Parliament of Kelssek

The Parliament of Kelssek is the federal legislature of Kelssek. It consists of the President of Kelssek, the Congress of the Federation in which provinces are equally represented, and the House of Commons. It meets in the Great Hall of the Republic on Baker Hill in Neorvins.

The Cabinet (governing executive) is formed by a party or coalition of parties which is able to hold the confidence of the House of Commons, led by the Prime Minister who is typically the leader of the largest party. In practice, the House is the dominant chamber in national politics; "money bills" dealing with the budget and taxation are the exclusive competence of the House. Outside of such matters, the Congress is able to amend and block legislation and is expected to serve a function for deliberation, review, and to ensure the interests of the smaller provinces are respected.

Legislative supremacy

In Kelssek's constitutional tradition, Parliament is the supreme institution of power. In practice, parliamentary power is subject to the division of federal and provincial sovereignty in the Constitution Act, 1872 and the guarantees of rights in the Charter of Freedoms. These two documents together form the written constitution and laws found to contradict them may be invalidated by judicial review. However, the Parliament of Kelssek has the sole power to initiate amendments to these two laws according to the constitutional amending procedure.

Unwritten constitutional conventions are also important in defining the political process, for instance the formation of a government, the designation of the Prime Minister, and the expectation that all members of the executive be members of the House of Commons.

The House of Commons serves the function of scrutinizing government activities through the daily tradition of Question Period in which Cabinet ministers are obliged to answer questions put to them by other members of the House. This is the segment of parliamentary activity which usually generates the most media coverage and public discussion. The government is also obliged to submit answers to written questions tabled by members of Parliament, although the absence of a confrontational spectacle means this aspect of the House's interpellation function is relatively less interesting for television viewers.

Elections

Elections for the House of Commons must be held at least every four years and may occur sooner if there is a vote of no confidence in the government. The 496 MPs are elected through an additional member system, made up of 372 single-member districts (known as "ridings") with up to 100 seats allocated to parties on the basis of percentages of the party vote, provided they win at least 5% of this vote. At the ballot box, voters make a preferential vote for an MP to represent their riding (also known as instant-runoff voting or the Australian system) and one vote for a federally-registered party (the party vote). This majoritarian-biased compromise aims to improve the representation and power of smaller parties.

The 74 members of the Congress, known as Counsellors, are elected for six-year terms in a staggered fashion. Elections for half the Congress are held every three years. Each province elects six Senators to the Congress under a single transferable vote system. The Neorvins Federal Territory elects two Counsellors for three-year terms.

Current composition

Congress of the Federation

Last half-Congress election held March 4, 2018.

•   United Communist Party (35)
•   Green Party (13)
•   Liberal Party (11)
•   Conservative Coalition (9)
•   Bloc Beaulacois (2)
•   Libertarians (2)
•   Renew the Republic (1)
•   Mattich's Pirate Party (1)

House of Commons

43rd Parliament, general elections held March 4, 2018.
Government (minority)

•   United Communist Party (209)

Official Opposition

•   Conservative Coalition (143)

Other opposition

•   Green Party (53)
•   Liberal Party (48)
•   Bloc Beaulacois (16)
•   Renew the Republic (10)
•   Socialist Labour (1)