The National Diet is the Legislative Branch of Millania. The Terataga is charged with the passage of legislation, known as acts of law, which are sent to the Emperor for consideration. It is also charged with the declaration of war, and has the control of the economy. The presiding officer is the President of the House, who doubles as the Lord Chamberlain, who is elected by the members thereof. Other floor leaders are chosen by the President. The Diet meets in Cordrey Place in Pasabrillo. The members of the Senate assemble at any given place, and solve issues in a swift and largely nonpolitical manner. The members of the Chamber of Censors are largely a group of nobles appointed by the Emperor, as well as a small group of representatives from the Chamber of Tribunes.
Membership
Elections
Elections for representatives are held every six months, on the first week of June or December. In all electoral constituencies, major party candidates for each district are nominated in partisan primary elections, typically held two weeks beforehand. The members of the Chamber of Tribunes are elected in a preferential system, which is more representative of voter population. The local governments are structured in roughly similar fashion. The Prefect of each prefecture is directly elected, also by Preferential System. The Senate consists of the Lord Chamberlain and two chosen members of the Government and Opposition.
Terms
Representatives and Delegates serve for six-month terms. The Nakjatsa permits either House to expel a member with a two-thirds vote. In the history of Millania, only one member has been expelled from the Terataga. Both Houses also have the power to formally censure or reprimand its members; censure or reprimand of a member requires only a simple majority, and does not remove that member from office.
Comparison
As a check on the popular and rapidly changing politics of the Chamber of Tribunes, the Senate has several distinct powers. For example, the power to approve treaties is a sole Senate privilege. The Senate and Chamber of Tribunes are further differentiated by term lengths and the number of districts represented: the Chamber of Tribunes has shorter terms of six months, and more members (currently eight). The Chamber of Tribunes is informally referred to as the "upper" chamber, and the Senate as the "middle" chamber. The Censors, or the "lower" chamber, is different in that all but one of its seats are appointed directly by the monarch.
Checks and balances
The Senate may propose a "vote of no confidence" by a simple majority vote; however, a supermajority is required for impeachment in the Chamber of Tribunes. A convicted official is automatically removed from office and may be disqualified from holding future office in Millania. No further punishment is permitted during the impeachment proceedings; however, the party may face criminal penalties in a normal court of law. In the history of the Millania, the Terataga (Parliament at the time) has impeached one official. The Chamber of Censors solely exists to put a check on the other two houses, with the sole ability to veto laws if they are against the interests of the people or Nakjatsa, and the ability to suggest to the author of bills the changing of certain parts of a bill.