Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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===Representative Council===
The Representative Council has the power to pass non-binding resolutions on any topic, to deliberate and make recommendations on proposed legislation, and to request (not demand) oral and/or written reports from government officials. Members of this body are able to use soft power to influence the legislative process. This body forms the back-bone of public consultation because it organizes public meetings with members of the public where views on proposed legislation can be expressed and collated. This body also organized polls and undertakes investigates and publishes reports for the consideration of the Legislative Council and the rest of the government. They also meet with Legislators in informal and formal ways through their shared space in Komodu. Thus, they can share the concerns of their people with Legislators.
The Representative Council is chosen by a lottery. In the past this was done by picking names out of a hat. It evolved to a system where numbers would randomly come out of a lottery machine and which ever person has that combination of numbers in their ID number was selected. This process was replaced with one where a computer randomly decides who becomes a Representative. To be selected, someone must consent to being selected. So, the lottery cannot select people who are not interested. To be eligible for selection, one has to be able to vote in the election for the Legislative Council. No restrictions exist here. However, men only comprise 16% of the thing. Usually men are not as interested in politics because they do not feel like they can make a difference and because they have too many domestic tasks to run for political office. Recently, the government has tried to change this by offering child care support to full-time dads to encourage men to participate. Members get paid a stipend and the Council has money allocated to administer its duties.
==Judiciary==
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