People's Council (Shaoshan)

People's Council of the Republic of Shaoshan
9th Session of the People's Council of the Republic of Shaoshan
Type
Type	unicameral
Leadership
President of Shaoshan	Her Excellency Pusheen the Cat, Feline since September 15, 2016
Chairman of the People's Council	Olaf Gustafsen, Sr, ONLF since September 15, 2016
Structure
Seats	9
Political groups	Government (6):   Socialist (3) United Stuffed Animal Coalition:   Feline (1)   Olaf National Liberation Front (2) Opposition (2):   Nationals (1)   Pagans (1) Neutral (1):   Independents (1)
Elections
Voting system	Proportional representation with 15% threshold
Last election	October 5, 2016
Meeting place
Assembly Hall, People's Palace

The People's Council of the Republic of Shaoshan (Spanish: Consejo del Pueblo de la República de Shaoshan , Mandarin: 人民韶山民主人民共和国议会), is the legislative body of the Republic of Shaoshan.

The 1st National Assembly was a provisional, unicameral body to guide Shaoshan during its humble beginnings as a commune. However, after several towns and territories were incorporated into the community, the city-state and the communal government had become obsolete. Following a rise in politicization by the public and the April 15th Coup d'etat and the April 24th Skirmish, elections were called for in May 2015. This established a bicameral legislature with elected representatives and political parties to a lower house and the continuation of the public gathering, a form of direct democracy, to an upper house. The 2nd Session of the National Assembly was inaugurated with the President on May 15, 2015. However, halfway through the 2nd Assembly session, the nation fell into inactivity and the two houses were consolidated. Following the Monarchist Revolution of July 2015, it was reorganized into the Imperial Assembly, meeting only for one brief encounter. Three weeks later, a republican movement to restore democracy was successful and a new bicameral National Assembly was established, with elections for the 3rd Session of the National Assembly held on August 9, 2015, and sworn in on August 15th. Following the September 23rd Mabon Revolution, Shaoshan quietly transitioned into a social-democratic republic and the National Assembly was renamed into the unicameral Supreme People's Assembly. In October 2015, the Supreme People's Assembly moved to Dorada City. The 4th Assembly was voted in on November 9, 2015, with the sitting members voting for their new Presidium and sworn in the same day with the official start of the 4th Session beginning on November 15 and the first meeting held on November 16. It was the first Session to complete a full term without interruption or change in regime. The Presidium was elected on February 9 and the 5th Session was sworn in at a special ceremony on February 15 in Shaoshan City. Per a measure passed, it was renamed as the National Assembly. On March 17, Shaoshan transitioned into a constitutional monarchy and the Presidium was abolished in favor of a non-affiliated Constitutional Court and a new Assembly leader, the nation's Prime Minister, were elected on March 22, with the new government officially sworn in on March 24. On April 5, a coup d'etat overthrew the monarchy in favor of a restoration of the republic but with the President serving in an autocratic position. After several months of inactivity and a powerful election that ended the autocratic regime of Titus Smith, the People's Council was given back its full legislative mandate as Shaoshan transitioned back to democracy.

Powers and Duties

The Assembly provides a national forum for the citizens of Shaoshan to come and voice their opinions, grievances and dictate policy. The Assembly itself is tasked with hearing judicial cases, making and reviewing legislation, and voting on whether to send it to the President for approval or veto. Most actions taken by the Assembly must receive a two-thirds majority of voting citizens. Such actions include the Assembly's ability to amend the Constitution. Regular sessions provide a meeting point for both elected officials and the People to engage in the public debate on legislative issues. While meetings are more formally held in the Assembly Hall, meetings can be held anywhere in Shaoshan, outside the micronation, in person or over the internet. Email submissions are solicited with or without a response from members of the Assembly.

The Assembly's main power is to keep the checks and balances of the activity of the executive through binding legislation. Opposition parties are active in engaging and sometimes scrutinizing government actions. In addition to these key powers, the constitution grants to the Assembly extensive and sole legislative powers, this includes the right to lay and collect taxes and grant loans, the duty to approve or reject executive decisions made by the President, to declare war and make peace, and ratifying treaties and international agreements, such as diplomatic relations with a certain micronation and entering into alliances.

