Template:This month's featured article/July, 2010

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Seal of the Senate of Taijitu

The Senate of Taijitu is the legislative branch of the government of Taijitu. Taijitu's legislature is unicameral, and the Senate does not share power with any other legislative chamber. The Senate's legal basis lies in the second article of the Constitution of Taijitu which defines both its composition and powers. In addition to the creation of legislation, the Senate is also responsible for overseeing both the Delegate and Court of Taijitu in certain matters. The Senate presently consists of seven senators, the default number ordained by the constitution. They are elected at large every seven weeks, with the most recent election having been held in June of 2010.

Under the constitution, the Senate alone has the power to define the internal procedures by which it does business. They can not be modified via a petition and referendum as another law might be. The constitution also provides that the Speaker of the Senate may use their discretion in instances where no procedure exists.

Elections for the Senate occur every seven weeks, and are concurrent with delegate elections. All seven members are elected at large. This is done by means of the single transferable vote using the Droop quota. This allows for proportional representation without requiring candidates to affiliate themselves with a party, something which would conflict with the fact that many Senators have no party affiliation. Any citizen is eligible to run for the office of Senator or to vote in an election. Vacancies that occur between elections are filled by recounting the ballots of the most recent election as if the absent senator were no running. The most recent election of the Senate was concluded on June 28, 2010.