Parliament of Tanaau
Parliament of Tanaau | |
|---|---|
| 1st Parliament | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | House of Lords House of Commons |
| History | |
| Founded | 17 November 2023 |
| Leadership | |
Colin I since 17 November 2023 | |
Lords Speaker | Vacant |
Commons Speaker | Vacant |
Vacant | |
Vacant | |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Tanaau | |
The Parliament of Tanaau is the supreme legislative body of the Kingdom of Tanaau. It is bicameral but consists of three parts - the Monarch, House of Lords and House of Commons, with bills needing the assent of all three parts to pass.
The House of Commons is the elected lower house of parliament, with members elected to single member constituencies by first past the post. Terms last for up to five years, but the house may be dissolved triggering elections prior to the expiration of the legislative term. By constitutional convention, and for practical reasons, the prime minister and other senior Cabinet ministers are appointed from the House of Commons.
The House of Lords is the appointed upper house of parliament, consisting of two types of members. Members are Lords Temporal, nobility who have been appointed to the house by the monarch, and Lords Spiritual, archbishops and senior bishops from the Church of Tanaau who are appointed to the house by virtue of their position in the church.
History
Parliament was created and granted powers over three chapters of the constitution. With the ratification of the constitution on 17 November 2023, parliament was founded.
Composition and Powers
Legislative authority in Tanaau is split into three institutions - the monarchy, House of Lords and House of Commons. No individual may sit as a member of both houses simultaneously.
Royal assent from the monarch is required for bills to become law. The monarch's powers also do not rely on parliament's assent to be exercised.
The monarch also appoints the prime minister and Cabinet, usually from parliament despite the constitutional right to appoint any citizen to ministerial office.
All legislation has to pass in both houses before it can be sent for the monarch's assent, and money bills can only originate in the House of Commons.
Legislative Procedure
Both houses are presided over by a speaker appointed by the monarch on each house's nomination. The lord chancellor sometimes steps in for the speaker of the house of lords in their absence.
Both houses may hold votes through voice vote or division of members, with the speaker proclaiming the results. Votes are recorded by parliamentary clerks, with it being recorded how members of both houses voted.
Sittings of both houses are public, but each house may elect to host sessions out of public view if 1/3 of its members or more petition it.
Duration
The constitution stipulates that parliamentary terms shall last up to five years. However, the constitution also grants the monarch the right to dissolve parliament and call elections prior to the expiration of the incumbent parliament's five year term.
The House of Commons' mandate automatically expires at the end of the five year period, as defined in the constitution.
Legislative Functions
Laws are made through acts of parliament.
Laws in draft form are called bills. Bills proposed by ministers are known as 'Government Bills', bills proposed by other members are called 'Private Member's Bills', and bills proposed by the monarch are called 'Royal Bills'.
Each bill goes through a multi-stage process in parliament. The first stage, called the first reading, is a formality in which the bill is read allowed in the house. At the second reading, the general principles of the bill are debated, and the house may vote to reject the bill at this stage.
Once the house has considered the bill, the third reading occurs. In the House of Commons, no further amendments may be made, and a simple majority in favour of the bill is passage of the whole bill. In the House of Lords further amendments to the bill may be moved. After the passage of the third reading motion, the House of Lords must vote on the motion "That the Bill do now pass." Following its passage in one house, the bill is sent to the other house. If passed in identical form by both houses, it may be presented for Royal Assent from the monarch. If one house passes amendments that the other will not agree to, and the two houses cannot resolve their disagreements, the bill will normally fail.
Bills rejected by the monarch or either house may not be proposed again for the remainder of the legislative session.
Privileges
Both houses are constitutionally granted privileges exclusive to parliament.
The most prominent privilege that both houses enjoy is absolute freedom of speech. Anything said in either house of parliament may not be questioned by any institution outside of parliament. Another privilege enjoyed by parliament is that no member of either house may be arrested under Tanaauan law without the consent of the house in which they sit.
Both houses are permitted to punish breaches of their privileges.