Confederation Congress (Sonora)
Congress of the Sonoran Confederation Confederation Congress Congreso de la Confederación de Sonora (Spanish) | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Session of the Confederation Congress of the Republic of the Union of Sonora | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
President of the Confederation | |
Vice President of the Confederation | Cali Bear, Independent since December 15, 2018 |
Prime Minister | Cookie the Cat, Independent since December 15, 2018 |
Chancellor of the Nations | Julia Smith, Independent since March 15, 2019 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 12 |
Political groups | Independents (8) Liberal (1) National (1) Christian Democrat (2) |
| Committees | State Agencies of Sonora |
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | March 6, 2019 |
| Meeting place | |
| Video chat (some members) Hall of Congress, People's Palace (de jure) | |
The Confederation Congress (officially the Congress of the Sonoran ConfederationSpanish: Congreso de la Confederación de Sonora), is the legislative body of the Sonoran Confederation.
After the fall of the Republic of Shaoshan, a new state was created to be the legal successor, the Empire of Sonora. This nation would take the reigns of the former People's Council. During its tenure until election, the People's Council (to be renamed the Imperial Council) would continue to conduct legislative business as normal. Its more formal title during this time was the Provisional People's Council of the Empire of Sonora. The 1st Session of the Imperial Council began on January 15, 2017 with elections occuring every 3–4 months. Due to a political row in the Olaf Kingdom, a fresh election were held and the 2nd Session of the Council took power in February and ended in May and the 3rd Session taking power. The Council was dissolved in July and a new government elected in August with the new Supreme People's Assembly taking control. The regime soon fell into disrepair a few months later and a referendum favored turning the nation into an autocracy. With some deflaring independence or leaving Sonora altogether, Smith consolidated more power eventually turning Sonora back into an empire on December 6. As power became more absolute and the nation and its economy stabilized, Smith reinstated the ability to form political parties and the first to do so was his own Popular Patriotic Front. After winning an election for the Pacific Roman Senate in January 2018, Smith called a Party Congress (now known as the Imbolc Revolutionary Congress). The following day, leading a coup against himself to overthrew the monarchy, Smith formed the National People's Congress as the new state legislature for his new centralized socialist state. However, this power was short-lived following the February 28th Presidential election which was deemed "unfair" by critics as Smith had negotiated a quiet concession of other candidates while also gaining their indirect votes. After loss of faith from the public and confidence in his party and government, Smith was ousted and replaced with Buster McCovey, who began swift reforms. On March 26, President McCovey announced the legislature was being renamed as the National Assembly. Sonora collapsed on April 9 but reentered the scene on June 1, first as a imperial state. However, the nation turned to democracy in late July and elections were held in early August to create a bicameral legislature. Titus Smith's grandmother, Diana, won the Presidential election on the National Party ticket while the Sonoran Patriotic Party maintained its legislative hold. Two weeks later, a coup was launched against Mrs. Smith and she was removed from power, all parties besides the SPP (now called the Communist Party) and a socialist union of soviet republics was created. Smith was named Premier and Chairman of the new unicameral legislature and Chairman of all state commissions and military. Smith was removed three months later and the nation was re-democratized as a confederation.
Powers and Duties
Congress provides a national forum for the citizens of Sonora to come and voice their opinions, grievances and dictate policy. Congress itself is tasked with hearing judicial cases, making and reviewing legislation, and voting on whether to send it to the President for approval or veto. Most actions taken by the Congress must receive a two-thirds majority of voting citizens. Such actions include the ability to amend the Constitution. Regular sessions provide a meeting point for both elected officials and the People to engage in public debate on legislative issues. While meetings are more formally held in the Hall of Congress, meetings can be held anywhere in Sonora, outside the micronation, in person or over the internet. Email submissions are solicited with or without response from members of the Congress.
Congress' main power is to keep the checks and balances of the activity of the executive through binding legislation. Opposition parties compete in elections and help keep the ruling party in check abd participate in government actions. In addition to these key powers, the constitution grants to Congress certain legislative powers such as the right to lay, make peace and declare war, and collect taxes and grant loans and ratifying treaties and international agreements, such as diplomatic relations with a certain micronation and entering into alliances.
