Supreme Council of the Republic

Supreme Council of the Republic 𑐀𑐫𑐩𑐵𑐑𑐲𑐵𑐑𑐵‎ 𑐄𑐮𑐸𑐲 𑐡𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾‎𑐾𑐡 𑐗𑐸𑐬𑐷𑐴𑐮 Aymagsaga Ulus Ded Hurahl
Type
Type	Executive council (as collective head of state) Judicial council (as a consitutional court) Legislative council (overseeing the National Assembly)
Leadership
Premier	Erkin Sabir since 18 June 2017
Elections
Voting system	Elected by National Assembly Appointment by the President with approval of the National Assembly

The Supreme Council of the Republic (Chandan: 𑐀𑐫𑐩𑐵𑐑𑐲𑐵𑐑𑐵‎ 𑐄𑐮𑐸𑐲 𑐡𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾𑐾‎𑐾𑐡 𑐗𑐸𑐬𑐷𑐴𑐮, Aymagsaga Ulus Ded Hurahl) is an executive council that serves as the collective head of state of Chanda, as well as the country's constitutional court and the de facto upper house for the National Assembly. Created to ensure that Chanda continues to follow the principles of Birlikism, the Council wields significant power and influence in the country's government. Although constitutional reforms passed in 1993 weakened its powers, it is still considered to be the institutional heart of the republic.

The Council consists of 15 members, led by the Premier of the Council, appointed for a single term of twelve years. As the nation's collective head of state, it embodies the Republic and the influence of Birlikism in the country. In additional to its ceremonial functions, it wields significant powers by serving as the country's constitutional court. Therefore it is tasked with ruling on whether laws and actions by the government are constitutional, with the power to strike them down if the Council decides they are not. In addition the Council has legislative powers in the form of a limited veto against laws passed by the National Assembly or any provincial government. Although the Assembly can override the veto with a two-thirds majority, doing so is a major task and vetoes usually stand. Finally the Supreme Council is the commander in chief of the People's Liberation Army, although this role has become increasingly ceremonial.

History

The idea for a "Supreme Council" was first conceived by Abdug'ani Yoʻldosh in the early 1940s while developing the ideology that would become Birlikism. Abdug'ani believed in the need for a powerful body consisting of experienced "patriots" who would collectively guide the country and ensure the loyalty of elected governments. The concept would be embraced by the rest of the Group of Five, especially by President Nurlan Sabir, who saw it as a key piece of their ideas for a "revived" country. When the National Revolution solidified control over the West Shalegho Commandery, the Group of Five drafted a new constitution for the Republic. It included the creation of a collective head of state, named the Supreme Council. It also granted the council legislative powers in the form of a veto and judicial powers over constitutional matters and managing the judiciary.

During the first few years of the Republic, the Council largely remained out of general political affairs and occasionally issued rulings. However beginning in the late 1950s, President Sabir began giving preferential treatment to well connected party scholars and bureaucrats. By the 1970s, the Supreme Council became an elite political body full of hardline conservatives. At the same time, more moderate Birlikist governments were elected to power and attempted to pursue economic and social reforms, only to be obstructed by the Council who vetoed legislation and constitutional reform. While the Presidents could appoint members to the Council, its Councilors had no term lengths and served until resignation or death. By the 1980s, the Council was a bloated body full of traditionalists and conservatives, known as the Old Guards who continued to block any attempt at substantial reform.

In 1988, Akmal Sabir was elected President by a broad coalition of centrists and reformists in the middle of an economic recession. Akmal used his family name to build support for his constitutional reform package in the Front, but failed to convince a majority of the Supreme Council to not block his reform. In response, Sabir undertook a program of removing the Old Guards from the Council. In order to avoid the perception of a purge and backlash, the removal of National Bloc members was slow and systemic and occurred as part of a larger anti-corruption campaign. Furthermore Sabir shifted back to appointing members based upon qualification rather than political connections, while ensuring the new Councillors were more moderate than their predecessors. Nevertheless, the Old Guards eventually realized the plot and made preparations to stop it by declaring his actions unconstitutional. However some of the more reactionary members sought more radical measures, and contacted elements of the Golden Eagles of Chanda. On 15 July, 1993 elements of the Chandan military controlled by the Golden Eagles attempted a failed military coup. The arrest after the coup resulted in most of the Old Guard being arrested for treason.

