Congress of the Republic of Kebrait
Congress of the Republic | |
|---|---|
| 1st Congress of the Republic | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | Senate National Assembly |
| History | |
| Founded | 15 October 2022 |
| Leadership | |
Colin Knight, Federalist Party since 15 October 2022 | |
Vacant | |
Assembly Speaker | Vacant |
Vacant | |
Leader of the Opposition | Vacant |
| Structure | |
Joint committees | Republic Assembly |
| Elections | |
Senate voting system | Direct Election |
National Assembly voting system | Proportional Representation |
The Congress of the Republic of Kebrait, commonly known as the Congress of the Republic, is the legislature of the Republic of Kebrait. It is bicameral, composed of the lower house, the National Assembly, and the upper house, the Senate. The national assembly is elected by proportional representation whereas the senate is elected by direct election, or appointed by state governors.
Role
Powers
Congress is the supreme legislative body of the republic. It is responsible for legislating federal law, managing the national economy and legislating federal taxes. As well as this, congress oversees all territories of the nation that aren't incorporated into states.
Congress has an important role in national defence, including the exclusive power to declare war, to raise and maintain the armed forces, and to make rules for the military on behalf of the executive branch of government.
Checks and Balances
Each of the three branches of government are responsible for maintaining their own branch and keeping checks and balances on the other branches. This is so each branch doesn't become too powerful and to keep them working together and to keep the political system efficient.
Structure
Committees
Specialisations
The committee structure permits members of Congress to study a particular subject intensely. It is neither expected nor possible that a member be an expert on all subject areas before Congress. Committees investigate specialised subjects and can advise the entire Congress on the subject.
Powers
Committees can write legislation that is then proposed to congress. Typically the committees work in accordance with the cabinet or opposition to develop the legislation before it is proposed.
Officer
At the start of each new session the national assembly elects an officer to preside over the assembly. The officer is known as the Speaker of the National Assembly, or more colloquially as the National Assembly Speaker.
The speaker presides over debates over the national assembly.
In the Senate, the vice president is the ex officio Chairman of the Senate.
Procedures
Joint Sessions
Joint sessions of the Congress occur on special occasions that require a concurrent resolution from the National Assembly and Senate. In these situations when sitting in a joint session, congress is known as the Assembly of the Republic. However, when the President does a State of the Republic Address, the Congress remains being known as Congress.
Bills and Resolutions
Ideas for legislation can come from members, lobbyists, state legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, or executive agencies. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress may introduce bills. Most bills are not written by Congress members, but originate from the Executive branch. The usual next step is for the proposal to be passed to a house for review. A proposal is usually in one of these forms:
- Bills - Laws in the Making
- Joint Resolutions - There is Little Difference between a Bill and a Joint Resolution since both are Treated Similarly
- Concurrent Resolutions - Laws that Affect only the National Assembly and Senate and Accordingly are not Presented to the President
- Simple Resolutions - Laws that Concern only the National Assembly or only the Senate
Most bills are introduced by the prime minister, cabinet or official opposition.
After a proposal it is then put to reading in the house it was proposed in. After two readings of the bill, the first when it's proposed and the second when debating the bill, it is put to vote. If the bill achieves a majority in the house it was proposed in, it is then given to the other house. After it achieves a majority in the second house, provided it's a bill or joint resolution, it is then sent to the president for approval. If the president assents the proposal then it becomes law.
Privileges
Protection
Members of Congress enjoy parliamentary privilege, including freedom from arrest in all cases except for treason, felony, and breach of the peace, and freedom of speech in debate.
Absolute freedom of debate in both houses is guaranteed and protected by the president.