Politics & Government of Niploma

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This article refers to the politics and government issues in Niploma.

Introduction

The Social Democratic Republic of Niploma's current political situation was created by the revolution of the 1930's, preceeded by the civil war. The victors of this war, the Socialist Resistance, creeated a fair democratic republic. The SR party was known as the Socialist Internationalist Party and dominated politics until the early 1990's and was finally replaced by the People's Coalition in 2006 (by)election, although SIP is a member of the People's Coalition.

Since creation of the 'first republic' Niploma has been a multi-party parliamentary democracy. There are tow legislatures, the lower house and upper house. The lower house is the 'ruling chamber' and is the Democratic House. The upper house is the 'scrutinising chamber' and is named the Niplomian Senate. The Head of State is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is also the head of the largest party in the Dmocratic House, ergo ruling the country and Democratic House. The current PM is Odhrán Torin from the People's Coalition.

Executive Branch

The Niplomian Government, especially the Cabinet, peforms excecutive functions in Niploma. The Government's highest grouping is the Cabinet. The Cabinet is formed of around fifteen Deputies each with a certain job (i.e. Cabinet Deputy for Health). These high ranking Deputies are known as CD, Cabinet Deputies or (although unfrequently) Ministers.

As with nearly all parliamentary-democracies the Niplomian Government can be toppled in a vote of no confidence. This vote can be peformed if, 'half, or more, opposition leaders express support towards the motion.' It has only been attempted once in 2005 by Opposition Leader McKibben (Libertarian Reform Party) and failed. It did, however, cause the national by-election in 2006.

This of course means all governemnts are seceptible to votes of no confidence. To ensure all support is gathered in the party there is a space in the Cabinet for the Chief. Chiefs are normally party fantatics but also need to be well-respected and level-headed. Their key job is to convince both Senators and Deputies to vote in support of the Government.

Essentially it is the executive branch that drafts bills, legislature that votes for it and (if the bill is passed) the executive branch implements the law.

Cabinet

The following Cabinet, as chosen by PM Torin, was selected in March 2006 after the 14th Niplomian General Election.

  • Prime Minister - Ohdrán Torin
  • Deputy Prime Minister - Adrián Robert


  • Cabinet Deputy for The Environment - Éibhear Elwes
  • Cabinet Deputy for Finance and Economy - Francis Gardner
  • Cabinet Deputy for Homeland Matters - Kanya Lawan
  • Cabinet Deputy for International Affairs - Desmond Scott
  • Cabinet Deputy for Defence - Glenn Clarke
  • Cabinet Deputy for Health - Rachel Murphy
  • Cabinet Deputy for Social Welfare & Equality - Martin Gallagher
  • Cabinet Deputy for Education - Kulap Pakpao
  • Cabinet Deputy for Law & Order - Douglas Dunne
  • Cabinet Deputy for Agriculture, Industry, Pension & Work - Matthew O'Brien
  • Cabinet Deputy for Public Transport - Steve Campbell
  • Cabinet Deputy for Southern Niploma - Jonathon O'Ryan
  • Chief - Nigel Treloar

Three of the fifteen CD's are female. Two CD's are Buddhist, one is Christian and the rest are Atheistic.

Legislative Branch

Niploma's legislative branch is two tier. There is the ruling lower house and the scrutinising upper house. Each house has its own duties and powers. Both the Democratic House and Niplomian Senate are located in the House of the Republic on Main Hill in Failegn, Niploma. Interstingly, the House of the Republic is the new name for an old ornate building used by the ex-Oligarchy.

Democratic House

In Niplomian politics it is the lower house that has the most power. Democratic House is the official name for the chamber. It holds 750 Deputies and is the chamber the Government sits in. Elections for the Democratic House are held every four years, although it is customary to be held at mor regular intervals. These elections are named General Elections with the last being the 14th Niplomian General Election. Effectively, the winning party at a General Election is the largest party in the Democratic House and forms a Government.

Deputies are elected proportionally through the mixed-member proportional representation. This works by having 200 Deputies elected through 'first past the post' and the remaining 500 via closed-list multi-vote proportional representation. The 200 directly elected Deputies are from 200 constituencies currently used for the Senate. Ther is universal suffrage for all above 18 and those who are Niplomian citizens. To be a Deputy you must be 21 and Niplomian. To be a Prime Minister you must have the same 'qualifications' although the youngest PM was 36.

