The National Forum of Deltaria

The composition and powers of the Forum are established in Article One of the Constitution. The major power of the Forum is to pass federal legislation that affects the entire country. although its bills must also be agreed by the President before becoming law (unless both the Forum re-pass the legislation with a two-thirds majority). Each state receives representation in the Forum in proportion to its population but is entitled to at least one representative. The most populous state, Darali, currently has 61 representatives. The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 256. Each representative serves for a five-year term. The Speaker of the Forum, traditionally the leader of the majority party, is the presiding officer of the chamber, elected by the members of the Forum.

The Constitution grants the Forum several exclusive powers: the power to initiate revenue bills, to impeach officials, and to elect the President in case of an Electoral College deadlock.

The Forum meets in the south wing of the Huston Albraight Hall.

Apportionment
Under Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution, seats in the National Forum are apportioned among the provinces by population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years. Each province, however, is entitled to at least one Representative.

The only constitutional rule relating to the size of the Forum says: "The Number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every fifthy Thousand." President regularly increased the size of the Forum to account for population growth until it fixed the number of voting Forum members at 256 in 3074.

Redistricting
Provinces that are entitled to more than one Representative are divided into single-member districts. This has been a federal statutory requirement since 2057. Prior to that law, general ticket representation was used by some provinces. Typically, provinces redraw these district lines (see redistricting) after each census, though they may do so at other times. Each province determines its own district boundaries, either through legislation or through non-partisan panels. "Malapportionment" is unconstitutional and districts must be approximately equal in population. The Voting Rights Act prohibits provinces from "gerrymandering" districts to reduce racial minorities' voting power.

Qualifications
Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution sets three qualifications for representatives. Each representative must: (1) be at least twenty years old; (2) have been a citizen of the Federal Republic of Deltaria for the past seven years; and (3) be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the province they represent.

The constitutional requirements of Article I, Section 2 for election to Forum are the maximum requirements that can be imposed on a candidate. Therefore, Article I, Section 5, which permits Forum to be the judge of the qualifications of its own members.

Disqualification. Under the Fourteenth Amendment, a federal or province officer who takes the requisite oath to support the Constitution, but later engages in rebellion or aids the enemies of the Deltaria, is disqualified from becoming a representative. This post-Civil War provision was intended to prevent those who sided with the Confederacy from serving. However, disqualified individuals may serve if they gain the consent of two-thirds of Forum.