Imperial Council of New Europe

The New European Imperial Council (German: Reichsrat) is a legislative body that represents the states of New Europe at the national level. The Imperial Council participates in legislation, alongside the Reichstag, the directly elected representation of the people, with laws affecting state competences and all constitutional changes requiring the consent of the body. Functioning as an upper house based off the German Bundesrat and the Russian Federation Council.

Composition
Imperial Council members can differ in their placement process. The are either elected by popular vote or delegated by the respective state government. Constitutionally, the state cabinet may send just a single delegate to exercise the state's vote. In any case, the state has to cast its votes en bloc, i.e., without vote splitting. As state elections are not coordinated across New Europe and can occur at any time, the majority distributions in the council can change after any such election. As well as each state vote is worth only one regardless of their populations.

Chairmanship
The chairperson or speaker is the Chair of the Imperial Council. The chair is elected from amongst the members of the council. The Chair of the Imperial Council convenes and chairs plenary sessions of the body and is formally responsible for representing the Imperial Government in matters of the Reichsrat. He or she is aided by a deputy who play an advisory role and deputise in the chairperson's absence.

Powers
The legislative authority of the Imperial Council is not considered subordinate to that of the Imperial Diet, as it plays a vital legislative role. The imperial government must have the approval of the council in order for the legislation be presented to the monarch for signing. Further, the Imperial Council must approve all legislation affecting changes in borders between states of the nation, a decree by the monarch on the introduction of martial law, introduction of a state of emergency, the deciding on the possibility of using the Armed Forces outside of a particular area. This approval requires a majority of actively used "yes" votes.