Continental Army

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====== The House of Representatives ======
The House of Representatives (HOR) was established by [[people:BellaviaCyn|BellaviaCyn]] during his tenure as MGEN under [[people:PlatinumGideon|PlatinumGideon]]. With the approval and support of PlatinumGideon, the concept of the House became a functioning reality. The initial iteration of the House was minimal in scope, governed by only a few fundamental rules. These included the Senate retaining veto power over House decisions, the Speaker of the House (SOTH) holding authority to determine who may propose legislation, and the SOTH also being responsible for shaping the first version of the House.

The first official Speaker elections were won by StopSxmpin, who assumed the role of Speaker. During his leadership, the House of Representatives had limited influence and legislative activity. An attempt was made to establish a formal Constitution for the House, but this proposal was ultimately denied by HQ. StopSxmpin’s tenure as Speaker was short-lived; he was impeached by the House on grounds of restricting freedom of speech and failing to provide active leadership.

**Creation of the Deputy Speaker Role**

As the House was nearing collapse, [[people:Zamalamamoemoe123|Zamalamamoemoe123]] stepped up and began hosting emergency meetings aimed at replacing the Speaker. Shortly afterward, he was appointed by PlatinumGideon to become the first Deputy Speaker the House had ever seen. The Deputy Speaker role was created as an emergency provision, meant to ensure that re-elections for the Speaker of the House (SOTH) could be organized in case the Speaker position became vacant. Zama led the House Emergency Elections and ultimately secured the Speaker position himself through that very process.

**Creation of the Presidium**

Following his election, Zama spearheaded a wave of reforms in collaboration with the House. One of the first and most impactful changes was the extension of bill creation rights to all Representatives, paired with the guarantee of freedom of speech within the chamber. Under Zama's initiative and with the support of the House, [[Institutions:Hicom Academy|The Hicom Academy (HA)]] was also founded, aimed at educating and preparing members for higher leadership roles. His term was marked by significant structural improvements and revitalization of House activity.

After approximately a month of leadership, Zama conducted the mandatory Representative re-elections. The elections proceeded without any major conflicts or disruptions. Several existing Representatives were re-elected, including [[people:OurCommandant|OurCommandant]] and SouthernVoice, while newcomers such as Cardshark also joined the legislative ranks. In the following term, the House passed a bill establishing the Presidium, a governing body within the House composed of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and two Secretaries.

The Secretaries were tasked with administrative responsibilities, while the Deputy Speaker operated as the executive officer of the House. The Speaker maintained the role of commanding officer and also acted as the primary liaison between the House and HQ. Though often unrecognized, the Speaker’s role extended beyond presiding over meetings — it involved defending House legislation, pushing back against Senate vetoes, and safeguarding community interests. This often led to political clashes, and strategic alliances had to be formed. Zama, alongside [[people:Jatsby|Jatsby]], led the effort to protect the House and its legitimacy in the face of these challenges.

**First Presidium Members & Issues**

The first elected Deputy Speaker following the formalization of the role was [[people:EmikkrKosmos|EmikkrKosmos]], known for his enthusiasm, activity, and welcoming nature. He became a central figure in encouraging engagement within the House. The first elected Secretary, was Notorious. 

**House Issues**

However, as time went on, the inherent limitations of the House of Representatives became increasingly evident. Despite all its reforms and active members, the Senate’s overarching veto power rendered the House effectively powerless in many cases. For some, the House began to appear less like a legislative force and more like a forum for proposing suggestions, lacking the actual authority to enact change.

**Statewide Elections for Speaker Office**

After about three months of Zama's leadership, statewide elections were held once again for the Speaker of the House (SOTH) position. Naturally, Zama sought re-election and launched a campaign to retain his role. This time, his main opponent was Billysilly, sparking a competitive campaign period. However, Billy was forced to withdraw from the race due to a personal emergency, effectively clearing the path for Zama to secure another term as Speaker.

Zama's second term began without major issues and was marked by continuity and stability. Emikkr, who had served loyally as Deputy Speaker, chose to step down from his position. In his place, GoldKnight was elected, bringing a fresh dynamic to House leadership. Under this new configuration, a number of bills were passed, including key legislation related to ML announcements, which improved communication channels within the political structure.

In addition to legislative successes, more structural and procedural reforms were implemented, further shaping the identity and function of the House. The second term of Zama was defined by steady governance, consistent engagement from Representatives, and further institutionalization of House practices. The leadership of both Zama and GoldKnight during this period helped sustain the momentum the House had built, despite the continued overarching limitations imposed by the Senate’s veto power.

