Dáil Éireann (Irish Free State)

From 1922-1937 Dáil Éireann was the directly elected lower house of parliament ( Oireachtas ) of the Irish Free State. The Constitution of the Free State describes the role of the House as the " House of Representatives ". By 1936, the Oireachtas was still an upper house, the Seanad Éireann (Senate ) on. Like the current Irish House, the Dáil at that time was the dominant power of the legislature; it had carried forward the possibility of virtually every law. Furthermore, the Dáil was able to use and dismiss the President of the Executive Council of the Free State. The Free States - House was disbanded with the creation of the "modern" Dáil Éireann under the Constitution of the Irish Republic in 1937. Both the Dáil and the Senate gathered at Leinster House in Dublin.

Composition

According to the Constitution of the Free State could any citizen at least 21 years old, no criminal or Senate member, was to become a member of the lower house. For much of the period of the Irish Free State, there was also a ( controversial ) passage in the Constitution, which included an oath of all members of the Oireachtas to the free states Makeup as well as the king. In 1936 this obligation was removed from the Constitution.

The House of Commons at the time, as though still could choose any resident who was 21 years of age. The constitution prescribed a maximum term of 4 years, unless by law would set a shorter maximum time. But the four years 1927, were increased to a maximum constitutional legislative period of 6 years and limited by law to 5 years. The Dáil itself would theoretically can be dissolved by the British king, on the advice of the Executive Council at any time.

The Free States Constitution saw for election to the Dáil before the electoral system so that the single transferable vote system was used. During 1937 each election district could occupy a maximum of 5 seats in the lower house, there was during the Free State electoral districts with 6, 7 or 8 seats. Galway city forgave even 9 seats. In addition to the geographically defined constituencies, there were also two university constituencies, each posted three parliamentarians. Within these constituencies everyone could choose, who had achieved a degree in the university - these people were, however, excluded from the election in their constituency is actually responsible. In 1936 the university constituencies were abolished by constitutional and legislative change.

Powers

The Free States Constitution ago wrote that the President of the Executive Council is appointed by the king, by the establishment of the Dáil and that the Executive Council must resign as a whole, if he loses the support of the House. In practice, this meant that the president was elected by the Dáil and that the Dáil could dissolve the Cabinet by a motion of censure or an unsuccessful confidence. A constitutional amendment in 1936 removed the role of the king of this system, and thus ensured that was elected in the last month of the Free State, the President directly by the House, rather than only be proposed by him.

Legislative proposals had theoretically both the lower - and the upper house of the Oireachtas agree to obtain the signature of the king and to become law. In reality, the House decided which proposals for laws were, as the upper house only had the power to delay a law.

During the first years of the Free State there was the theoretical possibility that the king, or the Governor-General on behalf of the king, against decisions of the Oireachtas to wield a veto or dissolve the Executive Council against the will of the House altogether. By a law in 1927, the British government but lost the right to have a say regarding the Irish Free State and so was the possibility that the Governor-General shall act without the consent of the British government institutions is very low.

In contrast to lower houses at the present time, the Dáil had to explain by the Constitution no power war - this was just the Oireachtas allowed a whole. However, this restriction was not really important, but the House of Commons in the course of the Free State becoming the dominant power of Parliament was, and was able to virtually change the constitution at any time desired.

History

From 1919 to 1922, the Dáil had only the title of a revolutionary unilaterally declared Parliament, which was built by Irish nationalists.

The first and second Dáil existed outside of British laws and was never recognized. Only the Third Dáil was elected under the Anglo- Irish Treaty as a constitutional assembly and should pave addition to the approval of the contract, the path for the Free State. Since the entry into force of the Constitution of the Irish Free State not lower house was elected, took over temporarily the Dáil this task. The first Dáil of the Irish Free State was elected on 27 August 1923 and is valid - according to Irish politics history - as the 4th ( Fourth ) Dáil.

Resolution

On 29 December 1937, the Irish Constitution came into force, founding what is now known Irish Republic. The new constitution was adopted on July 1st of the same year by referendum. On the same day ( 9 ) Dáil was elected. This was so from July to December, the lower house of the Irish Free State and then to the lower house of the legislature within the new Irish Republic.