Congress of Aumarea
United Federation Congress | |
|---|---|
| 1st Congress | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate House of Delegates |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
| Founded | 3 March 2023 |
| Preceded by | Continental Congress |
| Leadership | |
Vacant | |
Senate President Pro Tempore | Vacant |
Vacant | |
| Structure | |
Senate Seats | 14 |
| Elections | |
Senate voting system | First Past the Post |
House of Delegates voting system | Direct Election |
| Meeting place | |
| Palace of Congress Kosa Federal District | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Aumarea | |
The United Federation Congress, sometimes the Congress of Aumarea, UF Congress or the Congress of the United Federation, is the legislative branch of the Federal Government of Aumarea. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Delegates, and an upper body, the Senate. Senators and Delegates are chosen through direct election, though vacancies in the Senate can be filled by a governor's appointment. The Senate's members represent states, with every state being guaranteed two senators each, and the House of Delegate's members represent districts, with at least one being guaranteed for each state. The vice president also has a voting role in the senate.
Congress sits for sessions of two years, with senators sitting for two year terms and delegates sitting for six year terms.
History
The constitution was ratified on 12 March 2023, formally and de jure establishing Congress - but congress was de facto established on 3 March 2023. Until the constitution was ratified, the Continental Congress served in place of the current congress.
Overview
Article I of the United Federation Constitution states, "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United Federation, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Delegates." The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process – legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers. The Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate ratifies treaties and approves presidential appointments while the House initiates revenue-raising bills.
The House initiates impeachment cases, while the Senate decides impeachment cases. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required before an impeached person can be removed from office. As president of the senate, the vice president typically presides over impeachments - except in cases of presidential impeachment in which the chief justice presides.
Role
Article I of the constitution established congress and sets out the powers and structure of the legislature. The constitution vests all legislative ability into congress. Congress also has an important role in national defence, including the power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military.
Congress can establish post offices and post roads, issue patents and copyrights, fix standards of weights and measures, establish Courts inferior to the Supreme Court, and make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. Article Four gives Congress the power to admit new states into the Union - however the Secretary of State Admissions can oversee the congressional process of this.
One of Congress's non-legislative functions is the power to investigate and oversee the executive branch. The power of impeachment of the executive is granted to congress - typically being initiated by the house and tried by the senate.
Structure
Congress is split into two chambers - House and Senate. The senate has two seats for every senator and each state is guaranteed at least one representative in the House of Delegates.
Officers
At the start of each term the house elects a speaker who presides over the house during debates and sittings of the house. In the senate the vice president serves as ex officio president of the senate. In addition, the Senate elects an officer called the president pro tempore. Pro tempore means for the time being.
Privileges
Members of congress enjoy parliamentary privilege, including freedom from arrest in all cases except for treason, felony and breach of the peace. As well as this, members are granted absolute freedom of speech in debate.
The Constitution guarantees absolute freedom of debate in both houses. Accordingly, a member of congress may not be sued in court for slander because of remarks made in either house.
Members of congress are also permitted to send official mail to constituents at the federal government's expense.