Chamber of Emissaries (Cartadania)
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Chamber of Emissaries | |
|---|---|
| 158th Cartadanian National Congress | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | Lower house of the National Congress |
Term limits | None |
| History | |
New session started | 2 December 2024 |
| Leadership | |
Vítor Cabello (SDP) since 17 January 2025 | |
Majority Leader | Roberto Flores (SDP) since 17 January 2025 |
Minority Leader | Ernest Edán (UCP) since 17 January 2025 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 500 251 for a majority |
 | |
Political groups | Majority
SDP (264)
Minority UCP (199)
PRS (12)
PP (8)
CEN (5)
MDL (4)
HMN (2)
LBR (2)
ADC (1)
CTZ (1)
FDS (1)
VAM (1) |
Length of term | 2 years |
| Authority | Article 4, Cartadanian Constitution |
| Elections | |
Last election | 1 October 2024 (38 seats) |
Next election | 6 October 2026 (38 seats) |
| Redistricting | State legislatures or redistricting commissions, varies by state |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Emissary Hall Cartadanian Capitol Alahuela Cartadania | |
| Website | |
| emissarios | |
The Chamber of Emissaries is the lower house of the National Congress. The Chamber convenes, along with the Senate, at the Cartadanian Capitol in Alahuela. Together with the Senate, the upper house, it forms the national bicameral legislature of Cartadania.
The composition and powers of the Chamber are established by the fourth article of Cartadania's Constitution. The Chamber is composed of emissaries (representatives) who sit in congressional districts which are allocated to each of the 31 states, six territories, and capital city on a basis of population as measured by the Census, with each district entitled one emissary at minimum. Since its inception in 1680, all emissaries are elected popularly. The total number of voting emissaries is now fixed by law at no more than 500, down from the previous cap of 550 due to apportionment changes. As of the 2030 Census, the largest delegation is that of Verona, with 100 emissaries; the smallest is that of the state of Lipora, and six of the eight territories (Alahuela and Santa Domenica both have three), with one emissary each.
The Chamber is charged with the passage of federal legislation, known as bills, which, after concurrence by the Senate, are sent to the President for consideration. In addition to this basic power, the Chamber has certain exclusive powers which include the power to initiate all bills related to revenue, the impeachment of federal officers, who are sent to trial in the Senate, and in cases wherein no candidate receives a majority of electors for President, the duty falls upon the Chamber to elect one of the top three recipients of electors for that office, with one vote given to each state and territory for that purpose.
The presiding officer is the Orator Princeps, who is elected by the members thereof and is therefore traditionally the leader of the controlling party. He or she and other floor leaders are chosen by the Social Democracy Caucus or the Conservative Conferences, depending on whichever party has more voting members. The Chamber meets in the south wing of the Cartadanian Capitol, known as Emissary Hall.