House of Representatives (Austenasia)

House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker	Lord Edward Gunderson, Count of New Grémmia since 13 February 2020
Prime Minister	HSH Dionisiy I, Duke of Lycaonia since 13 February 2020
Leader of the Opposition	Lord John Gordon, Viscount of Thetford since 13 February 2020
Structure
Membership	7 Representatives
Political groups	Government (4)      Fatherland Party (4) Opposition (1)      Austenasian People's Party (1) Crossbench (2)      Independents (1)      Whig Party (1)
Elections
Last elections	For Wrythe: 9 February 2017 For Theodosiopolis and and Dragovina: 21 May 2019 For Palasia, Gebirgspark, Chalcedon and Nahona: 12 February 2020
Meeting place
De facto: "Parliament of the Empire of Austenasia" Discord channel De jure: Imperial Residence

The House of Representatives of Austenasia (formerly known as the Cabinet, but not to be confused with the present body of the same name) is the only house of the Parliament of Austenasia. The House of Representatives is a democratically elected body, consisting of a Representative elected from each Town and City in the Empire; at present, totaling seven. Representatives are elected using the first-past-the-post system, with each Town and City required to have an election for its Representative no less than every five years.

The House of Representatives meets with the Monarch and Prime Minister to make new laws. When in this legislative role, they are collectively known as Parliament.

Due to the nature of the office of Prime Minister, they are usually included in the House of Representatives as a locally elected Representative. However, even if the Prime Minister loses the office of Representative (as was the case with the then Crown Prince Jonathan between December 2011 and January 2013), they stay as Prime Minister and so while not being part of the House of Representatives may still attend Parliament meetings and cast a deciding vote if required. Representatives are the only people eligible to stand for the office of Prime Minister.

The office of Speaker of the House of Representatives was created by an Act of Parliament in October 2014 to preside over meetings of the House, with the first speaker, Lord Charles Clarke, Duke of Grantabridge, taking office on 6 September 2015 after the first local elections since the passing of the Act. The Speaker is elected by and from the Representatives. Upon the resignation of Lord Clarke from the role in March 2016, he was replaced with Lady Vice Admiral Eryn Lewis, who lost the office in February 2020 upon the secession of Terentia and was succeeded by Lord Edward Gunderson.