Tiomnaidh
Tiomnaidh of Hapatmitas | |
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13th Tiomnaidh | |
Type | |
Type | Bicameral |
Houses | Senate National Assembly |
History | |
Founded | 4 August 1950 |
Preceded by | National Congress |
New session started | 5 August 2023 |
Leadership | |
Patrick Marwick since 4 August 2023 | |
Ken Macintosh since 4 August 2020 | |
Doug Macintosh since 13 April 2024 | |
Tom McIntyre since 27 October 2023 | |
Structure | |
Seats | 640 155 (Senate) 485 (National Assembly) |
Senate political groups | Government (80)
Opposition (75)
|
National Assembly political groups | Government (244)
Opposition (241)
|
Elections | |
Senate voting system | Open list proportional representation |
National Assembly voting system | Mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) |
Senate last election | 7 July 2023 |
National Assembly last election | 14 July 2023 |
Next general election | By June 2027 |
Meeting place | |
Parliament House, Cairninshiel, Donideann | |
Constitution | |
Constitution of Hapatmitas |
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Hapatmitas |
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The Tiomnaidh is the supreme bicameral parliament of Hapatmitas, established in 1950 by the Constitution of Hapatmitas. It meets at Parliament House, Donideann, and is also referred to by the metonym Cairninshiel. The Tiomnaidh consists of the Senate and the National Assembly. There are currently 640 total members in parliament; 155 in the Senate and 485 in the National Assembly. An elected individual in the National Assembly is referred to as a Ball Tiomnaidh (BT) and elected individuals in the Senate are referred to as senators (seanairean). BTs and senators are both elected every four years, with the ability to recall both by their constituents at any time if there is a majority referendum.
Members of the Tiomnaidh are direct representatives of the people and are strictly accountable to their electorate. Because Hapatmitas uses mixed-member proportional representation with multi-member seats, the legislature will always result in overhang and leveling seats. As a result, both houses of the Tiomnaidh undergo changes to the number of seats in the chamber. After the 2017 general election, the number of seats in the Senate and National Assembly was raised from 108 and 434, respectively, to its current status. While the Ministerial Council is responsible for answering to both houses of the Tiomnaidh, members of the body derive from the lower house and hence de-facto answer to the National Assembly. While both houses have equal power within the Tiomnaidh, the National Assembly is considered de facto superior to the Senate, with more legislative abilities regarding government such as impeachment and appointments. However, the Senate still has the power to send back legislation to the lower house if they subjectively see fit as a majority, though this is rare.
Etymology
The present-day application of the word tiomnaidh derives from the Old Cantuath word tiodeachnaidhean, meaning "council of ten." The word itself originated from the decision-making and war councils of the confederal cantons during the period of the Rinnfriu Confederation. The modern-day word was first recorded in use in 1464.
History
Membership and structure
The number of seats in the Tiomnaidh has changed since its establishment in 1950 due to the proportional representation electoral system and varied electoral reforms. In 1950 there were provisionally 50 seats in both houses, increasing to 72 BTs and 48 senators in 1951 after the first legislative election, 109 BTs and 68 senators after the 1963 election, 140 BTs and 95 senators after the 1975 election, 240 BTs and 102 senators after the 1991 election, 360 BTs and 120 senators after the 2007 election, and 485 BTs and 155 senators as of 2015. The latter officially amended the constitution to include a defined amount of senators allotted to each province.
Until 2011, both houses of the Tiomnaidh were led by a president and five vice presidents, which formed the chambers' presidium respectively. However, after the passage of an electoral restructuring act and the 2011 general election, each house was limited to one president and two vice presidents. However, this provision was later reversed in 2013 by an amendment to the act; it returned the other three vice presidents and eliminated the impartiality of the president and vice presidents of each chamber, allowing for more democratic representation and accurate statistics regarding the Tiomnaidh. The act also eliminated overhang seats in the electoral system.
In 2014, the Legislative Rectifications Act was passed and signed into law. After taking effect following the 2015 general election, the powers of all caucuses within both houses changed. Minority opposition parties in the National Assembly who did not reach a certain threshold were no longer allowed the authority to call for fast-track motions that accelerated legislation to be sent to the Senate; the largest opposition party, as well as their partners, was now allowed to formally form shadow cabinets, though the practice has been conducted since 1991; and, parliamentary groups were now more clearly defined for statistical reasons. Among other changes, the legislation also created the Advocate Generals Bureau, an independent agency affiliated with the Tiomanidh to investigate complaints, misconduct, and other forms of irresponsible or undemocratic actions regarding BTs and senators.
Composition
Notes
- ↑ According to the Rules of Procedure of the Senate, independent politicians in the Senate, unlike their counterparts in the National Assembly, will sit with the government “for the purposes of the legislative process.” However, independent senators are not required to vote with the government and hence act independently.