Legislative Yuan

[Alexander]

Legislative Yuan of the Celestial Empire (天朝立法院)
​

The Legislative Yuan is the supreme law-making authority of the realm. It is strictly bicameral and perfectly symmetrical in ordinary legislation.

A bill becomes law only if:

1. Passed by the People’s Yuan
2. Passed by the Prefectural Yuan
3. Signed by the Empress

There is no legislative override of an imperial veto.

I. Composition of the Legislature​

Chamber	Basis	Seats
People’s Yuan	Population	1,414
Prefectural Yuan	Territorial representation	776
Total	—	2,204

As the goal of the Celestial Empire is the reunification of all China, the Constitution provides provisions for the addition of new seats upon the unification with Taiwan.

II. Legislative Competence​

The Legislative Yuan has authority over:

• Civil and criminal law
• Taxation and budget (People's Yuan initiates)
• Administrative structure
• Intergovernmental finance
• Ratification of international treaties (Prefectural Yuan only, People's Yuan Advices)
• National emergency statutes

All ordinary legislation requires approval of both houses.

III. Legislative Process​

Ordinary Legislation​

Bill Introduction​

• Bills may originate in either chamber.

Passage​

• Simple majority in each chamber.
• Amendments require concurrence.
• Disputes resolved by a Joint Mediation Committee (equal membership).
• Failure to agree → bill fails.

Imperial Assent​

After passage:
The Empress may:

• Sign → law promulgated
• Refuse assent (veto) → bill fails absolutely

Taxation and Budget Legislation​

Bill Introduction​

• Bills originate in People's Yuan

Passage​

• Simple majority in People's Yuan
• Amendments can only be passed by the People's Yuan
• Upon passage in the People's Yuan, the bill is introduced into the Prefectural Yuan.
• The Prefectural Yuan can vote to pass the bill in its entirety.
• If not passed by the Prefectural Yuan, it must provide recommended amendments to the People's Yuan.
• If the Prefectural Yuan does not approve of the Bill within three months of the passage of the initial bill in the People's Yuan → bill automatically succeeds.

Imperial Assent​

After passage:
The Empress may:

• Sign → law promulgated
• Refuse assent (veto) → bill fails absolutely

Treaty Ratification​

Bill Introduction​

• Bills are introduced by the Dragon Throne through the Minister of the Outer Realms.

Passage​

• Simple majority in Prefectural Yuan.
• Prior to voting on passage, the People's Yuan provides a voting recommendation through a simple majority.

Imperial Assent​

After passage:
The Empress may:

• Sign → treaty ratified
• Refuse assent (veto) → treaty not ratified

 

[Alexander]

Prefectural Yuan
​

The Prefectural Yuan serves a role similar to the Upper House/Chamber in other Parliamentary systems, each prefecture within the Celestial Empire has a right to occupy two seats in the Prefectural Yuan. In all ordinary legislation the Prefectural Yuan can introduce legislation and must pass legislation passed by the People's Yuan before it can be passed to the Empress for her signature or veto. The Prefectural Yuan must ratify treaties before they can enter into effect.

I. Composition of the Prefectural Yuan​

Province-Level Division	Prefectures	Seats (×2)
Anhui	16	32
Beijing	16	32
Chongqing	16	32
Fujian	9	18
Gansu	14	28
Guangdong	21	42
Guangxi	14	28
Guizhou	9	18
Hainan	4	8
Hebei	11	22
Heilongjiang	13	26
Henan	17	34
Hong Kong	16	32
Hubei	13	26
Hunan	14	28
Inner Mongolia	12	24
Jiangsu	13	26
Jiangxi	11	22
Jilin	9	18
Liaoning	14	28
Macau	16	32
Ningxia	5	10
Qinghai	8	16
Shaanxi	10	20
Shandong	16	32
Shanghai	16	32
Shanxi	11	22
Sichuan	21	42
Tianjin	16	32
Tibet	7	14
Xinjiang	14	28
Yunnan	16	32
Zhejiang	11	22
Total	388	776

II. Electoral System​

Seats for the Prefectural Yuan are elected using the first-past-the-post electoral system. Elections take place every four years.

III. First Prefectural Yuan​

Election Date: 2008/05/01
Next Election: 2012/05/01
Turn-Out: 86%

Party	Seats	Percentage Prefectures	Percentage Popular Vote
Dragon Party*	410	52.8%
Republican Party	130	16.8%
Communist Party	68	8.8%
Kuomintang*	62	8%
White Crane Society	35	4.5%
Jiusan Society*	29	3.7%
Turkestan Party	28	3.6%	1.8%
Tibetan Unity Society	14	1.8%	0.3%

*: Party is part of the governing coalition

 

[Alexander]

People's Yuan
​

The People's Yuan serves a role similar to the Lower House/Chamber in other Parliamentary systems, each province is assigned seats proportional to its population where every 1 million population grants 1 seat. To prevent the larger provinces completely dominating the smallest ones, a seat number floor equal to 20% of the amount of seats assigned to the largest province. The seats are assigned to the provinces every first year of the decade. In 2008 the floor was 25 seats. In all ordinary legislation the People's Yuan can introduce legislation and must pass legislation passed by the People's Yuan before it can be passed to the Empress for her signature or veto. The People's Yuan has the initiative on taxation and budget legislation, and can bypass the Prefectural Yuan on this topic if the latter does not pass the People's Yuan proposal within three months.

I. Composition of the Prefectural Yuan​

Province-Level Division	Approx. Population (millions)	Seats
Anhui	61	61
Beijing	22	25
Chongqing	32	32
Fujian	41	41
Gansu	25	25
Guangdong	126	126
Guangxi	50	50
Guizhou	39	39
Hainan	10	25
Hebei	74	74
Heilongjiang	31	31
Henan	99	99
Hong Kong	7.5	25
Hubei	58	58
Hunan	66	66
Inner Mongolia	24	25
Jiangsu	85	85
Jiangxi	45	45
Jilin	24	25
Liaoning	42	42
Macau	0.7	25
Ningxia	7	25
Qinghai	6	25
Shaanxi	39	39
Shandong	101	101
Shanghai	25	25
Shanxi	35	35
Sichuan	84	84
Tianjin	14	25
Tibet	3.6	25
Xinjiang	25	25
Yunnan	48	48
Zhejiang	66	66
Total		1,414

II. Electoral System​

Seats for the People's Yuan are elected using the open party list proportional representation system. Elections take place every two years.

III. First People's Yuan​

Election Date: 2008/05/01
Next Election: 2010/05/01
Turn-Out: 86%

Party	Seats
Dragon Party*	860
Republican Party	220
Communist Party	90
Kuomintang*	83
White Crane Society	60
Jiusan Society*	51
Turkestan Party	25
Tibetan Unity Society	25

*: Party is part of the governing coalition