debate and vote on legislation
  • The power to review, amend, delay and/or veto legislation proposed by the other chambers
  • The power to review, amend, and/or confirm the Assembly's list of candidates for executive and judicial appointments
  • The power to review and confirm a request for the creation of new dignities and Peers
  • The power to review and confirm treaties