Post by Kenneth New on Sept 7, 2013 23:30:15 GMT -5
Republic of Karthis
Type of Government: Constitutional Republic
Head of State: The Prince of Karthis (chosen by the Karthian Senate from among the heirs of the Royal Family)
Head of Government: Prime Minister (chosen by the Karthian Senate from among its members)
Electors: Citizens of the Republic who meet the qualifications may enroll as electors.
Language: Karthian (official)
Religion: Several officially sanctioned religions
The Republic controls most of the regions of the Neimocrands and several smaller enclaves on the distant end of the trade gates.
Karthian Senate
The Senate is the most powerful deliberative body in the Republic. It includes the Domain Lords (the heads of the 31 Domains), the Select Lords (50 lesser lords chosen by lot for 10 year terms, five selected each year), the Elected Senators (228 members elected by district every 5 years). The electoral districts are based on charter rather than population). The first party or coalition to gather 155 votes in the Senate after the quinquennial elections is allowed to form a government and choose all the ministers of government.
The senate can pass most laws with a simple majority, but declarations of war, impeaching a government official, removing a prince, appointing a regent, creating new electoral districts or changing the constitution requires a 2/3 majority of the Senate.
In theory, no government can be formed without the permission of the Prince, but no Prince has exercised this prerogative in centuries. The Prince can veto legislation, which sends it back to the Senate for reconsideration. If the Senate can pass it with a 2/3 majority, the legislation becomes law over the Prince's veto.
The Royal Council
The heir to each Domain and to the office of Prince must be approved by the Royal Council, which includes the Prince, the Domain Lords, the Select Lords and the Ministers of Government. A simple majority is all that is required in this case.
The Ministry
The Ministry acts as a probouleutic body. It requires a petition with signatories equal to 1/3 the Senate (currently 103) in order to bring a bill to discussion without Ministry approval.
Electors
Any citizens who meet any of the qualifications below may enroll with the Office of the Censor as an elector.
In addition to the qualifications above, all electors must pay an annual poll tax of 10 gp.
Electors or their legal proxies must be present in their electoral district in order to vote.
Government
The laws of the Republic tend to be few and limited to what's necessary to public order. Taxes are collected on all real property and all economic transactions of more than 1 gp, but tend to be very low. Currently, the government collects 1 cp for each full 1 gp of the transaction. In addition, there are fees for most government services.
Social Class
Karthis is not a classless society, but social class means less in the Republic than in other nations in Rhiada. With few exceptions (see electors above), class is more of a social convention than a legal status. In theory at least, all citizens of the Republic are treated as equal before the law. In reality many folks, including prosecutors and jurors tend to be swayed to some extent by social class.
None of this means Karthians are rude. For the most part, they use appropriate honorifics (my lord, my lady, mister, madame, doctor, etc...)
Race and Ethnicity
The Republic is mostly human, but no differences are made between humans, elves, dwarves, etc.... Individuals may show prejudice towards members of particular races or ethnic groups, but there is no institutionalized discrimination.
Sex, Gender
Karthian culture does not discriminate based on sex or gender. While some men may be misogynists and some women may be misandrists, the law doesn't discriminate. Males and females are treated the same before the law. And while there is some intolerance towards gender non-conformists, it tends to express itself as rude behavior and inappropriate comments more than as violence.
Since families in Karthis tend to keep their estates more or less whole and pass them down to a selected heir, as opposed to passing them down based on strict lineal descent, families with many heirs are less likely to pressure their children to marry.
In Karthian society, children are considered legitimate if they are acknowledged by a parent, even if there is no actual blood relationship (in the case of adoption for instance).
Type of Government: Constitutional Republic
Head of State: The Prince of Karthis (chosen by the Karthian Senate from among the heirs of the Royal Family)
Head of Government: Prime Minister (chosen by the Karthian Senate from among its members)
Electors: Citizens of the Republic who meet the qualifications may enroll as electors.
Language: Karthian (official)
Religion: Several officially sanctioned religions
The Republic controls most of the regions of the Neimocrands and several smaller enclaves on the distant end of the trade gates.
Karthian Senate
The Senate is the most powerful deliberative body in the Republic. It includes the Domain Lords (the heads of the 31 Domains), the Select Lords (50 lesser lords chosen by lot for 10 year terms, five selected each year), the Elected Senators (228 members elected by district every 5 years). The electoral districts are based on charter rather than population). The first party or coalition to gather 155 votes in the Senate after the quinquennial elections is allowed to form a government and choose all the ministers of government.
The senate can pass most laws with a simple majority, but declarations of war, impeaching a government official, removing a prince, appointing a regent, creating new electoral districts or changing the constitution requires a 2/3 majority of the Senate.
In theory, no government can be formed without the permission of the Prince, but no Prince has exercised this prerogative in centuries. The Prince can veto legislation, which sends it back to the Senate for reconsideration. If the Senate can pass it with a 2/3 majority, the legislation becomes law over the Prince's veto.
The Royal Council
The heir to each Domain and to the office of Prince must be approved by the Royal Council, which includes the Prince, the Domain Lords, the Select Lords and the Ministers of Government. A simple majority is all that is required in this case.
The Ministry
The Ministry acts as a probouleutic body. It requires a petition with signatories equal to 1/3 the Senate (currently 103) in order to bring a bill to discussion without Ministry approval.
Electors
Any citizens who meet any of the qualifications below may enroll with the Office of the Censor as an elector.
- Head of any Domain or Noble Title
- Designated Heir of any Domain or Noble Title
- Owner of any real property worth a minimum of 1000 gp
- Master in any craft or artisan guild
- Member of the Mage's Guild
- Priest in any officially sanctioned religion
- Veteran of 20 years in the military
- Holder of any Masters Degree from any recognized College
- Master in any Professional Guild
- Anyone who pays a 500 gp enrollment fee
In addition to the qualifications above, all electors must pay an annual poll tax of 10 gp.
Electors or their legal proxies must be present in their electoral district in order to vote.
Government
The laws of the Republic tend to be few and limited to what's necessary to public order. Taxes are collected on all real property and all economic transactions of more than 1 gp, but tend to be very low. Currently, the government collects 1 cp for each full 1 gp of the transaction. In addition, there are fees for most government services.
Social Class
Karthis is not a classless society, but social class means less in the Republic than in other nations in Rhiada. With few exceptions (see electors above), class is more of a social convention than a legal status. In theory at least, all citizens of the Republic are treated as equal before the law. In reality many folks, including prosecutors and jurors tend to be swayed to some extent by social class.
None of this means Karthians are rude. For the most part, they use appropriate honorifics (my lord, my lady, mister, madame, doctor, etc...)
Race and Ethnicity
The Republic is mostly human, but no differences are made between humans, elves, dwarves, etc.... Individuals may show prejudice towards members of particular races or ethnic groups, but there is no institutionalized discrimination.
Sex, Gender
Karthian culture does not discriminate based on sex or gender. While some men may be misogynists and some women may be misandrists, the law doesn't discriminate. Males and females are treated the same before the law. And while there is some intolerance towards gender non-conformists, it tends to express itself as rude behavior and inappropriate comments more than as violence.
Since families in Karthis tend to keep their estates more or less whole and pass them down to a selected heir, as opposed to passing them down based on strict lineal descent, families with many heirs are less likely to pressure their children to marry.
In Karthian society, children are considered legitimate if they are acknowledged by a parent, even if there is no actual blood relationship (in the case of adoption for instance).