Parliament of Italoria
Parliament of Italoria | |
|---|---|
| 1st Parliament | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | House of Lords House of Commons |
| History | |
| Founded | 21 October 2023 |
| Leadership | |
Monarch | Colin I since 21 October 2023 |
Lords Speaker | Vacant |
Commons Speaker | Vacant |
Vacant | |
Opposition Leader | Vacant |
| Constitution | |
| Constitution of Italoria | |
The Parliament of Italoria is the supreme legislative body for the Kingdom of Italoria. Parliament is bicameral but consists of three parts - the sovereign (King-in-Parliament), the House of Lords, and the House of Commons.
The House of Lords is the upper chamber of parliament and comprises of two types of members both appointed to the house by the monarch. These members are Lords Temporal, who are members of Italorian nobility and some members of the royal family appointed to the house, and Lords Spiritual, senior bishops and archbishops of the Church of Italoria.
The House of Commons is the lower chamber of parliament and it is elected. Elections to the house are conducted, at most, every five years and members are elected to represent single-member constituencies by the first past the post electoral system. Terms are indefinitely renewable, and by convention the Government of Italoria originates primarily from the house.
History
Parliament was established officially on 21 October 2023 by the constitution - in which it also derives its powers and privileges. The constitution's articles define provisions that are unique to each house separately of the other and then provisions that apply to both houses.
Composition and Powers
The legislative authority of Italoria consists of three parts - the monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. No individual may be a member of both houses simultaneously.
Royal assent of the monarch is required for all bills to become law. The crown also possesses executive powers that do not require parliament to be exercised.
The monarch also appoints a prime minister and government which are held accountable to parliament.
Legislation has to pass in both houses and receive royal assent to become law. Bills may originate in either house, with the exception of bills concerning national finance, which have to originate in the House of Commons. As well as this, no tax may be levied without the consent of both Houses of Parliament and the monarch.
Legislative Functions
Laws can be made by an Act of Parliament. Laws, in draft form known as bills, may be introduced by any member of either House or the monarch directly.
Bills introduced by government ministers are known as "Government Bills", ones introduced by other members are known as "Private Member's Bills", and ones introduced by the monarch are known as "Royal Bills".
Each bill goes through several stages in each House. The first stage, called the first reading, is a formality. At the second reading, the general principles of the bill are debated, and the House may vote to reject the bill, by not passing the motion "That the Bill be now read a second time." Once the House has considered the bill in the second reading, the third reading follows. In the House of Commons, no further amendments may be made, and the passage of the motion "That the Bill be now read a third time" is passage of the whole bill. In the House of Lords further amendments to the bill may be moved. Following its passage in one House, the bill is sent to the other House. If passed in identical form by both Houses, it may be presented for Royal Assent. If one House passes amendments that the other will not agree to, and the two Houses cannot resolve their disagreements, the bill will normally fail.
If the bill is rejected by what is constitutionally known as "one of the three legislative powers" (referring to the monarch, House of Lords and House of Commons) then it cannot be reconsidered for the remainder of the legislative session.
Relationship with Government
Constitutionally, part of parliament's role is to scrutinise the Government of Italoria and so the government is accountable to parliament. The House of Commons is given the power to impeach government ministers and bring them to trial in front of the High Court of Justice (the House of Lords), and conventionally the monarch usually appoints the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons as the prime minister to make it easier for parliament to hold the government to account and to make legislation easier for the government.
If the government is not appointed from parliament, which is permitted by the constitution, then ministers have the constitutional right to request that either house of parliament let them address the house.
Privileges
Both houses are constitutionally permitted to uphold two main privileges for its members. First and foremost, both houses are granted absolute freedom of speech - nothing said by members of either house during meetings of their house can be questioned outside of parliament. Secondly, members of either house are immune from arrest under Italorian law without the consent of the house in which they belong.