View source for The Partial Parliament of 3024

'''The Partial Parliament of 3024''', formally the '''First Parliament''' was the first ever [[Balancín Parliament]] ever summoned, following the creation of the [[Balancín Kingdoms]] in 3023. Summoned by King Maximilian II, the first Parliament quickly gained the nickname of "the Partial Parliament" owing to the fact that several legal structures required for the selection of certain members hadn't been established by this point. Big sections of the General Court could not be appointed, including those elected by the general citizenry, as well as representatives of the Merchant Class and the Third Sector of charity, culture, and learning. Thus, only around 1/3 of members of the General Court were selected for the Parliament. All of the King's Court, the house of clergy and nobility, were selected and summoned.

The Parliament was called on 16 January 3024 and came directly after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Consort, who had died shortly before the Parliament was summoned. The government throughout the Parliament was the [[First Rook Government (Balancía)|First Rook Government]], initially led by the Duke of Mountbatten and then by the Duke of Alba. Following the passage of the (amended) Citizen, Merchant, and Third Sector Class Representation Act 3024, King Maximilian II dissolved the Partial Parliament on 27 March, calling for the [[3024 Balancín general election]].  

Notable members of the Partial Parliament included [[The Lord Maekar]] and [[House Alba|the Duke of Alba]] as Lord Keepers, the Duke of Valls as Lord Treasurer, and representatives of [[BlackCon Labs Corporation]], [[Northern Continental Corporation]], North East Industries, and Greene Harvester Corporation. Representatives of the [[Pontifical States]] were also present. 

King Maximilian did not make any personal appointments to the Partial Parliament, despite having the right to do so. 

== Topics & legislation ==
The Partial Parliament has only sat for one sitting, in which it considered the following topics:

* A new tax levied to facilitate increased military and defence spending.

Other topics that were considered by the Partial Parliament are:

* Methods of election for representatives of the general citizenry;
* Methods of selection for representatives of the Merchant Class;
* Methods of selection for representatives of the Third Sector of charity, culture, and learning; and
* The structure and outline of the judiciary (deferred to the Second Parliament)

=== Legislation passed into law ===

* The Crown Revenue and Customs Act (passed 15 February 3024; given royal assent 17 February 3024)
* The Legitimacy Act (passed 7 March 3024; given royal assent 8 March 3024)
* The Citizen, Merchant, and Third Sector Class Representation Act (passed 26 February 3024; amended version passed 26 March 3024; given royal assent 27 March 3024)

== Controversies ==
The Partial Parliament was criticised by many within and outside of the Balancín Kingdoms for its exclusion of representatives of the general citizenry. Many have speculated that the motivation for this decision was to actively exclude their voices in crucial constitutional decision making. This theory was made popular by republican activist Mario Turos and was shared more widely following the announcement that the Partial Parliament would be considering a constitutional reform which would ban political parties and organisation. 

Defenders of the decision included the Prime Minister, Lord Maekar, who described the decision as a "necessary step" in forming the institutions of the state. In light of the criticism, the Iberian Palace commented that "His Majesty felt it unfair for him to dictate the structures of key components of the constitution, such as the representation of the general citizenry or the judicial structures, and so has deferred that decision to Parliament, where it rightly belongs".