Biotopia Government

The government of Biotopia takes place within the framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic Wikipedia:republic, whereby the Prime Secretary is the head of government and of a pluriform and multi-party system. Under this system the government is composed of members from the Citizen Congress and legislative power is vested in the lower house of parliament. The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative. The political system is laid out in the Biotopian Constitution.The constitution catalogues an extensive array of Citizen Rights as well as clearly defining and dividing the powers of the federal and state governments and between the legislature, judiciary and executive. For related information see Biotopia Economy, Biotopia Politics and Biotopia International Relations.

Federalism

The Sixth Republic (Uta Epkret) consists of 59 Provinces (Undenaen) which form a national federation. The principle of the constitution has a liberal background limiting the powers of the federal government to external affairs and provision of services that affect more than one state (eg: transport, air pollution, drug trafficking). In some instances this has given the federal government broad powers as what is and is not an internal state affair has been challenged in the Constitutional Court.

The political systems of the individual provinces (Undenaen) is similar to the federal system. The head of each provinces’ governments are called the General Secretary (Okrant Mendatol). They each form a state cabinet as well although these are usually smaller than the federal government. The territory of each state is divided into shires (Uhan) which are single chamber governments with limited powers. Elections occur every two to four years depending on the state.

Administrative Divisions

Vavkromagh Stagoph

1008 Shires, 59 Provinces, 9 Federal Territories,

Shire Uhan

A shire is the smallest administrative body and is responsible for the provision of municipal services. A mayor-council system is used and each council has responsibilities for basic services such as refuse collection, sewerage works, road and verge maintenance, day-care services and urban planning. Territories do not have shires because of their small size. The main sources of revenue for shires are from licence and services fees, infrastructure grants from the provincial, regional and federal governments and property rent.

Province Undenaen

Provinces are the second-tier level of government responsible for a broad range of administrative services including planning and infrastructure, provision of police and emergency services, health and education facilities, energy and public transport and in general the provision of services not conducted by the federal or government. Areas such as major transport links, education and healthcare are managed by provincial governments but receive funding and standards-setting from federal government. Provincial governments receive revenue from pollution taxes, government enterprises, fees, rents and federal redistribution.

Federal Territory Krobstaph Jagrkalt

Federal territories are similar provinces in that they have a large administrative responsibility that includes those usually handled by shires. All territories are covered by federal jurisdiction and are policed by members of the Federal Police Guard. There is only one federal territory on the mainland which is Central Metropolitan Zhaire. The federal government has economic and legislative responsibility for affairs between the nation-state and overseas and between provinces. A major part of federal government responsibility is redistributing funding and standards setting.

Constitutional Secretary

The Office of Constitutional Secretary is primarily concerned with the constitutional legality of federal legislation. It also conducts a number of other functions that involve what might be considered ‘parliamentary housekeeping’.

Referendums: It is the responsibility of the Office of Constitutional Secretary to write each referendum question. Although not responsible for census gathering or taxation both these departments frequently refer to the Constitutional Secretary for advice on wording and legal definition.

Public Acts: Members of the general public can submit Public Acts to the any level of government. Free legal advice and assistance on writing a Public Act is provided. A Public Act must meet parliamentary standards before being submitted by the Office of Constitutional Secretary to the Speaker of the Citizen Congress who tables the parliamentary agenda.

Retification: All parliamentary legislation is directed to the Office of Constitutional Secretary for review. If it is deemed constitutionally viable then it will either be drafted as a referendum proposal or become law after signature approval by the Constitutional Secretary. If it is deemed unconstitutional the Prime Secretary may contest the decision by presenting the legislation before the Constitutional Council of the Elevated Court or it will be resubmitted to the Citizen Congress with recommended amendments.

