Legislative Council of Selidoar

The Legislative Council of Selidoar, (in Seliduarisch known as Legislaativret af Seliduar). commonly known as the LegCo, was the central legislative body of for the government of the Free City of Selidoar. It was the second legislature created in the nation and was given a unique electoral system to maintain stability and corporate representation in the city.

The legislature was formally created in Syltor in the Spring of 40 TE with a communal election system to provisionally maintain governance for a 30 year period. The LegCo would see through two official elections. The first being held in the winter of 70 TE, and the second being held in the winter of 80 TE.

Throughout the majority of the Legislative Council's history, the politics of the city would be dominated by the Pro-Establishment camp.

Election System
Each election would be spaced apart by ten years. Seats would proportionally be added unevenly to adapt to the changing population. A system meant to balance out the competing sectres of Selidoarian society created a unique apportionment system.

Sixty-five percent of the seats would be elected via proportional representation through a direct ballot with universal suffrage. Twenty-five percent of the seats would be appointed by the government-affiliated Selidoarian Union of Trade and Business Councils, which was an internal council of corporate leaders and trade groups. The remaining ten percent would be appointed by the Director themselves.

This system would grant the Pro-Establishment camp, an organization made up of status-quo and pro-government political parties (including the SUTBC) a higher chance of maintaining power despite not gaining a majority of the votes. Throughout the progression of Selidoarian democracy, three major camps would compete for influence in the government.

Within this system, all political parties no matter the ideological orientation were fully legalized and allowed to participate in elections. No political parties could run for reserved seats, such as the appointed seats under the director or the SUTBC's internal election.

Chief Legislator (CL)
Following an election, the LegCo would elect a Chief Legislator to manage the affairs of the Council. The election of Chief Legislator (CL) would effectively be the creation of a functioning government, as the CL had incredible control over the legislative functions and would be second up to the Director in power and influence. Once a CL would be appointed, bills and laws could be worked on, essentially starting up governing functions.

Chief Legislators would be responsible for maintaining tequorem in the parliament, and would be in charge of managing the votes in the Council alongside moving bills through committee. CL's would usually be compromise candidates within the governing parties meant to provide unity across the ideological platform, usually placing popular individuals or independents into the position.

The Chief Legislator is elected by a simple-majority vote from the Legislative Councilors (LC's) to be sworn into office. No confidence motions in their leadership can be presented with only 1/3rd of the legislators submitting a motion and can be passed with 2/3rds of the legislators accepting the motion, to which a new LC's election would be held. LC's are picked from those recently elected to the council, and cannot be in any other position. LC's are given authority over their own cabinet, oversight over the banking system, and a managerial position in the SUTBC.

First Communal Assembly CL Elections
Following the inauguration of the First Communal Assembly of Selidoar in 40 TE, which had fourty-one seats (five seats), divided between the two major parties that contended the election. The broadly right-wing Selidoarian National Alliance and the broadly left-wing Selidoarian United Workers Front. The SNA held a majority in the Assembly with 26 seats (three seats) and the SUWF was in the minority with only 15 seats (two seats). While citizens expected the CL election to move swimmingly with the likely appointment of an SNA legislator expected, more left-leaning members of the SNA held out on supporting the more radically nationalist backed SNA candidate and opted to cooperate with SWUF moderates on finding common ground. Two elections were held that decided who would lead the first Assembly.

The first election resulted in two SNA votes for the radical nationalist backed candidate, one SWUF vote for the general leftist candidate, and two votes "present" from the liberal SNA legislator and the social democrat SWUF legislator. This resulted in no simple majority being found with the SWUF candidate and SNA candidate being short of two and one vote respectively.

The second election occurred with the liberal SNA member compromising with moderate nationalists in the SNA and moderate socialists in the SWUF to form a broad coalition to elect a CL that could be more representative of the current political situation. Alongside this, the liberal SNA member promised to grant cabinet positions to members of both the moderate nationalists and moderate socialists. This resulted in their candidacy reaching the required simple majority of 3/5 votes to be elected CL from the moderates on the SNA and SWUF voting with their candidacy.

First Legislative Council CL Election
With the first legislative council being made up of eight seats and being made up of 6/8 members of Pro-Establishment Camp parties. Specifically, three seats were held by the generally libertarian SUTBC and another three were held by the broad right-wing SNP. The left-wing Selidoarian Workers Party and an Independent liberal candidacy each got one seat respectively. A single vote would be held on the matter with all three SUTBC members and 2/3 SNP members voting in favor of a moderate nationalist being appointed to the position. One dissenting SNP member, a self proclaimed "Megailist", wished for more concessions to the radical wing. A single vote for the SWP and a single vote for the independent liberal would be tallied.

Second Legislative Council CL Elections
With the second legislative council being made up of nine seats, it would become increasingly clear that a concerningly more divided public couldn't find common ground on issues. The Pro-Democracy camp obtained 3/9 seats, the Pro-Establishment Camp obtained 4/9 seats, and the Pro-Sovereignty Camp obtained 2/9 seats. The establishment was in the lead despite obtaining only 22% of the vote, angering the Democrats and the Sovereigntists.

A starting vote was held to appoint a CL, all SNP and SUTBC members (four votes) voted in favor of a popular businessman from the SUTBC, but was short of a majority by one vote. Three votes went to a progressive liberal in the CDA, backed by other Civic Democrats and Social Democrats in the Pro-Democracy camp. Two votes went to the National Front's party leader, with the NFS openly proclaiming that all members of the Democratic camp should be expelled from the Legislative Council following the failure of the first vote.

A second vote was held as negotiaitons intensified, SNP leadership decided to appeal to the Civic Democrats through minor concessions and promises of constitutional reform and cabinet positions to influence future policy. While they were able to convince one CDA legislator, this negotiation behind the SUTBC's back resulted in one SUTBC legislator defecting to the Sovereigntists. This resulted in two votes "present" from a Social Democrat and a CIvic Democrat, four votes (1 CDA, 2 SNP, 1 SUtBC) in favor of an SNP liberal, and three votes in favor of the National Front's candidate. This again led to a vote failure and increasing worry from the public as the LegCo was temporarily adjourned for further discussion.

Finally, a third vote was held. Increased concessions to the Civic Democrats were given, resulting in both CDA members promising to vote in support of the liberal SNP member, alienating the LSD and the SUTBC's right-wing. This election would have one legislator voting present from the Social Democrats, five votes (2 CDA, 2 SNP, 1 SUTBC) in favor of the liberal SNP candidate, and three votes in favor of the National Frontist. Following this votes completion, the two NFS legislators would storm out of the LegCo and stage an unsuccessful coup shortly after.