Porongurup Congress
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The Porongurup Congress is the legislative and governmental body of the State of Porongurup. It is an elected body of 36 (or 37) Delegates or Members who meet several times a month in the Old Post Office building in Albany.
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Election of Delegates
The State of Porongurup is divided into a number of Electorates or Seats based around settlements, each of which votes once a year to elect a number of Delegates to send to Congress. The number of Delegates is based on population with a rough correlation of one Delegate per 500 citizens (Albany is an exception with only four delegates - a limit intended to control its already powerful influence over state affairs). The Porongurup Rangers also send four Delegates to Congress.
Each settlement chooses its delegates as it sees fit. Smaller settlements often rely on a show of hands, larger settlements such as Mount Barker and Albany organise ballots. The minimum voting age throughout the state is 16 and participation is voluntary, however the Porongurup populace are highly motivated to have their voices heard and voter turnout is usually in the high eighties or low nineties by percentage of eligible voters.
If a Delegate is unable to or no longer wishes to carry out their duties a Snap Election is held to replace them.
Recall of Delegates
A Delegate can be recalled from Congress by a majority vote of no confidence within their Electorate. If they cannot convince the voters to restore their status, a Snap Election is held to elect a new Delegate.
Permanent Delegates
The Congress includes five non-elected or Permanent Delegates. These are the official Ambassadors from the four other Southern States and the Commander of the Porongurup Rangers. Two of the Porongurup Rangers' seats are traditionally assigned to the appointed positions of the Commander of the Mount Clarance Radar Station and the Commanding Officer of the Mount Barker Garrison. Two elected positions within the State - the Mayorships of Albany and Mount Barker - come with seats in Congress.
Senators and Advisors
Congress has the power to appoint additional persons to itself in the form of Senators and Advisors. A Senator is a citizen whose knowledge, wisdom or accomplishments are so highly regarded that they are given an unelected seat in Congress. This seat comes with full voting rights and is usually held for life - although a Senator can be removed from their position by a vote of the full Congress. There are currently no Senators in the Porongurup Congress.
An Advisor is an expert in a particular field or issue appointed to assist Congress in a time of crisis. An Advisor is a full member of Congress with full voting rights, but serve only until the crisis is judged over. There are currently no Advisors in the Porongurup Congress.
Function of Congress
A suggestion for legislation or concerning other matters can be introduced to Congress in the form of a Motion by any Delegate with the exception of the Ambassadors. A Motion must be seconded by another Delegate before it can debated and voted on. When a vote is called all Delegates - including the Ambassadors - have a single vote. Any Delegate may abstain from voting, an option most often exercised by the Ambassadors who traditionally keep out of internal state business.
Motions must achieve a two thirds majority of the entire Congress (including abstainers) to pass. Successful Motions may be vetoed by a seven vs two majority vote from the Congressional Council, although this rarely occurs.
The Congressional Council and the Speaker
The nine member Congressional Council is made up of two Permanent and seven Rotating Delegates. The Commander of the Porongurup Rangers is always a member of the Council, as is the Delegate from Frenchman Bay. The other seven members are elected by the Congress for six month periods. No Delegate may serve two or more consecutive terms on the Council without a unanimous vote from all Delegates.
One of the positions on the Council is reserved for a Delegate from Albany, and another for a Delegate from Mt Barker. Ambassadors from other States may not serve on the Congressional Council.
Every six months the Council elects one of its members to serve as Speaker of the Congress. The Speaker is charged with maintaining order and may have unruly delegates removed from the Congress Chamber or even detained. No Delegate may serve as Speaker for more than two consecutive terms without a unanimous vote from all Delegates.
The Right of Public Address
Under the Constitution of Porongurup State all citizens have the right to address Congress. This right is exercised by making an application at the Old Post Office detailing the applicant's name, place of residence and the issue they wish to address. They are then placed in the queue for the next public session.
Public sessions take place on the last Saturday of each month, with each applicant allocated half an hour to speak.
Congress is constitutionally prohibited from limiting the subjects addressed by applicants at Public Sessions. As a result Public Sessions are generally reckoned to be highly entertaining and the public gallery is usually packed.
List of Delegates
| Settlement | No. Delegates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albany | 4 | The Mayor of Albany is a Permanent Delegate. The other three Delegates are elected from Albany, Middleton and Emu Point. One seat on the Congressional Council is reserved for a Delegate from Albany. |
| Mount Barker | 3 | The Mayor of Mt Barker is a Permanent Delegate. One of the remaining Delegates is elected from the town, the other from the surrounding farms. One seat on the Congressional Council is reserved for a Delegate from Mt Barker. |
| King River | 2 | |
| Pagoda Point | 2 | |
| Porongurup | 2 | Porongurup's Electorate covers most of the Stirling Range. |
| Bakers Junction | 1 | |
| Bluff Creek | 1 | |
| Cheyne Beach | 1 | |
| Elleker | 1 | |
| Frenchman Bay | 1 | The Delegate from Frenchman Bay has a Permanent Seat on the Congressional Council |
| Kalgan | 1 | |
| Kendenup | 1 | |
| Manypeaks | 1 | |
| Nanarup | 1 | |
| Napier | 1 | |
| Narricup | 1 | |
| Porongurup East | 1 | |
| Redmond | 1 | |
| Tenterden | 1 | |
| Torbay | 1 | |
| Two Peoples Bay | 1 | |
| Porongurup Rangers | 4 | The Commander of the Rangers is a Permanent Delegate. The other three Seats are traditionally held by the Commanding Officer of the Mt Clarance Radar Station, the Commanding Officer of the Mount Barker garrison, and a representative elected by the troops. The Commander has a permanent seat on the Congressional Council. |
| State Ambassadors | 4 (3) | The Ambassadors from D'Entrecasteaux, Frankland and Denmark are Permanent Delegates. They have full voting rights but are bared from sitting on the Congressional Council. While a seat is reserved for a Pallinup Ambassador it is very rarely occupied. |
| Senators | 0 | There are currently no Senators in the Porongurup Congress. |
| Advisors | 0 | There are currently no Advisors in the Porongurup Congress. |