Executive Assembly

Like a regular cabinet each member is able to table information and policy guidelines to be debated and voted on within the Executive Assembly. Under ordinary circumstances a motion needs a simple majority to be passed although the Prime Secretary can cast the deciding vote in a draw. The Executive Assembly also enjoys special responsibilities relating to times of emergency and national crises mostly the ability to appoint an Armed Secretary during wartime preparations and to issue a Decree of Distress if the parliament is unable to convene.

Under the Decree of Distress the Executive Assembly can pass a number of laws without the need for parliamentary approval or ratification from the Constitutional Secretary. The range of these laws is limited and subject to review once the emergency has subsided. All cabinet positions except that of Prime Secretary are divided into two related but separate departments. As modern government has expanded to include a diverse and dynamic role it has become necessary to amalgamate certain responsibilities while checking the expansion of the Executive Assembly.

Under these terms a member of the Executive Assembly will be referred to as the Administrator. Each Administrator is responsible for a department (eg: Department of Agriculture & Rural Affairs) which are divided into composite offices, boards, councils and programs (eg: Office of Land Management, Federal Grain Board, Council on Salinity Policy). Offices are usually established sub-sections of the overarching Department which allocates budgets, research funding and attempts to direct a cohesive direction in policy. Boards typically refers to trading organisations that are either part of or in affiliation with a department and a Council is used to describe any body charged with researching a subject and developing recommendations on government policy.

Seats in the Executive Assembly

• Agriculture & Rural Affairs
• Business & Finance
• Communications & Transport
• Culture & Environment
• Education & Science
• Foreign Affairs & Trade
• Health & Emergency Services
• Industry & Infrastructure
• Justice & Security
• Prime Secretariat
• Social Affairs & Welfare
• National Defence (wartime only)

Parliament

Citizen Congress

Stodenk Omar

There are 354 seats in the Citizen Congress representing constituencies of approximately 129,500 people. The Citizen Congress is the legislative chamber of the Biotopian federal parliament. The government is formed from the single party or coalition with the majority of seats. Fixed elections are held every four years for all members. The Speaker of the Citizen Congress oversees the chamber and receives proposed Public Acts from the Constitutional Secretary.

National Assembly

Kondst Eljeng

Each of the 59 provinces is represented by three senators creating a total of 117 representatives. The National Assembly is the deliberative chamber of the Biotopian federal parliament. The National Assembly can block supply and recommend amendments to legislation but cannot introduce legislation directly or through the Office of Constitutional Secretary. Elections are fixed every four years but only half the members are elected at any one time.

Judiciary

Elevated Court

Letta Ulkra

The Elevated Court exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction. It is the highest court of appeal. The Constitutional Council of the Elevated Court is especially designated for the judicial review of Constitutional law and the Arbitration Council is used and cases relating to the federal level of government including disputes between states. The powers of the Elevated Court can be summarised as dealing with the following matters:

• Arising under any international treaty
• Affecting consuls or any other representative of another country
• In which the federal government, or a person suing or being sued on behalf of the federal government is a party
• Between provinces, or between citizens of different provinces, or between a province and the citizen of another province
• In which a writ, mandamus or injunction is sought against an officer of the federation

Constitutional Council

Lekratta Jarga

The government of Biotopia takes place within the framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic Wikipedia:republic, whereby the Prime Secretary is the head of government and of a pluriform and multi-party system. Under this system the government is composed of members from the Citizen Congress and legislative power is vested in the lower house of parliament.

The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative. The political system is laid out in the Biotopian Constitution.The constitution catalogues an extensive array of Citizen Rights as well as clearly defining and dividing the powers of the federal and state governments and between the legislature, judiciary and executive.

Arbitration Council

Nalenot Jarga

Not all cases presented before the Elevated Court require hearing from a panel of judges and many are deemed arbitrary matters. This is typically when two parties agree to the definition of the law but dispute the level of compensation or degree of responsibility. It is frequently used in disputes between federal employees and the federal government as well as negotiating legal agreements between the federal government and a province or between two or more provinces.