The Ionian Parliament, also known as the Ionian Assembly, is the legislative heart of the Ionian League, housed in the White Tower of Idithos on Foslara. The government of the Ionian League is organised around this bicameral legislative body, comprised of elected Delegates from the 48 worlds of the Ionian League. These officials are responsible for passing Ionian laws, edicts and ordinances as well as consent to treaties, propose treaties and may veto or overturn laws, edicts or policies set forth by the Chancellor and their Cabinet. The Ionian Parliament is also responsible for the formation and dissolution of a number of committees, established on a by need basis that can perform a number of roles from military administration to refugee management, such as the Committee of the Military Coalition and the Committee of Refugees respectivly.
The Ionian Parliament was founded as part of the treaties and edicts ratified by Endre Velis and the other members of the Conference of the Core, on January 18th 3031, and has since governed the Ionian League in one shape or form through the Idrytic and Igenomic Periods.
Table of Contents
History
Establishment
The Ionian Parliament was formally established following the ratification of the Ionian League's founding documents on January 18th 3031, and originally comprised of the four core founders; the Anaxian League, Ossan Confederacy, Onessan Republic and Kingdom of Tarygos. Its establishment came after a twenty year long period of political and social instability remembered as the Crisis of the 31st Century, which in turn followed the Ionian Spring. The nascent states of the Ionia Cluster, newly reformed or established following the ousting of the old tyrants, reeled under the geopolitical pressure of the Eastward Rim. It was Prime-Archon Endre Velis of the Anaxian League that forged the fist alliance between the four core founders, calling them to conference on Idithos in the waning days of 3030.
Originally holding parliament in a small building attached to the Parliament Plaza, remembered in the modern era as the Old Parliament Building, it was the four core founders that laid the initial foundations of the extra-solar league of states.
Velian Period
Though various reasons are given for why and how the Ionian Golden Age came about, many attribute it with the establishment of the Ionian League and the discovery of the Anaxian-Saromi Termini Corridor in early 3034. The discovery of this major shipping lane, faster than standard FTL MAG Drives, established Foslara's place at the heart of the Ionia Clusters new geopolitical landscape, giving it the power and influence it and the League's chancellery needed to expand the extra-solar state.
Beginning first with a number of trade alliances between the outlying petty states of the Ionia Cluster, these worlds were given access to the Anaxian Termini through a tithe system; this then began the slow and eventual integration of these states onto the Ionian Parliament, and then the full admission as members of the League. The Parliaments expansion during this period saw the necessity of a new venue. The White Tower of Idithos, the ancient homestead of the bygone Ossan satraps was chosen, and the building restored and repaired, and made ready for its new purpose in the summer months of 3068.
Reformation Period
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Expansionist Period
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Ionian Wars
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Peace of Arsithos
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Structure
Core Council
The Core Council is the highest legislative branch within the Ionian Parliament and acts as the first of its bicameral houses. Comprised of the core systems of the Ionia Cluster, membership within the Core Council is indefinite regardless of political, military or economic influence. Thirteen worlds comprise the Core Council.
Systems Council
The Systems Council is the second branch of the Ionian Parliaments bicameral houses and comprises the star systems and worlds of the dependencies; those regions and sectors outside of the Ionian heartland. The Systems Council, by comparison, is far larger than its counterpart, comprising not only the worlds beyond the Aegelian Breach, but frontier stations and colonial outposts across Ionia.
Parliamentary Committees
Parliamentary Committees were established on an adhoc basis as the Parliament saw fit. Numerous committees have been established throughout the Parliament's lifespan; from the Committee of Extra-Solar Free Trade, to the more controversial Committee of Refugees during the turbulent days of the Reformation Period.
Participants
Ionian Delegates
The Delegates of the Ionian Parliament are the elected representatives of the Ionian League's member states, chosen by their own people to represent their interest in the forum of parliament on matters of state concerning greater Ionia.
Multi-Party System
Within the Ionian Parliament numerous Delegates align themselves with political parties aimed at a specific, or a set of specific goals for the Ionian League as a whole, or decide to operate independently of the Ionian political parties and instead represent the sole interests of their homeworld. The current major Ionian political parties are:
Centralists - The Centralists are one of the largest parties within the Ionian Parliament and as of the election of Chancellor Alexandria Eliadies, take up the majority of Parliament. Centralist policy revolves around the idea of further centralising the Ionian League into one cohesive governing body in order to compete with its neighbours on the galactic stage. They have remained in power since the election of Erudos Thybosus in 3340, and have taken strides over the last eight decades to further centralise the Ionian Government, passing legislation that further consolidates the Ionian military, law enforcement and other organisations. The Centralists find much of their support from the worlds of the Ionia Cluster and their colonies within the Halasus Expanse and Gulf of Aspisi.
Federalists - The Federalists are another major party within the Ionian League and stand as the primary political opponent of the Centralists. The Federalists with for more freedom among the Ionian League's memberstates, the abolishment of its centralised organisations and a return to the traditional Ionian League in the years prior to the Ionian Wars. Established in 3345, the Federalists have opposed every major piece of legislation brought forward by the Centralists that would further consolidate Ionian administration.
Confederalists - With their beginnings as an off-shoot branch of the Federalist party, the Confederalists follow many of the same ideals of their Federalist counterparts, instead wishing for further state freedom, not only internally but externally - for member states of the Ionian League to be able to conduct trade, diplomatic negotiations and other such political and geopolitical endevours. The Confederalists find much of their support within the newer colonies of the Dependencies. During the 3417 general election, Centralist propaganda campaigns painted their opponents as corrupt and power hunger, looking to return to the old ways only to exploit the decaying legislature of the pre-Ionian Wars government.
Isolationists - The Isolationists are one of the oldest political parties in the Ionian Parliament, existing since the days of the Reformation Period. Isolationist policy, as their name suggests, is the withdrawal of the Ionian League for the Known Galaxy, leaving the rest of known space to contend with their problems without Ionian intervention. The Isolationists came back to the fore during the negotiations between Gaennid, Edomi and Ionian delegates which ultimately led to the pan-Eastward Rim political, economical and military organisation that is the Peripherian Union.
Multiple smaller parties vie for power and relevance in the government as well, pushing agenda’s that get little traction. Others still push succession agenda’s for their state or state's, while others still call for specific social, cultural, or religious action.
Objectives
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Operations
Powers & Functions
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Legislative Procedure
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Legislative Functions
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Funding
Taxes & Tithes
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Criticisms
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Electoral Bias
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Ianocentricisim
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Parliamentary Corruption
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Increased Military Spending
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