House of Commons of Kiribati-Tarawa

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House of Commons of the Kingdom of Kiribati-Tarawa
159th Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type Lower House of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Kiribati-Tarawa
Leadership
Speaker John Harcourt
Since 5 August 2010
Leader Edward Mountstuart, Conservative
Since 15 June 2017
Shadow Leader Jerald Heseltine, Labour
Since 18 August 2012
Structure
Seats 650
House of Commons Seating Chart 2017.png
Meeting place
House of Commons Chamber.jpeg


The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of Kiribati-Tarawa which, like the House of Lords, meets in the Palace of Westminster.

The House is an elected body of 650 members of Parliament (MPs), who are elected to represent constituencies by first-past-the-post and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved. All MPs are elected at once, and as such, the entirety of the House of Commons is at vote during each election.

Since 1895, all Kiribatian Governments have been led by a Prime Minister from the House of Commons, who remains in office only as long as they retain the confidence of the House.

Although Parliament is de jure bicameral, the powers of the House of Lords have been gradually reduced throughout the twentieth century; indeed, the Commons is the only house of Parliament with the power to draft any legislation involving public funds.

Role

Relationship with the government

Although the House of Commons does not officially elect the Prime Minister (the Prime Minister is ceremonially appointed by the Sovereign on recommendation by both houses of Parliament), the Prime Minister and their Government are usually almost exclusively based in the Commons (there has not been a Prime Minister leading from the Lords since 1895). The Government is directly answerable to the House of Commons and each Cabinet minister is required to answer questions in the Commons at least once per week.

The House of Commons may indicate their disapproval for the current Government by passing a Motion of No Confidence, rejecting a Motion of Confidence, or rejecting a money bill (thereby cutting off all funding to the current Government). In the event of any of these three occurrences, Parliament is immediately dissolved and new elections are held.