National People's Congress

From Constructed Worlds Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 This article is a D-class article. It requires significant improvement. This article is part of Altverse II.
National People's Congress of the United Commonwealth of Continental States
28th National People's Congress
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Chambers • Senate of the Union
• House of the Republics
History
Founded 1921; 103 years ago (1921)
Preceded by
Leadership
Presidium of NPC
Daniel Muir, CPUC
Since 20 January 2020
Ian Curtis, CPUC
Since 17 March 2018
Daniel Muir, CPUC
Since 20 January 2020
Structure
Seats 1580
UC National Congress Composition 2022.svg
NPC political groups

Government (2,944)
     National Front (1,580)

Length of term
 5 years
Elections
Indirect Two-round system
NPC last election
 November 2018
NPCSC last election
 18 November 2018
Meeting place
Museum of Science and Industry.jpg
National Congress Assembly Building, Chicago
Website
http://www.npc.gov
Constitution
Constitution of the United Commonwealth, 1982

The National People's Congress of the United Commonwealth of Continentalist States, often referred to as the National People's Congress (NPC), National Congress, or simply Congress for short, is the highest organ of state power and the national legislature of the United Commonwealth of Continentalist States. It is the largest legislative body in the world, with 1,580 members as of 2018. The National Congress is bicameral, being composed of a lower body, the House of the Republics, and an upper body, the Senate of the Union. The National Congress meets in full sessions lasting roughly a month, four times per year, during which time it votes on important pieces of legislation and personnel assignments, among other things. The National Congress is responsible for electing the Presidium of the National Congress, which governs as the collective head of state of the United Commonwealth when the National Congress is not in session. The chairman of the Presidium is known as the President of the United Commonwealth, and is regarded as the unofficial head of the legislature.

By law the Continentalist Party of the United Commonwealth holds a two-thirds majority or more in the National Congress, and all independents and legally recognized third parties – known as Registered Sections – recognize the supremacy of the Continentalist Party. These groups are united by coalition, in what is known as the National Front. Prior to 1982, membership to the National Congress was considered part-time in nature and carried no salary. Members of the congress often hold seats in other bodies of government or the Continentalist Party leadership simultaneously, with the National Congress being viewed as the repository of all senior officials in the nation's politics. Conversely, members of the Presidium and any standing committee appointed by the Congress are prohibited from holding positions simultaneously in executive, judicial, prosecutorial, or supervisory post.

The National People's Congress is elected for a term of no more than four years. It holds sessions typically every March, June, September, and December, in the National Congress Assembly Building, located in Chicago. Elections to each branch of the Congress differ, with representatives to the Senate of the Union being elected equally by both municipal assemblies and by mass organizations, while the representatives to the House of the Republics are elected equally by the municipal assemblies and the Congresses of the Republics. Article One of the United Commonwealth Constitution requires that representatives to the congress be at least 25 years of age, have been a citizen of the country for at least eight years, be an inhabitant of the state which they represent, and have publicly sworn allegiance to the United Commonwealth.

Structure

The National People's Congress is composed of two structures, each with equal legislative powers, with members elected for four-year terms:

  • The Congress of the Union, elected on the basis of the population, with one deputy for every 200,000 people in the United Commonwealth.
  • The House of the Republics, which represents the state populations as units, and is elected based on the number of republics, autonomous republics, autonomous regions, and autonomous districts in the United Commonwealth.

According to the 1982 Constitution of the United Commonwealth, the National People's Congress is defined as the highest organ of state power in the United Commonwealth, and is imbued with overarching lawmaking powers. At various points in the nation's history, the Congress was disregarded as a rubber stamp, as in practice decisions were made by the nation's executive organs and the Continentalist Party, and only sent to the National Congress for final approval. This was in accordance with the Continentalist Party's principle of democratic centralism, but since 1982 the Constitution has been amended to grant a higher degree of autonomy to the National Congress.

Powers and duties

The National People's Congress is primarily tasked with four main functions:

  • Enact or amend legislation - The primary duty of the National Congress is the enactment of laws and making amendments to existing laws. This includes legislation governing civil affairs, criminal offenses, state organization, and other state matters.
  • Amend the Constitution and oversee its enforcement - The National Congress is the only institution with the legal power to amend the Constitution of the United Commonwealth. Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed to at least one-fourth of the National Congress members, and in order for the amendment to pass, it must be approved by a two-third majority. Constitutional enforcement is partially considered a legislative power, and the congress reviews and revises legislation for constitutionality.
  • Determine state issues - The National Congress is tasked with researching and creating legislation based on major issues presented to it by constituents of the nation, the Presidium, or other state organs. This most often includes the creation of national economic and social development plans, revisions to the state budget, or the creation of committees to explore specific topics.
  • Elect and appoint state officials - The National Congress is tasked with electing the Presidium of the National Congress, which includes the President and the Vice President, which represents the National Congress when it is not in session. It also elects the Council of People's Commissars, which includes the Premier and numerous department heads of the executive branch, and confirms nominees to the Supreme Court.

A full list of powers include:

  • Passing and initiating laws
  • Authority over laws regulating property, management of the economy, social and cultural issues, budget and finance, salaries, taxes and prices, environmental protections, and civil rights
  • Passing amendments to the Constitution via a two-thirds majority
  • Dictating principles to local and republic state power
  • Determining the legal status of social organizations
  • Ratifying international treaties
  • Electing the members of the Presidium
  • Appointing the Premier at the Presidium's recommendation
  • Ratifying the composition of the People's Commissars and any changes in it proposed by the Premier
  • Forming and disbanding ministries and state committees based on proposals from the People's Commissars
  • Overriding laws proposed or vetoed by the Presidium via a two-third majority
  • Ratifying declarations of war
  • Impeaching members of the Presidium or People's Commissars
  • Convening meetings of state organs and hearing reports by appointed officials
  • Ratifying long-term national and economic development plans, national budgets
  • Monitoring state use of funds and ratifying reports on their performance
  • Overseeing the granting of foreign aid and negotiating foreign loans
  • Submitting questions and orders to the Presidum or People's Commissars

Membership

Congress Year Total deputies Female deputies
(Percentage)
1st 1919 655 98
(14.96%)
2nd 1921 670 144
(17.16%)
3rd 1924 672 141
(20.98%)
4th 1928 692 113
(16.32%)
28th 2018 1580 763
(48.29%)

See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.conworld.org/index.php?title=National_People%27s_Congress&oldid=419448"