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The Democratic House seen from inside during a debate. At the forefront of the photo are the adjudicators who ensure smooth debate. To their left is traditionally the largest party and to the right the Official Opposition - the largest opposition. Further down the photo is the Secondary Opposition - the other parties.
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The Democratic House is the debating and voting chamber for Bills presented by the Government. When a Bill is presented the House will debate and then vote on the bill. Any majority will win a vote, which sometimes results in very close votes. There are several Bills that require certain majorities though. Namely these include a Dissolution of the Senate peformed once in 1974. This requires 66% support. Vote of No Confidence requires 51% support (and is the only vote that can be started by the Opposition). Finally the Dissolution of Republic requires 85% support and would install a one-Party state and dictatorship.

Voting and debating is held every weekday from 10am to 4pm. At 12noon Wendesday an hour is reserved for Question Time. Question Time is a session where questions are fielded by any Deputy to the Cabinet and Prime Minister. It is usually used to seriously question and/ or ridicule actions by the Government.

Niplomian Senate

The Niplomian Senate is the second cmaber in the Niplomian legislature. It is the lower house and holds considerably less powers. Its only power is to vote on Bills passed by the Democratic House. If it votes against a Bill it is delayed for 3 months before becoming law. If a Government takes notice of the Senate's discontent it may re-write the bill and have a second vote upon it. This will, in theory, allow for an improved Bill. If it passes a second time the Senate will not vote on it and will simply become law.

Those against the Senate argue it is a waste of time and an annoyance to the Democratic House. To supporters it is a chamber which casts new eyes upon a Bill and allows the Government a chance to re-write a Bill to appease the public, or, more simply, to make a Bill better.

There are 200 Senators who are elected from 200 constituencies. The Senators are elected through universal suffrage in a plurality voting system (PVS) (first-past-the-post). This has attracted criticism due to the 'unfairness' of PVS although it is supporter due to the local connection Senators have to their (somewhat large) constiuencies and constiuents. To be a Senator one must be of 28 years of age. Nearly all Senators are veterans of the Democratic House.

There are 20 observers in the Senate who can discuss as they please but cannot vote. Ten are appointed by the Prime Minister whilst the other 10 are voted in by the Senate. Current observers include the head of Church in Niploma, two Imans a three Buddhist religious leaders (one of which is a nun) and the others are ex-Governmental ministers. If elected/ appointed as an observer one recieved the title OB infront of their name.

Current Legislative Seatings

Democratic House

In relation to the 14th and 13th General Elections

Party Current Seat Number Previous
People's Coalition 306 371
Libertarian Reform Party 275 220
Official Communist Workers Party 66 88
Niploma First 51 ?
Niplomian Labour Party 38 0
Rev. Workers Unions - disbanded 7 16

Parties & Elections

See Political Parties in Niploma

Elections

The next:

General Election is to be held on the 5th August. See 15th Niplomian General Election.

Government History

  • 1958-1967 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Healey) (Hyper-majority in Democratic House, virtually unopposed with no real opposition.)
  • 1967-1972 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Healey) (Super-majority in Democratic House, virtually unopposed.)
  • 1972-1976 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Fitzgerald) (Super-majority in Democratic House with Grand Conservative Party and Official Communist Workers Party as opposition)
  • 1976-1977 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Fitzgerald) (PM Fitzgerald dies of heart-attack.)
  • 1977-1981 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Moore) (Majority in Democratic House, Grand Conservative Party as recougnised opposition.)
  • 1981-1985 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Moore) (Majority in Democratic House, Grand Conservative Party as opposition although somewhat weakened.)
  • 1985-1987 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Hughes) (Super-majority in Democratic House, Grand Conservative Party, new Libertarian Reform Party and a stronger Official Communist Workers Party split opposition almost evenly.)
  • 1987-1990 Socialist Internationalist Party (Pm Hughes) (Super-majority)
  • 1990-1994 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Hughes) (Majority in Democratic House with Libertarian Reform Party as a reasnoble opposition.)
  • 1994-1998 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Robert) (Majority in Democratic House with a similiar strength of opposition from the Libertarian Reform Party.)
  • 1998-2002 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Robert) (Majority in Democratic House with a stronger Libertarian Reform Party in opposition.)
  • 2002-2005 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Robert) (Slim-majority in Democratic House with a strong Official Communist Workers Party and a overwhelming Libertarian Reform Party in opposition.)
  • 2005 Socialist Internationalist Party (PM Robert) (No-overall-control.)
  • 2005 People's Coaliton (PM Torin) (Majority in Democratic House due to a Socialist Internationalist controlled Coalition. Libertarian Reform Party wins more votes than the Socialist Internationalist Party.)