High Court of Parliament

The High Court of Parliament, also known as the Parliament of Brettish Isles is the unicameral legislature as well as the highest judicial body of the Commonwealth of the Brettish Isles. The parliament was established with the first Constitution of the Brettish Isles in 1607 AN. It has full authority on all matters domestic within the isles.

Powers

The High Court of Parliament is the highest legislative Power in the Brettish Isles. According to its foundation, the High Court of Parliament shall be the supreme government body in the Commonwealth, the highest expression of the popular will, and the embodiment of the people’s sovereignty. The Brettish Isles Accession Treaty limited the powers of Parliament to the domestic sphere, with final authority on international relations and military matters being vested in the Order of the Holy Lakes. The High Court of Parliament also has the power to impeach officers of the Commonwealth by a majority of all Members. The High Court shall have the sole power to try all impeachments.

Procedures

The High Court of Parliament legislates through Acts of Parliament. Subject to the provisions and limitations of this Instrument, Parliament, or a majority of the Members present, may make any law which it considers necessary or beneficial for the peace, prosperity, and good governance of the Brettish Isles (within constitutional and treaty limits). No Act of Parliament shall however hold legal force without the Lord Steward’s Assent. If the Lord Steward refuses to assent to an Act, and yet the same Act is again passed in a subsequent Term, the Speaker of Parliament may promulgate it even if the Lord Steward continue to withholds Assent.

Parliament may also issue Resolutions. Parliament can make internal decisions, state its official opinion on various subjects by means of Resolutions of the House approved by a majority of the Members present. Resolutions are be published by the Speaker, and shall not require the Lord Protector’s assent. They also do not hold legaly binding force.

Parliament shall sit for four Terms in each year, each of approximately three months in duration. These are: Candlemas Term, from January 1 to March 26 inclusive; Whitsun Term, from April 1 to June 25 inclusive; Lady Term, from July 1 to September 25 inclusive; and Martinmas Term, from October 1 to December 20 inclusive.

Compostion

The High Court of Parliament comprises of the Lord Steward, the peers of the Commonwealth, and the elected Members of Parliament sitting and debating together in a single chamber. Upon the beginning of a term, Parliament elects a Speaker from amongst its Members to preside over the proceedings of the House, and to ensure orderly conduct therein. The current procedures ensure a 60-seat parliament, with half of the members (including the Lord Steward) being peers of the Commonwealth and the other half elected.

Current Composition

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26

8

22

4

Government (56 seats)

Opposition (4 seats)

	Conservative Party		Verionist Party		Liberal Party		Ducalist Party

	Party	Leader	Seats	Positions
	Conservative Party	Robert Vernet	26	Conservatism, Pro-Order Integration, Law and Order
	Liberal Party	George Huntington	22	Liberalism, social reforms, estate taxation
	Verionist Party	Thomas Adair	8	Verionism
	Ducalist Party	Reginald St. Mhor	4	Restoration of the Grand Duchy, pro-Calbain