House of Commons (Fatrea)

House of Commons
House of Commons
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	None
History
Founded	15 February 2024
Leadership
Speaker	Vacant
Deputy Speaker	Vacant
House Leader	Vacant
Structure
Length of term	Up to 5 Years
Elections
Voting system	First Past The Post
Constitution
	Constitution of Fatrea

The House of Commons, often known colloquially as the Commons, is the lower house of the Parliament of Fatrea. Unlike the House of Peers, the upper house, the Commons is elected. Members of the house are known as Members of Parliament (MPs) and are elected to represent constituencies by the first past the post electoral system. MPs hold their seats until parliament is dissolved.

For practical and political reasons, senior ministers of the government tend to be selected from the Commons but can be selected from the House of Peers.

History

The House of Commons originates in Chapter IV of the Constitution of Fatrea. The house was founded on 15 February 2024 with the ratification on the constitution. The constitution outlines the house's role and powers, relation to the monarchy, and how members are to be elected.

Role

Government Relations

For practical and political reasons, the prime minister and other senior ministers belonging to the cabinet tend to be selected from the Commons despite being eligible to originate from either house. It is usually expected that the monarch selects a prime minister that is able to maintain the confidence of the House of Commons.

The Commons may withdraw confidence from the government through a vote of no confidence. If the house does withdraw confidence then it is expected the monarch should dismiss the government and send for new ministers, or the government should resign.

If a government loses their majority in the House of Commons or is unable to form a coalition after an election, it is expected that they will resign or advise the monarch to call new elections.

Legislative Functions

As one of three legislative powers in Fatrea (along with the monarch and House of Peers), the Commons has a legislative role. Bills may be proposed in either house of parliament with the exception of money bills, which may only originate in the House of Commons. Bills have to pass in the House of Commons in addition to the House of Peers before they can be given to the monarch for royal assent.

Government Scrutiny

The House of Commons scrutinises the government through means such as committees and question times - where MPs are given opportunities to ask ministers questions with regards to their specific departments and actions.

Due to the nature of the electoral system to the house, it can make scrutiny weak. This is due to the fact that it can produce governments with large majorities in the house meaning that the governing party often does not need to work with other parties and can act more defensively as it can get its agenda through more easily.

The House of Commons has the power to vote to impeach ministers of the crown. If the house passes a resolution to impeach a minister, the minister is then brought to trial in front of the House of Peers. In addition to this, the House of Commons can request the monarch dismisses the incumbent government - this is done by withdrawing the house's support from the government through a vote of no confidence.

Membership

Members of the House of Commons are known as Members of Parliament (MPs). Members are permitted to use the post nominals "MP" during their time in the house. All MPs represent constituencies and all constituencies elect an MP to represent them in the house. Members are elected by first past the post and sit for renewable terms lasting for up to five years. Terms are indefinitely renewable.

All elected members of the house have a right to vote in the house - with the exception of the speaker of the house, who may only vote on bills in the event of a tie.

Elections

General elections occur whenever parliament is dissolved. Parliament is dissolved by the monarch, and has to be done at least once every 5 years - but can be done sooner than this. Members of Parliament are elected by first past the post and hold their seats until the dissolution of parliament. However, members can be expelled by the house or recalled by their constituents - both leading to a by-election in their constituency.

Elections to the house are regulated by the Electoral Commission.

Qualifications

The qualifications to be elected as a member of parliament are outlined in the constitution. The qualifications outlined in the constitution include:

Minimum Age of 18
Subject of the Monarch
Be Legally Registered to Vote
Not be Convicted of Any Crime
Not be a Member of the House of Peers

Members of the armed forces in active service are bared from being elected to the house.

The constitution also specifies that any further qualifications to be elected an MP are to be regulated by law.

Officers

At the beginning of each parliamentary term, the monarch selects a presiding officer known as a speaker. The speaker is usually appointed on the nomination of the house, who elects the nominee through a simple majority vote. The speaker is aided by a deputy speaker, however sometimes multiple deputy speakers can be appointed. The speaker is charged with presiding over the house and enforcing house rules.

The house is permitted to elect its own secretaries, and officers junior to the speaker and deputy speaker(s).

Procedure

The arrangement of the house is set up with the ability for debate in mind. It is expected that any in person meetings of the house are organised along party lines. The governing party is expected to be on one side of the speaker, with opposition parties being on the other side. Senior government ministers and opposition members occupy the front ranks of their side of the house.

Meetings of the house are only currently permitted to occur during the week. However, emergency and extraordinary sittings of the house can be called on weekends if absolutely necessary. Emergency meetings can be called by the house, prime minister (if a member of the house), or the monarch.

Members of the house can only speak if called upon by the speaker (or deputy speaker if the speaker is not presiding). It is generally expected that the speaker should alternate between selecting government and opposition MPs during debates. It is generally expected that privy councillors who sit as members of the house should be given priority to speak during debates.

During debates, speeches are addressed to the presiding officer. Only the presiding officer can be addressed directly during debates, with other members of the house being addressed in third person. Members are usually addressed by constituency - being referred to as "the honourable member for [constituency]". However, privy councillors and cabinet ministers are addressed as "the right honourable" instead of "the honourable". While members of the armed forces are not permitted to be elected to the house while in active service, it is generally expected that former servicemen who go on to become members of parliament be addressed and "the honourable and gallant member for [constituency]" out of respect.

The speaker is charged with enforcing house rules and can suspend MPs from sittings for a specified time for breach of house rules. In extreme cases of disorder, the speaker can adjourn the house without taking a vote.

Sittings of the house are held publicly but can be hosted privately if requested by five or more MPs. During sittings of the house if a vote is taken, the speaker keeps a record of the total votes in addition to the way each member voted.

When the State Opening of Parliament occurs, MPs are permitted to witness the King's Speech in the House of Peers. Members of Parliament are summoned to the House of Peers by an officer of the monarch.

Committees

The Commons uses a number of committees for a number of purposes. Committees consider bills in detail, and can propose amendments be considered before the bill is returned to the Commons for debate. Bills of great national or constitutional importance are not sent to a specific committee but are rather reviewed by the whole house acting as a committee.

In addition to committees reviewing legislation, the house is also permitted to form departmental committees. These committees are charged with scrutinising government departments and holding government ministers to account. They also investigate actions of government departments, and as a result are permitted to hold hearings and collect evidence to support this.

Committees are chaired by chairmen elected by members of the committee, and committee membership is determined by the speaker of the house and selected proportionally in accordance with the number of seats each party holds in the house. Committee chairs are selected at the beginning of each parliamentary term or when a vacancy occurs.