Structures

As of September 2016, the People's Council currently consists of 9 members, comprised of proportional representation based on population size. The only requirement to be a member is to be a Shaoshanian citizen and be of 13 years of age or older. The current seated Council is comprised of 8 socialists and 1 Nationalist. The Council acts as the official governing body of the Shaoshanian state. The Chairman of the People's Council is the Vice President who is elected along with the President of Shaoshan to serve.

1st Session of the National Assembly (February 8-May 15, 2015)

The 1st Session of the National Assembly was an unelected, direct democratic gathering of the citizens at the Assembly Hall of People's Palace. It served from the founding of the nation from February 8 to May 15, 2015. During which time, it oversaw four governments and five regime changes in three months: the People's Commune of Shaoshan (February 8-March 6, 2015), the Community of Shaoshan(March 6-April 15, 2015; April 24-April 28, 2015), the Empire of Shaoshan(April 15-April 24, 2015) and the Republic of Shaoshan(April 28-July 9, 2015). During this Session, the National Assembly oversaw the provisional and socialist state, its transition into a decentralized, liberal democratic, communal government, its first and only communal election, the passing of the Founding Laws of the State, the banning of the observance of Daylight Savings Time in Shaoshan, and the legalization of marijuana and decriminalization of all drugs with LSD being legalized for medical usage. The 1st Session also oversaw the April 15th Coup d'etat, which overthrew the communal government for a constitutional imperial monarchy, and the April 24th Skirmish, which restored the communal government to power. It also oversaw the transformation of the community government into a republic and the ratification of the Constitution of Shaoshan on April 28. The 1st Session of the National Assembly held its final meeting with a special electoral meeting on May 8, in which the new republic opted for a bicameral legislature, comprising a lower house called the Representative Council and the upper house called the People's Council and the election of the President. The 1st Session expired at noon (SST) on May 15, 2015.

2nd Session of the National/Imperial Assembly (May 15-August 15, 2015)

The 2nd Session of the National Assembly was the first elected legislative session and was inaugurated with the President of Shaoshan on May 15, 2015. It was comprised of an elected Representative Council and the continued traditional gathering of the citizens in the form of a People's Council. During which time, they passed the National Education Program Act (NEPA), which guarantees free and quality education to the best that Shaoshan can bring to any and all its citizens and the establishment of educational programs, the Neutrality and Non-Aggression Act which states Shaoshan shall take up armed neutrality and only will engage in conflicts of defense, and the adoption of a new national anthem. In June 2015, the National Assembly passed the first three amendments to the Shaoshanian Constitution which include filling in the gaps of the powers of the National Assembly, setting official term limits which are only adhered to in practice, and guaranteeing its position as a bicameral body, further protections and rights for the LGBTQ+ community and other minorities, and the organization of ministerial positions. The 2nd Session also oversaw the inactivity that led to the July 9th Monarchist Revolution, which overthrew the republican government in favor an empire and the July 30th Skirmish, which restored the republican government to power. Thus it oversaw two governments and three regime changes, the Republic of Shaoshan (May 15-July 9, 2015; August 1, 2015 – present) and the Californian Empire of Shaoshan (July 9-August 1, 2015) The 2nd Session of the National Assembly expired at noon (SST) on August 15, 2015.

3rd Session of the National/Supreme People's Assembly (August 15-November 15, 2015)

The 3rd Session of the Supreme People's Assembly was the legislative session that was sworn in on August 15, 2015. It was originally comprised of an elected Federal Council, which was the meeting of state leaders (Premiers) to discuss federal policy and the continued policy of direct democracy through the gathering of the citizens known as the People's Council. The September 23rd Mabon Revolution got rid of the bureaucracy and restored full direct democracy to the government. The Federal Council was absorbed by the People's Council to form the Supreme People's Assembly, with the Federal Council being de facto replaced by the Presidium committee within the unicameral legislature and tasked with more judicial proceedings. During the 3rd Session, the Supreme People's Assembly passed a Treaty of Non-Aggression and Mutual Recognition with the Holy Empire of New Israel, three new laws prohibiting domestic or international governments from invading the privacy of Shaoshanian citizens, a new constitution, and establishment of land claims which included the resettlement of the national legislature, the Observer Resident Act, and the Shaoshan Armed Forces Act. The 3rd Session of the Supreme People's Assembly expired at noon (SST) on November 15, 2015.

