Senäts

The Senäts ([sɛˈnæt͡s] ( )), or Senate, is the upper house of the Talossan legislature, the Ziu. Each province is represented by one Senator, and thus comprises eight seats.

History

The Senate was created by the 1997 Organic Law. Before the promulgation of that document, the Ziu consisted only of a single house (now termed the "lower house"), the Cosa. Therefore, the first Senate was the Senate for the 23rd Cosa.

Ever since changes ratified after the 35th Cosa, the King has been Organically barred from holding a place in the Senate, and indeed from entering the Senate chamber unless summoned there to provide testimony to a Senate commission. The consort of the King, and any regent during his or her regency also is forbidden from holding a seat in the Senate. Furthermore, no Senator may hold seats in the Cosa.

Powers

The powers of the Senate are equal to those of the Cosa, except that no bill appropriating revenue may have a Senator as its primary sponsor, and the Senate does not participate in the Vote of Confidence in the government.

The approval of a majority of the Senate to all legislation is required before royal assent can be sought. In the case of bills recommending referenda for the ratification of Organic amendments affecting those articles concerning the Senate itself, the process of amending Organic Law, or the territorial subdivisions of the Kingdom, a super-majority of two-thirds vote in the Senate is required.

The Senate also may pass resolutions without involvement of the Cosa, to commemorate events, create Senatorial commissions or honours, or grant those honours to specific persons. Two typical "Resolutions of the Senate" (RS) are the recommendation of a Chancellor of the Royal Talossan Bar to the King, and the awarding of the Senatorial Medal of Honour.

The Senate is led by a ceremonial "Lord President" or Mençei, elected by the Chamber from among its own members, who may resign or be removed by vote of the Chamber

Current Senate

The Senate for the 50th Cosa consists of eight members. Six were returned from the previous Senate; Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h won the open race for the Fiovan seat, and after the elections, Florencia's Governor appointed Ma la Mha after the incumbent's resignations. Two of the four races were contested, but neither produced a particularly close result.

No further vacancies arose during the term, so only Florencia's special election was added to the normally scheduled races during the next General Elections.

Magniloqueu Épiqeu da Lhiun was elected unopposed for a first term as Mençei.

Elections

Partisan changes in the 50th Senate by province.
Light red: FreeDem hold; Light green: RUMP hold; Light blue: MRPT hold; Dark gray not up

In addition to normally scheduled elections in Atatürk, Benito and Vuode, a special election was held in Fiovă to complete the remainder of Carlüs Xheráltescu's term. None of the seats changed hands except Fiovă's, which still remained under Free Democrat control.

Atatürk

In Atatürk, Sevastáin Pinátsch retained his seat and will therefore return to the Senate for a second term.

Atatürk Senate Election
	Sevastáin Pinátsch	8
	Brad Holmes	3
MRPT hold

Benito

In Benito, Lüc da Schir defended his seat by defeating Free Democrat opponent Iason Taiwos. da Schir will therefore hold the seat for a second term.

Benito Senate Election
	Lüc da Schir	12
	Iason Taiwos	5
	write-ins	1
MRPT hold

Fiovă

In Fiovă, Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h won the special election for Carlüs Xheráltescu's old seat unopposed.

Fiovă Special Senate Election
	Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h	unopposed
FreeDem hold

Vuode

In Vuode, Éovart Grischun defended his seat against Viteu Marcianüs. Trotxâ Betiñéir initially ran for his old seat as well, but pulled out of the race.

Vuode Senate Election
	Éovart Grischun	5
	Viteu Marcianüs	2
	write-ins	1
RUMP hold

Florencia

Shortly after the end of the General Election, Senator Pôl d'Aurìbuérg renounced his citizenship; Ma la Mha was appointed to the empty seat. His term would have ended in the next General Election anyway, so the election held concurrently to the 51st Cosa General Election will not be a special election.

Membership

Partisan control of the 50th Senate by province.

The members of the Senate for the 50th Cosa, listed in the order of the scheduled expiration of their terms, are:

Province	Senator							Senate Seat Contested
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Cézembre	Ián Anglatzarâ							for 51st Cosa
Florencia	Ma la Mha							for 51st Cosa
Maricopa	Munditenens Tresplet							for 51st Cosa
Fiovă	Gödafrïeu Válcadác'h							for 52nd Cosa
Maritiimi-Maxhestic	Magniloqueu Épiqeu da Lhiun							for 52nd Cosa
Benito	Lüc da Schir							for 52nd Cosa
Vuode	Éovart Grischun							for 53rd Cosa
Atatürk	Sevastáin Pinátsch							for 53rd Cosa

Election cycle

As reflected by the table below, at each general election, three Senators (out of the eight) are elected. This means that the term of office for each Senate seat is three Cosa-elections two times and two-Cosa-elections the third, repeating. That’s more-or-less 16 or 24 months to each Senatorial term. However, a Senator’s term may be shortened by early dissolutions of the Cosa or lengthened by no-business months inserted between Clarks [For full details, see the Organic Law Article IV: Election to the Senäts and Article V: Composition of the Senäts].

Cosa	Senate Seat Contested
48	Atatürk, Cézembre, Florencia
49	Maricopa, Fiova, Maritiimi-Maxhestic
50	Benito, Vuode, Atatürk
51	Cézembre, Florencia, Maricopa
52	Fiova, Maritiimi-Maxhestic, Benito
53	Vuode, Atatürk, Cézembre
54	Florencia, Maricopa, Fiova
55	Maritiimi-Maxhestic, Benito, Vuode

(The Election Cycle Then Repeats)