With the conservative elements of the Council no longer able to obstruct his reforms, Sabir was able to pass a comprehensive constitutional reform package, the Declaration of 1993. It featured several major reforms to the Council, the most important of which was removing the absolute veto over legislation in favor of a overridable limited veto and mandating that its members represent the ethnic groups of Chanda. Additional reforms included a set term of 12 years, the Council's number of seats being fixed at 15, and adding approval of the Assembly to the appointment process.

Powers and responsibilities

Under the Declaration of the Republic, the Supreme Council is vested with a wide range of powers and responsibilities over executive, legislative, and judicial affairs as its role as protector of the constitution. While its executive powers are largely ceremonial, it holds extensive legislative and judicial powers. The Council has the powers to:

Executive

• Represent the state in foreign affairs, which is exercised only on the advice of the government. The Council accredits ambassadors and receives the letters of credence of foreign diplomats. The Council signs international treaties on behalf of the President.
• Exercise supreme command and control over the People's Liberation Army. Since the reforms of the 1990s, this power is exercised on the advice of the government.

Legislative

• Sign a bill into law by a majority vote. The Council may veto a bill and send it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration. The National Assembly may revise the bill or override the veto by a two-third majority vote after which the bill becomes law.
• Issue a non-binding resolution by a majority vote. The resolution power is largely used to state the Council's majority opinion. However the Council may submit a resolution to the National Assembly to ask it to draft its resolution as legislation. This practice has become a de facto right of legislative initiative.
• Convene the National Assembly to mark the start of a new legislative session.

Judicial

• Exercise the power of judicial review and may strike down unconstitutional actions by the government. The Council may actively exercise judicial review, instead of waiting for a case to be presented to the Council.
• Mediate internal disputes between national institutions, including delegates of the National Assembly.
• Impeach and remove the President or a judge based on violation of constitutional or federal law. However only the National Assembly can officially vote to remove the President from office.
• Appointing the members of the Council of Judicial Affairs with approval of the National Assembly.
• Ban political parties and other organisations that pose a threat to the Republic.

Organisation

The Supreme Council is led by the highest ranking member, the Premier of the Council. While the Premier is technically primus inter pares among their peers, they may act as de facto head of state of the country. Furthermore they have significant influence in deciding the Council's agenda, presides when oral arguments are held, and leads the discussion on the current vote among the Councillors. Additionally, when the Council issues a ruling, the Premier, if in the majority, chooses who writes the Council's opinion. When voting however, the Premier's vote counts no more than that of any other councillor. The Premier is elected for a five year term by the other members of the Council; they cannot be elected more than once consecutively and must wait until after the next term to run again.

The serving members of the Council are appointed by the President and approved with a simple majority vote of the National Assembly. Councilors serve for 12 year terms which are staggered with new five members elected every four years. The number of Councillors have varied over its existence, reaching a height of 41 members in the 1990s. The Declaration of 1993 mandates the allocation of seats to representatives from the Chandan Xiao community and the Chandan Satrian community; out of the fifteen seats four are reserved for Satrians, and three reserved for the Xiao community. While a less conservative council and constitutional reforms have reduced obstacles for ruling governments, the Council's will is still highly respected and represents a moderating force in Chandan politics.

Membership

Member		Position	Member since
	Erkin Sabir	Premier of the Council (Bashtugin delegate)	2011-09-Aug (12 years ago)
	Sooronbay Barat	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2011-09-Aug (12 years ago)
	Askar Yasin	Councillor (Xiao delegate)	2011-09-Aug (12 years ago)
	Serik Alikhan	Councillor (Satrian delegate)	2011-09-Aug (12 years ago)
	Erlan Jaqanuly	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2015-09-Aug (12 years ago)
	Kodir Litip	Councillor (Xiao delegate)	2015-05-August (8 years ago)
	Kamal Khan	Councillor (Satrian delegate)	2015-05-August (8 years ago)
	Turgyn Khan	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2015-05-August (8 years ago)
	Chingiz Tuyakbay	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2015-05-August (8 years ago)
	Gani Yasin	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2015-05-August (8 years ago)
	Saroo Shakoor	Councillor (Satrian delegate)	2019-7-August (4 years ago)
	Adalat Hudayar	Vice-Premier of the Council (Bashtugin delegate)	2019-7-August (4 years ago)
	Darhan Patel	Councillor (Satrian delegate)	2019-7-August (4 years ago)
	Serik Tazhin	Councillor (Xiao delegate)	2019-7-August (4 years ago)
	Gulshara Khan	Councillor (Bashtugin delegate)	2019-7-August (4 years ago)