Imperial Parliament

Committee of Appointments

Parliament Security Council

Parliament Preservation Committee

Committee of Budgetting

The Imperial Parliament, also known as the Imperial Congress or the Imperial Senate, is the elected Bicameral Legislative body of the Ivez Empire. It is made up of 500 elected officials in two chambers: The Lower House of Commons, and the Upper House of Nobles. The Parliament forms the Legislative Branch of the Imperial government, and has several duties and powers.

## Parliament Chambers

### House of Commons

The Lower House of Commons has 350 members, who are known as Representatives, which are chosen directly by Universal Popular Proportional Elections every four years. This House is the more important of the two. They have several powers which the Upper House lacks. These are: the Right to Initiative, meaning the House can introduce legislation outside of the Imperial Cabinet; Right of Amendment, meaning the House can motion amendments and orders to legislature; Right of Budgetting, meaning the House has to approve the Annual Budget of the Cabinet and the Parliament; and the Right to Inquiry, meaning the House can propose parliamentary inquiries into legislature and administration.

The House has historically been led by the Royalist Party and the Conservative Party, in turns. The Moderates and the Liberals have also been in Coalitions throughout the years. In general, the Politics of the Empire are Right-Wing Conservative, which has led to Conservative policies more than anything. The House of Commons, however, is divided in such a way that Coalition politics are always necessary.

The House of Commons has met since 1808 in the Lower House Chambers inside the Parliamentary Palace in Central Ulaka. There, the Representatives are seated in 7 sections with 50 seats each. The leader of the House is called the Head, who sits on the left from the Representive blocks in a separate block, together with the Secretary who leads voting sessions and the public records. Members of the Cabinet sit in a separate block, called Section C, where Ministers and Secretaries answer questions of the House every Tuesday and from where they lead debates. The Representatives use their Right of Interruption behind the Booths, where six microphones are available for that purpose. In front of the Booth is the Parliamentary Clerical Service, who notate and approve all the utterances and expressions spoken during sessions. Behind the right section of the Representative Seats, there is space for Public Servants who are employed by the parties in the House. Behind the left section, there is place for public press. At each session, there are at least 2 employees of the Parliamentary Recording Bureau, who broadcast each session Live. During voting, the House of Commons handles a double fiction by considering all members present, and each party as voting as one. Above the Representative block, there is a small public tribune, where visitors can watch sessions. Since 1986, the Empire has the Right to Public Initiative, where the House of Commons address issues if a certain amount of signatures (40,000 as of 1986) are gathered by a voter.

### House of Nobles

The Upper House has 150 members, who are called Senators, which are chosen indirectly by each of the Regional Senates after Regional General Elections, through a electoral college that employs electors proportionally every four years, one year after the elections of the HoC. This house has fewer powers, but is an important instrument in the Checks and Balances of the government. Contrary to the House of Commons, they do not propose legislation, they do not amend, and they do not propose inquiries. However, they vote on legislation and can send back legislation to the Lower House for Amendment and Budgetting. In special occasions, the whole Parliament holds a Joint Sessions of all 500 members, during which all members are allowed to introduce amendments.

Like the Lower House, the House of Nobles has been led by the Royalist and Conservative Parties. However, contrary to the Coalition, the Lower House is often quicker to form majorities. Also, the Moderates has always had more seats in the Upper House than the Liberal Party, owing to a large following of this party in both Judinovak and Eghelham. Like the Lower House, an absolute majority has never happened in the House of Nobles, and the Coalition also negotiates to form a majority in the Upper House so that their government plans are carried out in the inaugurated period.

The House of Nobles has met since 1808 in the Upper House Chamber inside the Parliamentary Palace in Central Ulaka, about 200 ft from the Lower House Chamber. There, the Senators are seated in two blocks, left and right of the Head of the Senate, with 5 sections of 15 seats on each side. The Left-Wing and Right-Wing parties sit on their respective sides. Across the Head of the Senate and his Secretaries, there is a small block where members of the Cabinet are seated during debates. Between these blocks, there is a small table where the clerks perform stenography and record sessions. Above both blocks, there is a small public tribune where visitors can watch sessions.

## Political Parties

* Imperial Nationalists: An Extreme-Right party who advocate a strong Emperor's position and a nationalist government. They were founded in 1921 from a few members of the Reactionary Party. In some elections, they have gained between 1 and 6 seats. However, since 1984, they have not managed to do so.
* Reactionary Party: A Right-Wing party who advocate reactionary policies and a strong government. They were one of the first parties in 1828 formed by Hilor Tokrup and Seves Bremlan. The Reactionaries have held at least 1 seat since 1848, with the highest result in 1982 under Idi Croru, when they received 101 seats.
* Royalist Party: A Right-Wing party with conservative policies and an emphasis on the Emperor. They were the first party to form in 1808, by Gregor Mantell, the first Prime Minister. Since then, the RP has received wavering results, however have always been either largest or 3rd party.
* Conservative Party: A Right-Leaning party with conservative policies, however different opinions on Federal Power. They were the second party in 1808, formed by Natel Fraktros, the third Prime Minister. The CP has taken front, in turns with the RP, to lead the Coalition.
* Centrist Party: A Central party with progressive policies. They formed in 1908 by members of the RP and the Liberals, led by Dagak Braskom. They have had low results for several years, only being elected in 1941, 1953, and 1974.
* Liberals: A Central party with liberal policies. They formed in 1862 to counter the CP and Reactionaries, led by Hagkam Optris. Since then, they have been a part of several Coalitions, having a steadily result between 20 and 50 seats. In 1967, they delivered their only PM, Millis Nelver, the first female PM.
* Moderates: A Left-Leaning party with conservative policies. They were formed in 1812, by members of the RP. Since then, they have had steady results. They have also been part of several Coalitions. In 1980, they delivered their only PM, Hogos Awalak.
* Social Liberal: A Left-Wing Party with social-liberal policies. They formed in 1945 from members of the Socialist Party, led by Ogkot Rember. They have had steady results, gaining between 20 and 35 seats.
* Socialist Party: A Left-Wing party with socialist policies. They formed in 1892 to counter the Right-Wing parties, let by Drofka Paras, the first Female Representative. They have had different results, especially with support in Levonkor, reaching between 10 and 25 seats.
* Communist Party: An Extreme-Left party who advocate a Communist state. They formed in 1906 by members of the SP, led by Otoro Lapt. They have had low results since their inception, being elected only in 1922, 1950, and 1984.
* Farmers Party: A Left-Wing party with one-issue politics for farmers. They formed in 1967, by Hodro Kelt. In the elections, they failed to receive seats. They disbanded after failure in the elections of 1974.

## Sub-groups

The Parliament has several subgroups with specific portfolios. The Committee of Appointments is in charge of the inauguration of Members of both Houses, as well as overseeing the Formation of the Cabinet. This Committee consists of six members of the House of Commons and four members of the House of Nobles. The Parliament Security Council is in charge of the personal safety of the members of Parliament, as well as the Cabinet. The Parliament Preservation Committee is in charge of the maintenance of the Parliamentary Palace and the Ministries. The Committee of Budgetting is in charge of the Parliament's budget and the salaries of the Parliament.