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Every four years, in May/June, by two rounds of voting across the country, the population decides to entrust the government to a Party;
- its leader who becomes the Prime Minister;
- its team;
- and its plan.
Any group of citizens can constitute a "party" and propose a concrete plan of the country's government for this four-year period. In order to guarantee its seriousness, a party is only recognized if it provides:
- 1000 sworn signatures
- and a 25 000$ deposit.
The party's proposed plan must be precise in terms of its goals and objectives, the programs to be implemented, the budgets required by ministries and programs, the revenues expected as taxes to meet these objectives, and other pertinent details pertaining to the achievement of this plan.
The party must identify its team, usually composed of high-level experts, each a specialist in the field for which he will take responsibility within the government.
The electoral campaign starts off on the first Monday in May with the publishing in every newspaper, at the State's expenses, of each of the recognized parties' plan as well as a resume of each party's team member. Every recognised party also enjoys, at state expenses, the privilege of equal radio and television time in addition to free postal distribution to every household in the country, of its plan and the qualifications of its team members. One or more televised debates allow for the party leaders to confront each other.
The media can comment on the parties's plans, but must in each case provide the party on whose plans they are commenting with proper response time. No publicity is tolerated.
- 14 days before the campaign starts, a first round of voting takes place. Unless there is an absolute majority declared, a second round of voting, 14 days later, allows to choose between the two parties having gathered the most votes. This 2-round voting is standard in France and in many other countries.
- Simultaneously, along with the election of the government, the election of one deputy or repreentative for each electoral riding takes place. Because his task will be to verify that the Government fulfills its mandate, the deputy cannot therefore belong to any party; he has to be elected on the basis of his experience and credibility within his riding. The candidates' qualifications are sent postal-free to all households and published at state expense at the beginning of the campaign in all the newspapers in their riding. A 2-round voting also permits the proper allocation of votes.
- The elected deputies (representatives) constitute the Assembly. Through three rounds of voting, they choose a President, who may or may not be an elected member of the Assembly. The first round is completlely open to all, without nominations, except for party team members. As such, the Assembly may designate a judge, a member of the clergy, or even an ex-politician...
The second round retains only the first ten candidates if there is a need to do so. The third round, if necessary, opposes the two candidates having gained the most votes at the secound round.
The President represents legitimacy. He assumes the honorary role of a " Governor General" except for an interim period when the government is recalled, or in time of serious crisis, when at the Assembly's request. he may be invested with real powers for a limited period of time.
The Assembly's role is to legislate the laws proposed by the Government, while ensuring that these are in accordance with the plan that was submitted to the population who elected this government. The Assembly must also direct the Government's actions by accepting or rejecting the propositions which are presented in response to unforeseen situations in the plan. Once a month, each Minister in turn and finally the Prime Minister himself must appear before the Assembly, report on his activities, answer questions from the deputies, and propose such laws that will provide the application of the plan within his field of competence: the plan which incorporates the goals that the people has chosen. A law which is proposed during one month is voted on the following month.
The Assembly may declare itself unsatisfied with the activities of a Minister who does not diligently fulfill his responsibilities. This latter is allowed one nmonth to correct the situation; should the Assembly still be unsatisfied, this Minister must be replaced by the Prime Minister within the next three days. Should it be the Prime Minister who is twice disavowed, the Government is revoked and a new election takes place. The President then ensures the interim and the electoral process begins two weeks later; the party having held power previously is free to return in front of the electorate with a modified or reformulated plan.
However, the Government can only be revoked if it cannot fulfill the plan for which the party obligated itself. Should the Prime Minister contest this judgement from the Assembly, it is the tribunal of last instance the Supreme Court or its equivalent who will render its decision within the next 7 days following the dismissal.
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