Parliament of the Empire of Zardugal

The Congress of Zardugal is the unicameral legislature of national government the Federation of Zardugal, responsible for the exercise of all federal law-making powers within the Zardic nation. Its second major power derives from the fact that the Cabinet must have the confidence of the Congress. By convention, the members of the Cabinet are also members of the Congress. Additionally, the members of the opposition have to power to scrutinise the actions of the Government during Prime Minister's Questions.

It currently comprises 750 popularly elected members, with each of Zardugal's States electing a delegation of 150 members to represent it. Members are elected for the duration of one term of the Congress, which lasts for a maximum of three years. However, early elections can be called prior to the expiration of the current term. Every seat is up for election at elections, which are traditionally held of the second Saturday of the month.

The Congress is presided over by the Speaker, who is generally but not always a member of the Government, but acts in a largely impartial, non-partisan role. It meets in the Congress Building in Belgae, the Capital of Zardugal.

All though the nation of Zardugal has existed since 2119, the Congress is a relatively young body and is merely the latest in a series of national legislatures. It was created by the Federalist Party with the Congress Act of 3302, which abolished the 600-member National Directorate (which had been Zardugal's legislature for over 1,000 years) and replaced it with a 400-member Congress. The number of members was later increased to 650 and then 750 in 3327.

To date, 18 Congresses have been elected by the citizens of the Federation, with the most recent election taking place in February 3347. For the first 18 years after its creation until 3320, the Congress was a single-party chamber dominated by the Federalist Party (except for the 3314 - 3317 period, when the National Republican Front was the only party represented). Since then, it has been a democratic and multi-party chamber.

List of Congresses
Parties in government are in bold.

State Assemblies
The States have their own legislatures, the State Assemblies, which are very similar to the Congress. In their respective States, the Assemblies have the sole power to create, amend and repeal legislation, and also have the power to appoint and dismiss the Cabinet, led by the Chief Minister. Each State Assembly has 400 members; they are elected on the same day as the members of the Congress.