How many parliaments will there be?

As many parliaments as full cantons*. 

4** cantonal parliaments and 1 federal parliament formed with the MPs of the 4 cantonal parliaments.

*Some semi-canton might suffice with municipal councils. It I up to them to decide.

**Note: It could be more. All is decided by the people in a direct vote at the first constitutional elections at municipal level

Relevant Constitution Article

Article 17 : Constitutional principles, Article 22 : Delimitation of Federal and cantonal territory, Preamble, and Summary of Governance Framework

1. The Federal Republic of Lebanon is a federation of four (4) different Ethno-Cultural Groups having partial common history and sharing one territory.
2. All cantonal authority is derived from the cantonal Citizens. It shall be exercised by the cantonal Citizens through elections and other votes and through specific legislative, executive, and judicial bodies.

1. The Federal Republic of Lebanon spans over 10,452km2 .
2. The federal territory is divided into four (4) cantons.
3. Each canton delineation is determined dependent of the municipalities that belong to the canton. cantonal geography and boundaries are determined and delineated by the aggregation of all municipalities belonging to the canton.
4. No geographical continuity is required for a municipality to be part of a canton.
5. Municipalities are allocated to a canton based on the following criteria:
   1. Municipal Territory as per current status at the time of this Basic Law’s enactment.
   2. Municipalities whose current voters (original inhabitants prior to the modification of the municipal voting laws) belong to the Group in a proportion exceeding 67% belong to the canton of such Group.
   3. Municipalities whose current voters (original inhabitants prior to the modification of the municipal voting laws) belong to the Group (Ethno-Cultural Group) in a proportion exceeding 51% and the remaining 49% is divided between several other Groups (i.e. not one block of 49% for another Ethno-Cultural Group) will be allocated to the canton of the cultural group holding majority.
   4. Municipalities with demographic configurations that differ from the ones mentioned above will determine a given dismemberment (per neighborhood) to ensure each portion of the municipality is properly re-delineated and each allocated to the proper canton.
6. Municipalities and cantons may be revised to ensure that each be of a size and capacity to perform its functions effectively. Due regard shall be given in this connection to regional, historical and cultural ties, economic efficiency, and the requirements of local and regional planning as well as the necessary governance tools commensurate with the empowerment of large Municipalities.

(Taken as is from the Opening Preamble of the Swiss Constitution) In the name of Almighty God! The Swiss People and the cantons, mindful of their responsibility towards creation, Resolved to renew their alliance so as to strengthen liberty, democracy, independence and peace in a spirit of solidarity and openness towards the world, determined to live together with mutual consideration and respect for their diversity, conscious of their common achievements and their responsibility towards future generations, and in the knowledge that only those who use their freedom remain free, and that the strength of a people is measured by the well-being of its weakest members; adopt the following Constitution:

Lebanon is the aggregation of four (4) different national narratives (“Roman Nationaux”), deriving from four (4) distinct “Cultural Groups” (each also referred to as an “Ethno-Cultural Group” or a “Group” or an “Identity” or a “Community”) living side-by-side on the territory that is currently the Republic of Lebanon, are distinct groups of individuals sharing within each Group and amongst themselves a specific set of values, beliefs, references, history, and background. The members of these Groups are specifically registered as Lebanese nationals. The four (4) Groups are the Sunni, Chiaa, Druze, and Christians. 1

1 As a matter of Fact, the Christian Group is diverse and is composed of various Sub-Groups. For the purpose of this Federal Constitution, the Sub-Groups will be considered as one homogenous group. The cantonal Laws will have to agree with each Sub-Group of their reserved rights, requirements, and representation. More specifically, it is provided for in this Constitutional document that all positions within the canton are open to all canton Citizens without distinction. Therefore Armenians, Greek Orthodox, and Maronites, among others, all have access indiscriminately to all positions. As for parliamentary representation, some Sub-Groups may want to have “reserves seats.” The matter will be discussed and resolved at the cantonal level.

