Provisional Assembly

The Provisional Assembly of Berringsland was the provisional legislature of Berringsland, convened by the Governor-General just after the December Revolution had concluded in the transfer of government to the quiet town of Madaline, which first met on March 22, and was dissolved at the request of First Minister Roland Knightly on May 16 in preparation for the first election to its successor body, the House of Assembly. It consisted of up to 138 members, theoretically one from each riding but quickly expanding to multiple delegates, selected by their communities, and its seat was the Madaline Corn Exchange. Quickly after its investment, parties formed: some collapsed and some stayed, leading some members of the Provisional Government to complain about its unstable political environment. It is often speculated that the early emergence of parties was also the reason no national unity government was deemed to be prudent; indeed, some academics have argued that national unity government often works better in legislatures without parliamentary parties. Nevertheless, despite criticism and a minority status, the Provisional Government of First Minister Knightly sat on the Government benches for the entire duration of its tenure.