Imperial Senate of Gronea
Imperial Senate | |
|---|---|
| 1st Parliament | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | 6 September 2023 |
| Leadership | |
Vacant | |
| Seats | 28 |
| Elections | |
| Appointment | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Gronea | |
The Imperial Senate of the Gronean Empire, commonly the Imperial Senate of Gronea or just the Imperial Senate, is the upper house of the Parliament of Gronea and highest legislative body of the Gronean Empire. Its members are appointed by Gronea's constituent state governments to represent their interests in federal legislation.
The body is chaired by the Chancellor of Gronea and was founded on 6 September 2023. Bills have to pass both in the House of the Representatives, the lower house, and the Imperial Senate to become law so the Imperial Senate plays a role in the federal legislative process.
History
The Imperial Senate was established on 6 September 2023. It was founded by the constitution of Gronea.
Powers
The Emperor summons and closes the Imperial Senate. It has to be summoned once each year or whenever one-third of Imperial Senators requests it. It can be in session while the House of Representatives is not, but the House of Representatives can not convene without the Imperial Senate also being in session.
The Imperial Senate has combined legislative and executive powers in accordance with the constitution and imperial laws. It is thus a constitutional hybrid that was also entrusted with limited judicial powers. Its legislative and executive functions includes:
- Legislating with the House of Representatives
- Assents to the Declaration of Offensive Wars
- Decides with the Emperor on the Dissolution of the House of Representatives
- Enactment of Legal Ordnances and General Administrative Regulations
- Initiation of Military Intervention in a Federal State if it is not Providing its Duties to the Empire
Modes of Operation
Representatives
Every member state is granted at least one vote in the Imperial Senate and could submit proposals to the body. A simple majority of votes cast is required for a motion to pass within the body.
Members of the house are known as Imperial Senators.
Imperial Senators can also be state heads of governments but it is not a requirement. Imperial Senators are constitutionally banned from siting as members of the House of Representatives while in the imperial senate.
Elections
Imperial Senators are not elected to the house, but rather are appointed by the government of the state they represent within the body. Imperial Senators serve for as long as their state's government permits them to.
Distribution of Votes
The number of votes given to each state is determined in the imperial constitution, with all states also being guaranteed at least one vote. Should additional states be admitted to the empire, then a constitutional amendment is usually created to grant the state votes in the imperial senate. As of 14 October 2023, there are 28 seats in the imperial senate.
Seats are granted as follows:
| Federated State | Number of Votes |
|---|---|
| Kingdom of Bensia | 15 |
| Kingdom of Bronodara | 5 |
| Kingdom of Welmoa | 3 |
| Principality of Lethovia | 2 |
| Principality of Egonia | 2 |
| Grand Duchy of Minca | 1 |
| Total | 28 |
Role of the Chancellor
Constitutionally, a lot of the chancellor's powers relate to their relationship with the Imperial Parliament and the Emperor. The chancellor is not always guaranteed to be appointed from the House of Representatives, parliament's lower house - however, as they are conventionally usually the Prime Minister of Bensia, one of Gronea's states, they can be given a seat in the imperial senate and can control Bensia's votes. As well as this, the chancellor sits as the body's presiding officer.