Council of Professors and Experts
| Council of Professors and Experts, CPE Минтаԛати дир Ахтинум, МДА Mintaqati dir Ahtinum, MDA | |
|---|---|
| 96th Council | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | Unicameral |
| Leadership | |
| Chairman |
Tryztven Revtradik, A Since 2013 |
| Vice-Chair | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 766 |
| Political groups | Divisions (15) |
| Length of term7 | 4 years |
| Elections | |
| Voting system | National selectiona |
| Last election | 2013 |
| Next election | 2017 |
| Website | |
| mda.go.hz | |
| Footnotes | |
| a see Selection part below. | |
The Council of Professors and Experts (Hazam language: Минтаԛати дир Ахтинум, Mintaqati dir Ahtinum, abbreviated as MDA in Hazam and CPE in English) is the parliamentary institution of Hazamaeia. The CPE is the sole legislative chamber in the Hazamaeian unicameral parliament system, and exercise the legislative function of the federal government.
The council is composed of 766 members, each representing several sciences and various discipline of divisions including divisions of art, philosphy, and engineering (see below). The members, however, are not directly elected by the people. Membership is applied by members of high governoral parliaments or state/provincial parliaments. There is no apportionment of seats according to state/province population, instead the seat number is divided according to divisions. By this system, the CPE is among the least corrupt national parliaments of the world.
Contents
History
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Hazamaeia |
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The history of the CPE traced back to the union referendum of 349-10-32 when the two states of Federation of Hazamaeia and the Republic of Anotachia are about to be merged. The parliament, which were in the same form (unelected members), of both countries already agreed to also be merged into a new parliament. The first union act authorized the establishment of a provisional parliament after the referendum which was consisted of incumbent parliament members of the both countries combined.
The provisional parliament lasted for about three years. At 349-11-35, the provisional parliament composed the Act of Legislative 349-35 which ruled as the base law of the establishment of Council of Parliament and Expert. A selection was then held for provincial/state parliament members to apply for CPE membership. Provisional parliament then dissolved itself by the end of the year and the CPE finally founded. At the time of its first session in 349-11-36, the CPE regarded itself as the 2nd Council session rather than the first session. The tradition is still practiced today to commemorate the provisional parliament, so the current 96th Council is de facto the 95th Council.
Before the CPE was established, the provisional parliament already had its seat in the present capital of Hasnuni. The building however was not at the current parliament building but instead the parliament used Hasnuni Convention Hall building which is now the Hasnuni Dome of Culture for its meetings in three years of its existence. It was not until the 78th Council that current building finally used, which was constructed after a design competition held 5 years before.
The number of CPE members varied across its history. The provisional parliament had 334 members, 188 from Anotachia and 147 from Hazamaeia. At the 2nd Council, the number of members was reduced to 200 to make more room in the council building. That number was then increased and decreased several times including 340 for the 8th Council, 335 for the 30th Council, 278 for the 43rd Council, and 556 for the 60th Council. At the 76th Council, the CPE agreed to increased the next number for the 77th Council to 766, the current number. However it the new building was only finished later at time for the 78th Council so at the 77th Council the number was still 556 members.
Powers and functions
The Council of Professors and Experts is the legislative branch of the Hazamaeian federal government. Determined by its Act of Establishment, the council has the right to:
- propose, compose, revise, and remove law that effects the whole states and provinces
- select the president
The council also has the power to:
- veto decrees issued by the executives
- impeach the current executives
- amend the constitution
- compose the federal annual budget
- split/merge state/province
- and select a commissioner for a national body
The council members in their turn can be taken out of their position by a proper investigation from the Supreme Court of Justice proposed by any Hazamaeian.
CPE also has other powers of general supervision. The council is able to set up a Committee of Inquiry, for example over Khlabakhten forest fire or the Winter Olympic corruption. The council can call other institutions to answer questions and if necessary to take them to court if they break Hazamaeian law. Furthermore it has powers over the appointment of the president and executive board of the National Bank of Hazamaeia, the central bank. The president, ministers, and every executive national body are required to present annual report to the council.