Structures
As of February 2019, Congress currently consists of 12 members consisting of 6 Socialists, 1 Liberal, 2 Nationals, 2 Christian Democrats, and 1 Animalian National. The Socialists and Liberals form a government coalition while the Nationals and Christian Democrats form the opposition. The Animalian National Union is considered a cross-bench party. The only requirement to be a member is to be a Sonoran citizen and be of 13 years of age or older. As certain members are stuffed animals (aka Stuffies) or sentient animals, this age is taken into account in respect to their animal age, not their human age. Congress acts as the official governing body of the Sonoran state and conducts business with various state and regional leaders but blanket national proposals passed into law are done so by the Congress itself. Congress derives its power from the local councils up. All legislation goes before the President of Sonora who vetoes or signs the bill. The President, under the Constitution, is also the de jure Chairman of the Congress.
Provisional People's Council (December 4, 2016-January 15, 2017
The 9th Session of the People's Council of Shaoshan became the Provisional legislature after the fall of Shaoshan and the succession of Sonora. The People's Council was the last session of the national legislature which was elected on October 5 by Shaoshan and sworn in on October 15 and appointed to serve the remainder of their term on December 4 as a transitional session. It was comprised of 8 elected councilmembers in addition to the Prime Minister, who served as the Chairman of the People's Council and thusly, Prime Minister. The provisional status ended on January 15, 2017 at noon.
1st Session of the Imperial Council (January 15-February 28, 2017)
The 1st Session of the Imperial Council was elected in January 2017 and the first officially elected body of the new state of Sonora. The election took place on January 9 with the legislature taking power on January 15 at noon. They had a very short stint as political changes in the Olaf Kingdom and Marxia and the addition of a new state, Herman, forced the dissolution of the council and a fresh snap election at the end of February.
2nd Session of the Imperial Council (February 28-May 15, 2017)
The 2nd Session of the Imperial Council took over at the end of February and helped to pass new legislation including a new educational and healthcare program to ensure all Sonorans are entitled to a free and fair education as well as universal single payer healthcare, slight amendments to the already in place policies set forth by the Constitution. On April 1, His Imperial Majesty Buster McCovey called for new elections to take place. The 2nd Session ended at noon on May 15.
3rd Session of the Imperial Council (May 15-July 17, 2017)
The 3rd Session of the Imperial Council took power on May 15. The Council elected a new Chairman and thus Sonora's Prime Minister on May 19. On May 23, the Council passed the Sonoran Values Act ensuring that all Sonorans, regardless of religion, sexual identity, immigration status, race, ethnicity, nationality, etc may seek sanctuary from foreign powers. The bill is similar in nature to the California Values Act which is a rebuke of US President Donald Trump's immigration and Muslim policies. The Council was dissolved on July 17 after political instability.
Session of the Supreme People's Assembly (August 15-November 2, 2017)
The Session of the Supreme People's Assembly was the governing body which took power after the elections on August 15. The Supreme People's Assembly was created after the dissolution of the Imperial Council and the declaration of Sonora as a Democratic People's Republic, following a socialist revolution that abolished the monarchy. Titus Smith was declared President of the DPRS and Edward Morton named President of the Presidium. The Supreme People's Assembly was elected on the premise that there would be fresh elections every 3–4 months or as necessary as prescribed by the President, Presidium, or the Constitutional Court. The Supreme People's Assembly was dissolved on November 2, 2017, just two weeks before its expiration.
Interregnum
Between November 2 and December 6, 2017 the government entered autocratic rule under a consolidated government led by Smith. Political parties were dissolved and the National Assembly, whose term was expiring on November 15, was suspended. The National Assembly essentially became the President's cabinet and advise was given by the local and regional leaders who were elected on November 9.
Provisional Senate (December 6, 2017-January 15, 2018)
The Provisional Senate was established as a way of "burning off" the term of the less powerful National Assembly that came before it. Mark Olsen, a former rising star in Smith's Worker's Party was appointed as Praetor. The Senate was responsible for aiding the transition of Sonora from Republic to the Pacific Roman Empire and for education and military reform. It's term ended at noon on January 15, 2018.