4th Session of the Supreme People's Assembly (November 15, 2015-February 15, 2016)

The 4th Session of the Supreme People's Assembly was the legislative session which was sworn in on November 9, 2015 and with the constitutional beginning of the term occurring on November 15 and the first meeting of the Assembly held on November 16. It comprised a unicameral legislature with an executive committee, the Presidium, which has the power of judicial review. During the 4th Session, several acts were passed such as a Holiday tax initiative, an immigration law, a trade bill with an allied micronation, an annual holiday and observance initiative, and Assembly reform. The 4th Session expired at noon (SST) on February 15, 2016. The 4th Session was the first legislative session in Shaoshanian history to survive a complete term without interruption or government regime change. Following the election of the succeeding Presidium, the voting members voted to rename the legislature the National Assembly for the coming term which would take effect with the coming term.

5th Session of the National Assembly (February 15-March 14, 2016)

The 5th Session of the National Assembly was the legislative session which was elected on February 9, 2016, and sworn in on February 15th, as per the nation's constitution. The members were sworn in and the first meeting taking place in a special call to action in Shaoshan City, the former legislative capital of the nation, and the first time an official legislative session had met in the city since the Seat of Government Act was passed in October 2015. In keeping with the previous session and the powers laid down following the Mabon Revolution, it comprised a unicameral legislature with an executive committee, the Presidium, which has the power of judicial review. Despite some legislation passed in the first few days of its inception, the 5th Session fell into inactivity and voted to dissolve with new elections to begin in March.

6th Session of the National Assembly (March 24-April 18, 2016)

The 6th Session of the National Assembly was the legislative session which was elected on March 22, 2014, following its dissolution due to a month of inactivity following the February 2016 Assembly Election and was sworn in on March 24. The members were sworn in and the first meeting taking place the same day. In keeping with the previous sessions, it comprises a unicameral legislature with an advisory committee, the Council of States, which is the elected Premiers of each state who raise concerns and issues on the state level to the attention of the Assembly. Following the March 17th Constitutional Referendum, the Presidium of the National Assembly has been abolished in favor of a non-affiliated Constitutional Court and thus the President of the Presidium was reformed as the President of the Assembly, who is the nation's Prime Minister. In accordance with tradition, it had been stated that the 6th Session would be a shortened term with previously scheduled elections on May 8 and 9 to continue and a new session to be sworn in for a full term at noon on May 15. On April 18, the 6th Session voted to dissolve following continuing fallout and political turmoil of its predecessor and ongoing domestic tension in the country.

7th Session of the National Assembly/People's Council (May 15-August 15, 2016)

The 7th Session of the legislature began its session which was elected on May 9, 2016, following its dissolution in April following two months of political turmoil caused by an inactivity crisis and was sworn in on May 15. In keeping with the previous sessions, it comprised a unicameral legislative body with 7 elected officials, 4 state premiers and three representatives. It is primarily served as an advisory body to the President at first but was granted special legislative powers shortly afterwards. The session did not have an active term and fell into disservice 2 months into its 3-month term. Elections in August elected a new diet, the People's Council, which was set up following a July security seizure of the country and an August 3 palace coup. The 7th Session expired at noon (SST) on August 15, 2016.

8th Session of the People's Council (August 15-September 16, 2016)

The 8th session was a short-lived session and the last under the Smith regime and the last to hold advisory status. Following the election for the session, Shaoshan fell into a state of emergency after a stuffed toy uprising forced a referendum that voided a previous referendum in August that made Smith "President for Life". The referendum was carried by a large discovered majority of oppressed Stuffed toy voters and an apartheid-like regime commanded by Smith. On September 15, Smith was defeated in an election, winning just 19 per cent of the vote, to Pusheen the Cat. Smith was also placed under investigation and later indicted for his role in his regime. On September 16, Pusheen the Cat, in her first acts of President, dissolved the People's Council and called for new elections in October with the Chairman of the People's Council being given to the Vice President in a de-monopolization of the Office of President. During the transition, Shaoshan was governed by the provisional National Transitional Council (NTC).

9th Session of the People's Council (October 15, 2016--present)

The 9th Session of the People's Council is the current session of the national legislature scheduled elected on October 5 and to take power on October 15th, 2016. It shall be comprised 8 elected councilmembers in addition to the Vice President (already elected), who serves as the Chairman of the People's Council and will be the first since April 2016 to hold full de jure legislative status.