Melhed/Government/Republic of Melhed

Republic of Balance

Overview

In the Age of Blood citizens of Melhed were obliged, by dint of superior might, to bend their knee to the Emperor Tsu Sun, self-proclaimed God. As the Age wore on great changes were in the works, and when the Emperor vanished his successor, Aldo Unti began to make alterations that would give rise to the Age of Reason and creation of the Senate.

In the present day the Senate is a fully populated legislative body, with the divided authority of the old Imperial office. The Senate devises and disseminates the laws of the Republic, representing the interests of every citizen in the domain. Every feature of the Senate operation, from the system of debate that initiates legal change to the formalized posture and gesture of their public speakers, is an evolved melding of past and future.

True believers within the Senate consider themselves rulers and servants: furthering the needs of the Republic by balancing the wants of the people with their needs, thus ensuring that the land is well governed and orderly. They may have the power to impose their will upon the citizens of the Republic, but they do so only in pursuit of a peaceful, equitable society. The more rhetoric filled speeches have claimed that cynicism and corruption are not allowed to take root in the Senate, that the collective voice of the Senate’s assembly speaks with flawless logic and complete compassion. Those with a more candid outlook comment that membership is available only to those of the Patrician Strata. Further the only real skill a Senator ever displays is the ability to entice their similarly wealthy contemporaries to vote for them.

The truth remains somewhere between. The Senate has its flaws, despite what the fervent champions will claim, but so too does it have its strengths which the detractors will ignore. It is true, the Senate is prone to lethargy and self interested corruption, yet despite this the Senate allows an avenue of discussion, and open possibilities unrivalled. No matter one's position on the utility of the Senate none can deny that under the Republic system Melhed has become a stable and prosperous nation, and one of the most powerful states in the whole of Beluaterra.

Structure

The Republic is ruled by the senate.
As a collective whole these elite of the nation decide upon the course of action. They meet once a week to vote, on the issues that had come up during the week. The senate controls all aspects of realm government.

Senate

The Senate is the governing body of the Republic and made of all elected patricians holding land, the Consul, the Tribune, and an Augur of the Old Gods. It determines every aspect of realm governance through voting; in which each Senator has one vote per issue, the Tribune receives no vote. The Senate gathers to vote, or Conventus, starting Friday and ending Sunday. Senators have until Monday to cast their votes on matters discussed during the week's Consilium, or deliberation. All who do not vote are assumed to abstain.

A warning for those seeking office

In Melhed being a regional lord means you are agreeing to do more work than just keeping the region happy. Around here a Senator decides things, tables motions, and votes. There are 18 Senate positions in Melhed right now and each one gets to do basically the same job as a ruler normally does alone.

So I don't recommend you running for the position if you don't like the idea of sifting through the mountain of letters I forward for important info, and forming informed opinions on the movement of world politics or internal affairs. I won't stop you, nor will anyone else, but if someone consistently fails to do their duty they will be asked to step down in favour of another who can.

Before you all run off scared at the sound of this job from the abyss there are some perks. Well first of all there isn't a person here who doesn't have personal affairs to tend to and we know that. Senators are kind of expected to comment on weekly scales, and we don't become uneasy until a month goes by if not more of no word what so ever. So yes, a Senator is swearing to take an active role in the governing of the republic, but that doesn't mean we chain you to the desk, that's the Consul. Second you'll get a region, and all the gold and glory that comes with. Finally third, you get to decide things.

Forum Publicus

The Forum is for anyone interested in government that either doesn't want to make decisions, wasn't able to acquire a Senate position, or is just curious. Most things the Senate discusses actually takes place in the Forum so that all patricians (that want to) can listen and make comments. No matter what advice is provided by the patricians in the Forum, in the end it is the Senate that decides what happens.

For more information on the government see: Laws of the Republic under the heading "Government"

Primary Republic Offices
Auspex	Quaestor	Consul	Praetor	Imperator
Gods & Prophecy	Bread & Gold	Wolf & Sun	Order & Sun	Iron & Wolf
The Auspex, or chief Augur, is charged with understanding the will of the Old Gods. Ensuring the people know the flow of the future, and preform the proper rituals to sanctify the Senate.	Administrators, book-keepers and paymasters for the treasury, this magistrate elected once a year, supervise and maintains the public places of the Republic – managing streets, baths, sewers, market places, temples as well as the grain supply.	The 'ruler' of the Republic, the Consul is elected every year by the Senate. Having the power to chair and summon the Senate, issue edicts and proclamations, not to mention enter binding debate with foreign monarchs, the Consul is charged with guiding the Republic through balance and carrying out the will of the Senate.	The Prætor is the judge who administered the highest court of justice. Elected by all Patricians to preside over matters between Patricians and even Senators, the Praetor holds the final say on matters of law that are brought before them by one or another of the parties involved, including foreigners. They also have the ability to chair the Senate, if the Consul was away or had brought a matter to debate forward.	The Imperator oversees the activities of the entire Legion on behalf of the Senate. The Imperator is given considerable freedom to act out their mandate 'to defend the Republic'. Elected once a year by the Senate, it is otherwise very difficult to remove the Imperator from power, who is in turn watched over by a small staff of scribes loyal to the Senate, called the Ordo Tacitus, in case the Imperium is abused.
Secondary Republic Offices
Tribune	Aedile	Orator	Legetus	Centurion
Mob & Tribes	Circuses & Blood	Order & Chaos	Wine & Ink	Gold & Iron
The Tribune acts as an intermediary between the Foederati and the Senate ensuring a slight check on magisterial autocracy. Beyond all this the Tribune also acts as the final arbitrator on legal matters dealing with the Foederati, though rarely do the Tribes bother with the office, preferring to settle matters their own way.	Organizer of the the public games and entertainment the Aedile presides over chiefly the arena but also watches over trends in leisure and game across the domain to ensure the people get what they want.	A rarely used office for when a debate has become too heated for usual operation. The Orators will take turns representing a position to allow a better flow of the debate for a vote.	The Legate are charged with speaking to foreign powers. Ensuring the Republic is well represented, and smoothing out any tensions. They are expected to provide diplomatic expertise, and inform foreigners of Republic law.	The Centurions are charged with commanding a legion sent out on mercenary pursuits. Ensuring the legion is successful, they have the final authority on matters of the legion during the expedition.
Fundamental Republic Office
Senator
The Senators govern a single province in the Domain, administrating their territory on behalf of the Republic. They collectively make up the Senate, the legislative body of the Republic. Senate positions are determined by election. They are elected upon a province being available, simple majority wins, all highborn may run and vote in the referendum. If the position is a city or stronghold, only current senators are eligible to run. Positions are held until either: retirement, abdication for dereliction of duty, or the territory is lost. In the case where the territory is lost the senator retains their rank for one month, during which they automatically gain the title if the region is reclaimed. A person can run again for office in the future if they wish.