Assembly

## Purpose

### Goals

Sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Sordish Constitution, responsible for legislature body of the Government of Sordland.

### Ideology

Sollism (USP), Nationalism (NFP), Liberalism (PFJP)

### Size

250 seats

The **Grand National Assembly** or simply the **Assembly,** acts as the unicameral legislative branch of the Government of Sordland, creating the nation's laws by passing bills, and (at least, in theory) providing the necessary checks and balances against the power of the Supreme Court and Office of the President.

Under current Constitutional rules, the President of Sordland has the right to an absolute veto of any legislation passed by the Assembly, and may issue presidential decrees with no legislative oversight. This has led critics to argue the Assembly is too weak in the overall governmental balance of power.

Additionally, since no political party obtaining less than 10% of the total popular vote may hold a seat, the Assembly has come under fire for being much too favorable of the current majority party, the USP.

## Structure and Integration in Sordish Politics

### Overview

As the legislative branch of the Sordish government, the Assembly is woefully underpowered, and easily overruled by either the President or Supreme Court. This is obviously a horrific oversight on the part of Tarquin Soll, the man responsible for the current Constitution, considering that the Assembly is intended to be the most democratic aspect of the Government of Sordland.

Nevertheless, the Assembly still holds some sway over Sordish politics, and could potentially become the adminstrative body it was intended to be if a Reformist Rayne so chooses. Then again, he could just as easily stifle the branch even further, effectively removing it from Sordish politics altogether.

### Structure

The Assembly is similar to the Parliaments of many real nations across the globe, allowing for multiple political parties to run and obtain seats. There are 250 seats overall, with each MP being elected directly by the Sordish people. Once these members are selected, they convene internally to elect one among their number as Speaker of the House (who typically belongs to the majority party).

However, this process is not as straightforward as it may seem, due to several wrinkles put in place by Soll. These are as follows:

* **A political party must meet a 10% threshold to gain seats in the Assembly:** In order for a party to actually gain any seats, they must secure at least 10% of the popular vote. This policy was likely put in place by Soll to ensure his own party, the USP, easily remains the majority party in the Assembly. However, if this requirement was to be reduced by a certain recently-elected President, other parties could quickly gain more traction, such as the smaller PFJP and NFP. In fact, if the amount is decreased further, much smaller parties, such as the Worker's Party of Bludia and Sordish Communist Party could potentially enter the Assembly. Regardless of path, this is sure to become a point of contention, especially if the Constitution is to be revised.
* **Seats are divided proportionally among the parties that pass the threshold:** Again, another measure put in place by Soll to weaken opposition parties.

### Integration in Sordish Politics

Serving as the legislature of the Sordish government, this branch has few balances and numerous checks, which combine to stymie the branch as a whole. Unable to counter the sweeping powers of the Executive branch, and easily bypassed by the misallocated legislative power of the Supreme Court (yet another authoritarian policy courtesy of Soll), it is largely powerless, existing mainly to be seen rather than heard.

Even so, the institution could very well gain the position it deserves if Rayne so wills it, and truly act as the representative body it was always meant to be for the Sordish people. This is but one of the myriad choices Rayne must make, and, regardless of the path he chooses, will impact Sordland for decades (and, ideally, centuries) to come.

## Composition of the Assembly

### Political parties

These are political parties that, as of the 1953 elections, won seats in the Assembly:

* United Sordland Party (leading with 130 seats)
* People's Freedom and Justice Party (second largest party, with 70 seats)
* National Front Party (third largest party, with 40 seats)

Independents (these are people voted into the Assembly who did not pledge to a party. They are not subject to the 10% threshold. They hold only 10 seats).

### Party Leaders

These are the leaders of the political parties of the Assembly. They hold great sway over their respective parties.

* Gloria Tory (leader of the United Sordland Party and the Speaker of the Assembly)

* Frens Ricter (leader of the People's Freedom and Justice Party)

* Kesaro Kibener (leader of the National Front Party)

* Mansoun Leke (leader of the Independents)

### Other Notable Representatives

* Albin Clavin, leader of the Reformist faction of the USP
* Manoly Suheil, unofficial leader of the social-democratic left wing of the PFJP
* Remus Holstron, founder and current Group Deputy Chairman of the National Front Party
* Bernard Circas, Independent politician and first ever communist representative to the Assembly
* Katarina Horten, Independent representative of Bludish descent, and spokesperson of the Labour Union of Sordland
* Tarquin Soll, a Member of Honor, whose lifetime membership in the Assembly is challenged by constitutional reformists