**The Decline of the House**

Zama stepped down approximately two weeks before the official end of his second term, concluding nearly six consecutive months of leadership over the House. His resignation precluded the need for another round of Speaker elections. In the wake of his departure, GoldKnight was appointed to oversee emergency elections, which ultimately resulted in Hvallet assuming the position of Speaker.

Hvallet's term, however, was marked by a steady decline in House activity. As the Representatives increasingly recognized the paralyzing weight of the Senate’s veto authority, many began to lose motivation to remain active or propose new legislation. This disenchantment translated into diminishing participation, with Hvallet often facing meetings attended by only five Representatives — a far cry from the expected twenty. Despite his efforts to sustain momentum, the House struggled to maintain relevance and engagement during his leadership.

**The Closure of the House**

Following the conclusion of Hvallet’s term, the Senate took unprecedented action by directly appointing a new Speaker, bypassing the standard electoral process. DeathKalinius, who had never served in the House prior, was placed in the role. In an aggressive move to reboot House activity, he dismissed all current Representatives in an attempt to rebuild the chamber from scratch.

This controversial decision came at a time of major structural reform within HQ itself. [[people:BellaviaCyn|BellaviaCyn]] was succeeded by [[people:RelevantTyrant|RelevantTyrant]], who initiated a referendum among the Continental Army (CA) to determine the future of the House. With the House weakened, disorganized, and stripped of its Representatives, DeathKalinius found himself unable to defend the institution. The referendum sealed its fate, and the House of Representatives was formally dissolved — bringing an end to one of the most ambitious democratic experiments the system had seen.

**Need for Revival**

After a long hiatus without the House, the new HQ under the leadership of Relevantbellavia began facing growing challenges with community engagement and role play. Recognizing the need for a structured democratic body, Relevant — together with C_ammo — initiated resolution talks with former Speaker of the House (SOTH), Zamalamamoemoe123, to explore the possibility of reviving the institution. Zama agreed to the idea and formally launched what would become known as Project Democracy.

**Project Democracy**

Led by Zama, Project Democracy received key support from both Billysilly and Subject. Subject contributed heavily to the development framework, including the creation of a new House-based game, while Billysilly provided crucial feedback and structural insight that helped shape the foundations of a modernized House. Once political opponents, Zama and Billysilly had now joined forces with mutual respect, working as colleagues to restore the House.

As part of Project Democracy, Zama established an interim Presidium composed of Billysilly as Deputy Speaker, Subject as Secretary, and ThatPrussian as a secondary Secretary. One of the core principles of Project Democracy was to eliminate the influence of HQ over the House’s affairs — in particular, permanently revoking HQ's veto powers. The project also significantly expanded the House’s size, increasing its capacity from 20 to 50 members (excluding Senate, including the Presidium).

Furthermore, Project Democracy introduced three new institutional roles designed to increase engagement and streamline operations: Chairmen, Commission Members, and Opposition Members. Chairmen would lead legislative initiatives within their regiments, Commission Members would collaborate on bill creation with the Chairmen, and Opposition Members would serve as critical voices to scrutinize and challenge proposed legislation. The addition of these roles contributed to a more robust and efficient legislative body.

**Officially Revived**

However, despite Project Democracy’s progress, Relevant never gave formal approval for the House to be re-established. Following a coup within HQ, Bell came to power and conducted a referendum, which resulted in widespread support for bringing the House back. Zama once again applied for the position of SOTH — and was officially appointed under the new ownership of Bell. What once began as a covert reform initiative now became a fully sanctioned revival.

Unfortunately, before the House could be formally relaunched, both Subject and Billysilly stepped down from their positions. To fill the leadership vacuum, Hvallet — a former Speaker — was selected as the new Deputy Speaker, while PrimeKalinius was appointed as Secretary, replacing Subject.

**The Modern House of Representatives**

Under this new Presidium, the revitalized House was officially established. Drawing on the legacy and reforms of past Representatives, the current House introduced a reworked legislative process, a permanent ban on veto powers, and an expanded structure that fostered greater community participation. With renewed energy and institutional integrity, the modern House of Representatives emerged as more active and impactful than ever before.

The dream of democracy, once lost, was reborn — and with it, the hope that the people would forever have a voice in shaping their community.