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Members
The parliamentarians are known regularly as the Members of Parliament (MPs) instead of Members of Council. This based on an understanding that the CPE, with all of its rights and powers, more likely to be called a parliament rather than a council. They are selected from applicants, not elected, by the previous session members not directly by the people nor based on any universal suffrage. This system of member selection makes the CPE among the least corrupt parliament in the world and designated as an example parliament in the Hazamaeian international aid program.
The seats number are not allocated according to states/provinces population or any other demographic characteristic (i.e. ethnic groups, ideology). Instead, the seats are divided according to each division which several represent their respective science study while the other represent national needs such as Foreign Affairs Division and Interior Division. However there is a special exception for the Religion Division where members are apportioned according to religions in Hazamaeia. The maximum members of a council session is set at 766 members determined by the 76th Council, roughly 74,255 Hazamaeians per member (2010 census). For the 96th Council, Khlabakhten State has the most of its citizens present in the council with 15.8% of the members.
MPs are not immune to legal prosecution. Sentenced MP is immediately fired from the council. Across all of its 95 sessions, no MPs were ever fired.
Salaries and expenses
Act of Legislative 350-200 rules that the maximum salary receieved by a council member is ₦4000 whatever his/her position is (chairman, director, ordinary member). MPs will retire at 65 and will receive the whole of their pension from the council. The MPs do not have a special escort unit but however, their housings in Hasnuni and daily needs (excluding clothes and leisure) are covered outside their net salaries. They are also not given any special vehicles from the government except a special Hasnuni public transportation card. Traveling expenses for official duty is given which is based on actual cost.
Selection
The MPs are not elected by the people in a direct election. Instead, a selection test is held every 4 years for applicants. Applicants must be a member of high governoral parliament for at least a session or a member of state/provincial parliament for at least 2 sessions. The selection include several test of question and knowledege of the related division applied.
Divisions
As for the 96th Council, CPE is divided into 15 divisions. Each division is led by a director selected internally. The number of members for each division is determined by the CPE in its final plenary session. CPE divisions and members as of the 2013 selection is as below.
- Agriculture (88)
- Biology and Environment (71)
- Engineering (48)
- Geography and Demography (63)
- Philosophy (53)
- Art and Culture (42)
- Foreign Affairs (38)
- Interior (50)
- Economy (56)
- Mathematics and Physical Sciences (30)
- Religion (45)
- Military (32)
- Health (45)
- Education (51)
- Transportation and Infrastructure (54)
Divisions' name and number varied across CPE history. The initial divisions for the 2nd Council are the current division minus the health, education, and transportation and infrastructure divisions, and several divisions' name were different (i.e. Mathematics and Physical Sciences was Physical Sciences division; Geography and Demography was Geography divison). Several other changes including 19 divisions at the 58th Council and 24 divisions at the 79th Council. The current style is used since the 90th Council.
Structure
The council is led by a chairman (speaker) and five vice-chair which are selected from the members, by the members, initially at its first session. The chairman and vice-chair will be in office for the next 4 years until another selection for the council begin. They are responsible for moderating the parliament which can sometimes divided when discussing about issues. The chairman and vice-chair still have their power and functions as a member of parliament and also have the same rights with other ordinary parliament members such as voting in resolution and a right to speech. All also can be impeached by MPs for several reasons particularly neutrality. The chairman and vice-chair must remain neutral in their moderating duty even if they do not agree with the winning resolution.
Every division is led by a director selected internally among the division members. The director is responsible for moderating debate in the division itself, particularly during division meeting that focuses on the division's own matter of concern. For a parliament-wide debate, director is sitting on the second row of the hemicycle and has equal position with ordinary MPs.
The CPE positions as the legislative branch of the Hazamaeian government. The ruling cabinet can be present at parliament debate to give their view on the debate topic. As in the government system of Hazamaeia, the executives, including the ministry can propose a law to be made/removed/revised by the parliament. The executives (commissioners, ministers, and the president) however have to answer any question from the CPE regarding their decisions and lawmaking. MPs have the right to object to a minister/president's decree and to demote a minister/commissioner after a considering.
Seat
The CPE is based at the Parliament Complex in the capital city of Hasnuni.
External links
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