Kesva Kernev
Kesva Kernev | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | Unicameral |
| History | |
| Founded | 15th century |
| Leadership | |
Tamsyn Glowbrenn, Independent | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 30 |
 | |
Political groups | Government
Opposition
Presiding officer
|
 |
|---|
| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Kernev |
|
30px
|
The Kesva Kernev (Kernevic: , transliteration: Kesva Kernev), known colloquially as the Kesva, is the unicameral legislature of Kernev. A democratically elected body, it legislates for Kernev, and scrutinises the Kernevic Government. It is a bilingual institution, with both Kernevic and Jackian being the official languages of its business.
The Kesva is an elected body consisting of 30 members known as Members of the Kesva (Kernevic: Esel an Kesva; abbreviated as "ES"). ES are elected to represent constituencies by the first-past-the-post system and hold their seats until the Kesva is dissolved, no later than five years after the previous election was held. After dissolution the maximum campaign period is three weeks, and hence elections may be up to five years and twenty-one days apart. The Kesva is presided over by the Lewydh (Kernevic Jackian: Presiding Officer), currently Tamsyn Glowbrenn. It is traditional for Lewydhow to resign their party whip upon election as Lewydh.
Legally, the powers of the Kesva Kernev are all derived from the Prince of Kernev, which are subject to no legislative limits, however, there are a great number of conventions which delineate reserved areas of power which the prince retains, areas of authority for the Government of Kernev and areas of authority held by the Kesva. Uniquely among constitutional monarchies, the princes of Kernev frequently lead the executive branch of government, typically in periods where no candidate for Prime Minister attains the necessary 15 votes to form a government and also in periods of political crisis. In these cases the prince leads a caretaker cabinet, which traditionally adheres to a convention of minimal political intervention, maintaining the policy of the previous government whilst responding to any crises.
Contents
History
The first recorded Kesva took place between 1428 and 1460, during the reign of Cadan Arthyen. This first Kesva, known as the Stannary Parliament, was composed of owners of tin and copper mines across Kernev, in addition to nobles, and guild masters. The composition and function of the Kesva has changed substantially since the 15th century. In 1673, the passage of the Act of Revolution was passed into law by the monarch, this act established yearly Kesvas and granted parliament the right of assent on any changes of taxation. This was the first time the Kesva was granted supremacy over the monarch on any area and marks the beginning of the Kesva as a legislative body.
The 1674 Kesva passed legislation to delineate six regions for impressment, and decreed that no more than three such regions would be subject to impressment in any one year to ensure sufficient seafarers to exploit fishery stocks around Kernev, whilst the Kesva had no de jure authority on this matter, Prince Locryn conceded the issue to the Kesva without conflict.
In 1838 the Aberfal Accords, an agreement between political leaders from the Jackian-speaking minority and the monarchy, allowed representation for non-Kernevic speakers for the first time, marking the beginning of the Kesva Kernev as a bilingual institution. Simultaneously, directly elected seats were introduced, replacing the ad hoc formation prior to this agreement, these elections were held whenever the prince dissolved the Kesva, with no formal limit at this point.
The franchise was expanded greatly in 1889, according to a wealth qualification that effectively allowed all middle and upper class men over 18 to vote. In 1910, this requirement was extended to women. In 1919, the Representation of the People Act was passed expanding the franchise to all men and women over the age of 18.
On 10 May 1956 Pyran dynn Arthyen, Prince of Kernev, granted the Kesva prerogative powers, marking the de facto end of absolute monarchy in Kernev. Whilst the Prince formally reserves absolute powers neither Pyran nor his successor, Corentyn, have exercised this power.
Role
Relationship with the government
The legislative and executive branches of the Kernevic government are merged, as the executive is drawn from the legislature. Historically, the members of the executive were chosen by the Prince, though since 1919 this function has been purely in name only. De facto, the members of the executive are chosen by the Prime Minister, who is in turn chosen by the Kesva at large. Due to the small number of seats in the Kesva Kernev, it is common for every member of the ruling party to hold a ministerial portfolio.
The Kesva may be dissolved by the government at any time, resulting in a general election. Alternatively, any ES may raise a motion of no confidence. If a majority of ES vote in favour of such a motion, the prince is compelled to dismiss the executive. Over a period of seven days a new government may be formed, if no candidate for Prime Minister secures a majority of the Kesva in this period the Kesva is dissolved and new elections are held.
Legislative functions
The Kesva is the sole legislative body in Kernev and hence has both introductory and revising roles in legislating. Generally, legislation is put forward by the minister of the relevant department. The only mandatory act is a scheduling act which must be enacted monthly to determine the legislative schedule for the following month. The opposition are allowed to schedule on fifteen days per year, divided proportionally to the size of each party's grouping in the Kesva.
Electoral system
Kernev uses a system of first-past-the-post (FPTP) with single member constituencies. The Kesva Kernev has thirty members, elected for up to five years per term. These constituencies are redrawn in boundary reviews once every ten years, with constituencies to be drawn such that each constituency is within a 10% margin of the quota (1/30 of the total electorate). In each constituency, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes, which may be fewer than half of the votes, is elected as the ES for that constituency. This system has been criticised by opposition parties in Kernev as unfair and disproportionate, due to the distortive effects of FPTP on the proportion of seats each party gains in the Kesva comparative to the vote-share of each party.
As a matter of electoral convention, the seat of the Lewydh is not contested by any major parties, as the speaker has no legislative record by which they could be fairly judged. This is not legally enforced, however, and since 2010, every election for the constituency of the Lewydh has been contested by minor parties.
Composition
As of the 2020 general election, the Kernev Kesva had thirty constituencies, the hundred of Lysnowydh had five constituencies; the hundred of Pow Ereder had four constituencies; the hundreds of Manahek, Keryer and Pedera each had three constituencies; Ryslegh, Stradneth, Bronel, Pennwydh, Trigor and Rostorrmel (combined with Fawy) each had two constituencies. The current Lewydh represents Tewynblustri & Fawy meaning the three major parties do not contest this seat.
- Current composition
| Party | Seats | |
|---|---|---|
| Mebyon Kernev | 19 | |
| Bora Keltek | 5 | |
| Unyans Kernevek | 4 | |
| Independent | 2 | |
