The Diet of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

The Kingdom of the Jerusalem is a kingdom, but it is not the kingdom of a king alone. Legislative power is exercised by the citizens through their elected representatives. For this purpose, the Diet convenes, where the voice of the citizens of the kingdom is transformed into laws, decisions and shared responsibility.

The Diet, alongside the King and the Council of State, forms the third central part of the kingdom's administration. Their task is not only to enact laws, but also to supervise how the kingdom is governed and how common funds are used.

Twenty representatives elected by the citizens

Twenty representatives are elected to the Diet annually by direct and secret ballot. All adult citizens of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, regardless of gender, have the right to vote.

Elections are held annually in May. Any citizen with the right to vote may also stand as a candidate, unless their position is such that membership in the Diet could jeopardize the independence of the various branches of the administration. For this reason, for example, the highest civil servants of the kingdom, judges, ambassadors and members of the General Staff of the Armed Forces cannot serve as representatives of the Diet.

A representative elected to the Diet does not only represent his or her own supporters, but the entire kingdom. The position is a position of trust and at the same time a duty. The elected representative is expected to accept his or her seat unless he or she has a serious impediment.

The Diet meets twice a year

The Diet usually meets twice a year: in the first week of January and June. If necessary, the King may also convene it at other times.

At the beginning of a session, the King opens the Diet with a speech. In it, he presents the state of the kingdom and the issues to which he wishes the representatives to pay attention. After the opening speech, the Diet begins to deal independently with the matters that fall within its jurisdiction.

The members of the Council of State have the right to participate in the sessions and present proposals, but they cannot vote. The power of decision rests with the representatives elected by the citizens.

The Diet elects a chairman and a secretary from among its members. The adoption of ordinary decisions requires the presence of at least half of the representatives. Amending the Constitution requires wider participation and stronger consensus.

Enacting laws

A bill may be submitted to the Diet for consideration by either a member of the Diet or a member of the Council of State. However, the bill is not adopted as such, but is first sent to the Law Commission for preparation.

The task of the Law Commission is to examine the bill, clarify its content and formulate it in such a way that it can be enacted as a general law. After this, the bill is returned to the Diet, which can approve or reject it.

A law passed by the Diet is sent to the King for confirmation. When the King signs the law, it enters into force.

The King has the right to return the law to the Diet if he does not consider its adoption appropriate. However, this does not give the monarch unlimited right to prevent the will of the citizens' representatives. If the Diet repeatedly adopts the same law and considers it necessary for the security of the realm, the legal security or the well-being of the citizens, the law can be brought into force by a qualified majority even without the King's confirmation.

In this way, the enactment of law is based on consideration, dialogue and a balance of power. The King does not rule without the Diet, but the Diet does not operate independently of the Crown either.

The Diet guards the common good

The tasks of the Diet extend far beyond individual laws. They decide on taxes, customs duties and other public payments and allocate funds for the government's expenses.

The Diet supervise the use of state funds, inspect civil servants' salaries and pensions, and appoint auditors to examine the state's accounting. Government borrowing is also up to them to decide.

The representatives can examine the decisions of the Council of State and the agreements concluded in the king's name with other states. They can summon almost anyone who has knowledge about managing the common affairs of the kingdom. However, the king himself is not obliged to appear before the Diet.

The Diet also decide on granting citizenship to foreigners. Citizenship is thus not only an endorsement of the ruler, but a decision made in the name of the entire kingdom.

The Crown and the People are side by side

The Diet of the Kingdom of Jerusalem is not based on the idea of ​​a confrontation between the king and the people. Its purpose is to bring the crown, the government of the kingdom and the representatives of the citizens to the same table.

The king represents the continuity, dignity and historical heritage of the kingdom. The Diet, in turn, brings the experiences, views and needs of the citizens to the administration. The Council of State takes care of the preparation of decisions and the practical administration.

None of these alone constitute the kingdom. The kingdom is born from the cooperation between them.

When the law is finally confirmed, it is published in the name of the king and provided with the royal seal. However, it is not only the signature and seal of the monarch, but also the consideration and decision of the representatives elected by the citizens.

The Diet is thus a place where the citizens of the Kingdom of Jerusalem participate in building their common future – not against the crown, but together with it.