Pacific Roman Senate (January 15-February 1, 2018)
The Pacific Roman Imperial Senate was elected on January 9, 2018 and sworn in on January 15th. Mark Olsen was elected to his first democratic term as Praetor and his second term overall. In celebration, Olsen was awarded Knight Commander of all honors and given the titular name of Gaius Marcus Antonius, in reference to Roman Consul and General, Mark Antony. The Senate was dissolved on February 1 following the Imbolc Revolutionary Congress and the abolition of the Empire.
Imbolc Revolutionary Congress (February 1-February 15, 2018)
The Imbolc Revolutionary Congress was established as a way of "burning off" the term of the Pacific Roman Senate and transitioning Sonora back into a strong. Socialist state under the guidance of the Worker's Party of Sonora. It was conceived by the members of the Central Committee and Politburo following the conclusion of the Party Congress on February 1. Party leaders agreed Sonora cannot remain a imperial monarchy with socialism and that while Theodorism had worked in solidifying a stronger state and national unity, only socialism would bring equality to the people and, in order to do so, had to rid itself of the monarchy. On February 2, the Congress voted to carry out a coup against many of themselves to form a socialist state. The event, now known as the Imbolc Revolution (aka February Revolution or Sonoran Spring) carried over until February 3 when Titus Smith announced the abolition of the monarchy and his official abdication and rescinded the Line of Succession Act. He then declared Sonora to be a People's Republic and formed the National People's Congress as a replacement for the Senate. Until the Senate is elected, the Imbolc Revolutionary Congress would lead the transition. The Congress was responsible for aiding the transition of Sonora from the Pacific Roman Empire into a socialist state. It's term ended at noon on February 15, 2018.
National People's Congress/National Assembly (February 15-April 9, 2018)
The National Assembly was the governing legislature and was elected on February 9, 2018 and sworn in on February 15th. It was originally known as the "National People's Congress" from February 15-March 26 until it was officially renamed as the National Assembly. It was responsible for passing mass nationalization of industry and overseeing the overthrow and aftermath of the Smith regime, which included the McCovey administration and the nation's gradual transition to liberal democracy. However, inactivity and financial upheaval caused economic collapse and the government officially fell on April 9.
National Assembly (August 15-August 29, 2018)
The 1st Session of the National Assembly began on August 15 after having been elected in the days prior. It will be the first multi-party and proportional representative democracy in Sonora since the relaunching of the nation. It was quickly overthrown in the September Revolution two weeks after its inception on August 29, 2018.
Supreme Soviet (September 15-November 24, 2018)
After the events of the Revolution, the first election for the Supreme Soviet took place the following weeks after with the Communist Party (formerly the Sonoran Patriotic Union) taking 75% of the seats. This would grow to over 80% as other members reluctantly agreed to join the Party Congress. It was sworn in on September 15, 2018 and its term will end on February 15, 2019. It has been responsible for the re-nationalization process of Sonora and major military and economic reforms that were undone during the non-socialist era. After the removal of Titus Smith from power and the re-democratization of the nation as a confederation, the Supreme Soviet was dissolved and a transitional council set up until December elections could be held.
===1st Session of the Confederation Congress (December 15, 2018 – March 15, 2019) The 1st Session of the Confederation Congress began on December 15, 2018 following democratic elections and a re-democratization of the Sonoran nation and its sovereign states. The Congress is responsible for the rolling back of massive nationalization reforms under the Smithist regime. Its term will end at noon (SST) on March 15, 2019. The Congress met for an unofficial vote, as is tradition before the inauguration of a legislature in Sonora, to elect its leader. While there was some debate between the main parties in the government, an accord was reached with the cross-bench Animalian National Union in which Cookie the Cat would serve as President of the Confederation Congress on the grounds that the ANUP would be the most logical choice in the case of a legislative stalemate to break a tie as they would work with both sides of Congress. The official selection process took place (also as is tradition) right after the swearing in of the new legislature.