While each Group keeps its national narrative, history, references, hopes and dreams, culture, civilization, and religion, each Group has agreed to enter into one supra national entity called the Federal Republic of Lebanon. Each Group will be able to administer and handle its own affairs within its own canton/Region under laws each Group decides to impose upon itself. After being adopted by all four cantonal Parliaments, the Federal Parliamentary, meeting in public session in Beirut, confirmed, signed, and promulgated the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Lebanon. The Basic Law is hereby published in the Federal Official Gazette. Lebanese in the Chiite, Druze, Sunni and Christian cantons, have decided to live amongst themselves in peace and prosperity. This Basic Law thus applies to the entire Lebanese population organized under the four (4) ethno-religious Groups. All the provisions of the current constitution shall be amended and replaced by this Basic Law. The present Basic Law shall prevail in case of any contradiction between the present Basic Law and any previous text, law, decree, constitution, decision, order, or judgement. This federation deed is valid until 2099 and will be resubmitted for vote at that time. It can be terminated earlier in certain instances where the federal government ceases to perform its function or under certain other conditions stated herein.

Lebanon, in its current boundaries, houses four (4) different Ethno-Cultural Groups, namely: Sunni, Chiaa, Druse, and Christian. The result of which is a four (4) cantons federal country.

The Federal model has three (3) governance layers: Municipalities, canton/Region, and Federal. Within the Christian Ethno-Cultural Groups, there are several communities.

All Lebanese Nationals shall also be canton Citizens (depending on the Group they belong to) and Municipal Residents (depending on their elected primary domicile). The political rights and obligations stem from the Lebanese Nationality, the cantonal Citizenship, and the Municipal Residency.

There are two (2) electoral colleges, one for the municipal elections and another for the cantonal elections.

The Municipal Electoral College is based on residency (ie Municipal registration of residency), and therefore, all residents over eighteen (18) can participate as voters irrespective of their belonging to a particular Group.

The cantonal Electoral College, tasked with electing members of parliament as well as the cantonal prime minister, is comprised of all the men and women belonging to the relevant Group irrespective of their residency. Voters vote based on their “hometown” of birth. The system retained herein is two-round “uninominal” i.e. an electoral system that elects one Member of Parliament from each district (as redefined herein see maps attached). The voting system is designed to elect a single winner where a second round of voting is used if no candidate wins an absolute majority in the first round (“scrutin uninominal majoritaire à deux tours”). For avoidance of doubt, all voters have to belong to one same Group (with possible accommodation within the Christian Group for positive discrimination to ensure representation of sub-Group sensibilities like Armenians, Orthodox, etc….).

cantonal elections are held to elect (i) cantonal Parliament and (ii) the canton Prime Minister. Parliament and the Prime Minister are elected for four (4) year terms.

All four (4) canton Prime Ministers compose the Federal Government. And they choose the eldest among them to serve as the President of the Federation for one (1) year. The four (4) canton Prime Ministers rotate thereafter by age.

Parliamentarians of each canton compose the Federal Parliament. The President of the Federal Parliament is the president of the cantonal Parliament chosen by age (the eldest to the youngest) for a period of one (1) year.

Each canton is geographically delineated as being the aggregation of all the municipalities belonging to such canton. The Municipalities belonging to a canton are those whose native electors/residents at the time of the approval of this Basic Law compose at least 67% of that canton’s Ethno-Cultural Group.

A cantonal Citizen is a person belonging to the Ethno-Cultural Group of his canton irrespective of his Municipal Residency. The Municipal Resident is any resident of any municipality. Municipal Residents vote in the municipality in which they reside.

Here are some basic indicative reference numbers. These will be firmed out once the maps and the statistical work is finalized.

1. The number of canton MPs are proportionate to the overall population. It is expected to be around: [88] Christian, [70] Sunni, [75] Shiite, and [13] Druze.
2. There should be 1 MP for each [15,000] inhabitants. For the rationale behind the suitable electoral law, see attached Appendix B.

Governance Schematic Overview

The above schematic describes the cantonal elections (i.e. per Group members) for legislative and executive powers. Another schematic will describe the vote of each residence in his municipality, such vote to happen based on residency and irrespective of the Group to which one belongs.