Federal Parliament of Nepal

Federal Parliament of Nepal
Name	Federal Parliament of Nepal
Native name	संघीय संसद्
Legislature	2nd Federal Parliament
House type	Bicameral
Established	2018
Leader1 type	President of the National Assembly
Leader1	Ganesh Prasad Timilsina
Leader2 type	Speaker of the House of Representatives
Leader2	Agni Prasad Sapkota
Members	275 (House of Representatives), 59 (National Assembly)
Meeting place	Parliament Building, Kathmandu

Federal Parliament of Nepal is the bicameral national legislature formed under the Constitution of Nepal (2015) that replaced the earlier Constituent Assembly of Nepal and Pratinidhi Sabha arrangements following the end of the Nepalese Civil War and the abolition of the Monarchy of Nepal. It comprises two houses—the House of Representatives and the National Assembly—and operates within the constitutional framework shaped by the Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007, the Election Commission, Nepal, the Supreme Court of Nepal, and political parties such as the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre). The Parliament convenes in the Parliament Building, Kathmandu and plays a central role in lawmaking, budget approval, and oversight of the Council of Ministers of Nepal.

History

The origins trace to the Rana dynasty era advisory councils, through the Panchayat system and the democratic movements of Jana Andolan I and Jana Andolan II, culminating in the 2006 peace process between the Seven Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) that ended the Nepalese Civil War. The dissolution of the House of Representatives and the establishment of the First Constituent Assembly of Nepal after the 2008 Nepalese Constituent Assembly election led to the 2015 Constitution of Nepal and the reconstitution of a bicameral Federal Parliament in 2017–2018 following the 2017 Nepalese general election and the 2018 Nepalese National Assembly election. Key transitional figures include Girija Prasad Koirala, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, and Sher Bahadur Deuba, with institutional reforms influenced by international actors like the United Nations Mission in Nepal and legal precedents from the Supreme Court of India in comparative context.

Structure and Composition

The legislature consists of the House of Representatives (275 members) and the National Assembly (59 members). The House of Representatives combines first-past-the-post constituencies and proportional representation lists registered with the Election Commission, Nepal, involving parties such as Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Nepal Workers Peasants Party. The National Assembly members are elected by an electoral college including members of Provincial Assemblies of Nepal and local representatives, with some nominees from the President of Nepal. Leadership posts include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and party floor leaders from Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party and regional parties. Parliamentary staff include the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers staff, clerks from the Parliament Secretariat (Nepal), and security coordinated with the Armed Police Force (Nepal).

Powers and Functions

Under the Constitution of Nepal (2015), the legislature enacts laws, approves the national budget presented by the Minister of Finance (Nepal), ratifies treaties with foreign states such as India–Nepal relations and China–Nepal relations, and exercises oversight over the Council of Ministers of Nepal through question hours and motions of no confidence. It confirms appointments to constitutional bodies including the Attorney General of Nepal, the Chief Election Commissioner of Nepal, and members of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. The Parliament has impeachment and removal mechanisms for certain officials in coordination with the Supreme Court of Nepal and constitutional processes involving the President of Nepal.

Legislative Process

Bills may be introduced by ministers, parliamentary members, or by citizens through representatives, following procedures codified in the Rules of Procedure of the Federal Parliament. Money bills originate in the House of Representatives and require approval for budget execution tied to the Ministry of Finance (Nepal). Ordinary bills pass through committee review, three readings, and inter-house consultation when initiated in either the House of Representatives or the National Assembly, with dispute resolution mechanisms involving joint committees and, in rare cases, referral to the President of Nepal for assent or reconsideration. Emergency ordinances by the President of Nepal on cabinet recommendation become acts subject to retrospective legislative approval, with judicial review available through the Supreme Court of Nepal.

Committees and Parliamentary Bodies

Permanent and ad hoc committees include the Finance Committee (Nepalese Parliament), the International Relations and Human Rights Committee, the Legislation Committee (Nepal), the Public Accounts Committee (Nepal), and the Ethics Committee (Parliament of Nepal). Parliamentary caucuses align with parties like Nepali Congress and CPN (UML), as well as issue-focused groups on topics involving Madhesh Province representation, federalism debates after the 2015 Constitution promulgation, and relations with international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. The Parliamentary Secretariat (Nepal) provides research support akin to agencies such as the Congressional Research Service and coordinates with the Office of the Auditor General of Nepal for financial oversight.

Elections and Membership

Members of the House of Representatives are elected through a mixed electoral system combining first-past-the-post constituencies and proportional representation lists in elections administered by the Election Commission, Nepal, as seen in the 2017 Nepalese general election and the 2022 Nepalese general election. The National Assembly members are elected for staggered terms by an electoral college of Provincial Assemblies of Nepal and local officials, with some members nominated by the President of Nepal on government recommendation. Eligibility, disqualification, and oath-taking procedures reference constitutional articles and Supreme Court rulings such as those involving prorogation disputes and party-split jurisprudence related to the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court of Nepal.

Parliamentary Buildings and Administration

The main chamber convenes in the Parliament Building, Kathmandu, situated near landmarks like the Singha Durbar and the Basantapur Durbar Square. Administrative functions are managed by the Parliament Secretariat (Nepal), the Office of the Speaker, and security overseen by the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force (Nepal). Former meeting sites include the Constituent Assembly Hall and temporary venues used during reconstruction after the 2015 Nepal earthquake. The complex hosts diplomatic delegations from countries such as India, China, United States, and international parliamentary exchanges with institutions like the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Category:Politics of Nepal Category:Parliaments by country