Chapter 403: Constitutional Convention Part I (1/2)
Berengar stood within the halls of the Reichstag. Surrounding him was every prominent political and economic leader within the Kingdom of Austria. After Duke Otto von Graz had openly called for a Constitutional Convention to amend the current Constitution of Austria, the nation was in an uproar.
How dare the Duke and father-in-law of the King question the Crown's authority for the sake of the upper nobility. However, when Berengar responded in a cordial, and welcoming manner, the people naturally calmed their wrath.
Berengar had gone a step further, and called for every titan of industry, every political representative, every noble of significant standing, to gather together in the Reichstag for a single purpose, to redraft the Constitution in a way that worked for all people.
Currently, Berengar was addressing the massive gathering with some of his proposed changes to the current Constitution. After much bickering from the nobility, and common populace. The bicameral legislative that was based upon the United States of his previous life was thoroughly scrapped. The young King of Austria began to recount the changes to this system that had become universally accepted after several days of near-constant debate by those attending this Constitutional Convention.
”It is my understanding that we have come to some form of agreement on this matter, so allow me to reiterate for official purposes. As far as the legislative branch is concerned, there shall be two chambers of parliament.
An electorate comprised of educated common men of good moral character can elect up to one member of parliament for every twenty-five thousand citizens who dwells within the confines of the Kingdom of Austria.
Every four years there shall be an election to elect a member of parliament to fill these positions, No representative shall be allowed to run for office more than twice. The representative must be at least thirty years of age and pass a background check, as well as a written test supervised by the royal Crown itself.
Their duty, should they be elected shall be performed with the principle of serving the Austrian Crown to the benefit of the people. A member of parliament will have the right to draft bills to be looked over by the King of Austria, this will require at least a ⅔ majority to pass .
They shall also have the power to impeach government officials under the condition of a ⅔ majority. In the event of an impeachment of a member of the peerage, the Trial will be handed to the House of Lords to handle. Are there any objections to these terms?”
Berengar gazed around the Reichstag at the gathered men to see if anyone raised a hand or voice in protest to these terms. As he had previously announced, it had become universally accepted at this point, and thus not a single person raised a complaint regarding this portion of the Constitution. Upon seeing that there were no voices of dissent, Berengar cleared his throat before moving on to the next portion of the legislative branch.
”Moving on to the House of Lords...
There shall be five members of the House of Lords for every Duchy within our great realm. These Noblemen shall be elected by a simple majority from the Peerage of their respective Duchies and will serve a four-year term, with a limit of two terms.
The requirements to become a candidate for a position within the House of Lords are as follows. The nobleman in question must be at least thirty years of age, a citizen of Austria for at least five years without dual citizenship, pass an intensive background check as well as a written test supervised by the Austrian Crown itself.
If the Duchy in question has not managed to fill its seats within the House of Lords, then the Austrian Crown will choose the remaining representatives on their behalf. The King of Austria will also be able to select a total of five lords that will represent his interests within the House of Lords.
With the greater good of the Austrian Crown in mind, the members of the House of Lords will have the power to draft and edit legislature for the King to review, the authority to remove government officials from a position of power with a fair trial, as well as the ability to suggest potential members for the King's Court.”
After reviewing the terms that the Constitutional Convention had agreed upon prior, Berengar once more gazed over to see if there were any dissenting views. Yet again, not a single man present raised a voice of objection to the terms proposed. Having gained the consent of the various members of society present, Berengar began to address the Executive Branch of government.
”As for the Executive Branch of Government, I will reiterate the consensus that was previously agreed upon throughout our deliberations.
The King of Austria shall be head of the government; he will preside over the House of Commons and Lords, where he will have the power to sign bills into law, declare war, and oversee treaties. The Crown of Austria shall receive the title of Reichsmarschall, where he is the de-facto commander-in-chief of Austria's Armed Forces.