Government of the Xheng Dynasty
Contents
The Imperial Stratagem (government structure)
The government forumula of the Xheng Dynastic Arch-Imperium is consisted of three legislatures the executive, the royal family and the Judicial system. Throughout the system of government representatives are elected by a democratic process similar to those of European Nations but they utilize a single-transferable ballot proportional representation system. By tradition the legislative system is refered to as the Imperial Stratagem.
The legislative process in the Imperial Stratagem is relatively simple. There are three readings in every chamber. Every reading must pass with a majority then it is immediately moved to the next chamber. All legislation can be introduced by any member of any hall or council, but it must begin in the Hall of Deputies. The Hall of Deputies represents the majority of the general public so that is the beginning of any process. Amendments can be made in each of these processes including committees which are made as a stage 2 of the readings.
The Legislative Branch
The Hall of Deputies
500 representatives elected by the STBPR method from all over the nation and all inner-regions. It is from this chamber that the Prime Minister, and Ministers of the Throne are all from. This is the lower house but the one with the most authority. Every member is elected for 6 year terms with set election dates but they can run for as many terms as they wish. The rules of the Imperial Stategem are quite simple, that the political party with the largest number of seats/elected representatives thus holds power and forms government.
The Hall of Deputies has these duties:
- Form the Cabinet
- Create and legislate laws
- Sit on standard terms, the government never needs to call an election until its term has ended
The Hall of Councilors
The Upper House of the Imperial Strategem, the Upper House consists of 300 seats, elected in identical methods to the lower house with the acception that their terms are set at 8 years. Often the result of the Hall of Councilor vote can tip the balance of power to another political party. But the Hall of Councilors cannot change the government. It is the Hall of Deputies that assures the governing party the right to govern, even if opposition has more seats included with their own members in the Hall of Councilors. Councilors may kill legislation passed by the Hall of Deputies if necessary.
The Hall of Deputies has these duties:
- Review legislation passed by the Hall of Deputies
- Create and legislate laws
- Sit on standard terms, the government never needs to call an election until its term has ended
The Council of Princes
The highest level of the Imperial Strategem short of the Cabinet itself. Half of the members are appointed by the Prime Minister, the other half are appointed by the Emperor. The Council of Princes are all nobility by appointment or by birth. The elected officials who are made a part of the nobility are only nobility by temporary appointment. The Council of Princes is perhaps the most powerful body in the government as it can create and pass legislation without the concent of the other houses, even the Prime Minister. They simply require the approval of thet Emperor to create laws. There are 100 seats on the Council or Princes. They have permanent seats but can be removed at the weill of the Prime Minister of the Emperor.
The Hall of Deputies has these duties:
- Review legislation passed by the Hall of Deputies
- Create and legislate laws
- Review Prime Ministerial appointments
The Executive Branch
The Cabinet
The Ministers of the Throne all have portfolios and responsibilities regulated to every vital department. Ministers are the highest representatives of departments and are directly answerable to the Hall of Councilors and the press for what goes on in their departments. As a Ministerial portfolio may be prestigious and powerful it is also extremely difficult to escape misdeeds within the departments by high ranking civil servants who are often more difficult to remove or catch.
See main article, see The Xheng Dynasty Cabinet
The Emperor
The Emperor is the supreme ruler of the Arch-Imperium to no acception. He is also the bearer of significant political power in appointments. Unlike a constitutional Monarch, the Emperor himself effectively has the constitutional right to exercise his own powers to "the best disgression in the name of the state". The Xheng Emperor ruling today is the 15th in a long line of rulers and thus holds the legacy of his entire dynasty in his own reputation. The Emperor can remove any appointment made by the Prime Minister at will but rarely does this. In often times he responds to public preasure to do so when the political wing does not satisfy public demands. The Emperor's chief representative is the Imperial Proxy. The Emperor bestows immediate and all powers of his authority to the Imperial Proxy for most day to day issues. The Emperor must be addressed as "His Imperial Majesty". The current Xheng Emperor is His Imperial Majesty, Son of Heaven, Xheng Gnok-Shih, the Xheng Emperor.
The Imperial Proxy
Arguably the most powerful person in the Arch-Imperium after the Emperor himself. The Imperial Proxy oversees all day to day actvities of the Emperor. However when it comes to issues and situations such as ceremonial roles, those must be done so by the Emperor. The Imperial Proxy may even represent the Emperor abroad, however most of these responsibilities of foreign representation would be for the Ambassadors, the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince, rarely does the Imperial Proxy be involved in foreign matters. The current Imperial Proxy is Xheng Tan-Ging, Grand Viscount of Han-Xheng.
The Crown Prince
The highest member of the royal family after the Emperor, the Crown Prince is also the Heir to the Throne. Unlike other monarchies, though the Crown Prince is not the Sovereign, he is the Sovereign in waiting which entitles him to be addressed as "His Majesty". The Crown Prince is the third in line of Royal Power after the Emperor and the Imperial Proxy. The Crown Prince does have political power but it is usually inappropriate for him to exercise it without being appointed Imperial Proxy or Imperial Regent.
Central Military Command
The Central Military Command oversees all military actions and deployments of the Arch-Imperium's military. All branches, militia, army, navy, airforce, espionage as well as are managed directly by the Central Military Command. The Imperial Stratagem has direct supremacy in command, in the form of the Prime Minister to deploy the military. The Prime Minister and the Defense Minister sit on the Central Military Command, as with the chiefs of the military: genereals, admirals, marshalls and other military high commanders. Under the Central Military Command is tremendous power, as it is one of the most important seats that is responsible for the safety of the Arch-Imperium itself.
See main article, see Central Military Command
The Imperial Regent
In cases where the Emperor is incapacitiated or unable to conduct his duties, or is not present to conduct domestic responsibilities, he appoints, or his son, the Crown Prince appoints the Imperial Regent. It is vital not to mistake the Imperial Regent for the Imperial Proxy since they are both not the same position. The Imperial Regent, when appointed holds equal power to the Imperial Proxy, as a direct balance and check to the Proxy's authority and power. The Imperial Regent has the duties to conduct the Emperor's official roles within the nation with the single acception of appointments. All appointments must be agreed to by both the Proxy and Regent. If they cannot reach agreement, the Prime Minister is summoned to break the tie.
The Prime Minister
The Prime Minister must be an elected representative in the Hall of Deputies. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party that holds the most amount of seats. The Prime Minister is also the first minister of the cabinet and the most politically powerful individual in the nation. Because he is elected the public may have more faith in his ability as the political leader of the nation than the Emperor, but the Royal Family's popularity has been high. The Prime Minister's appointments generally are not challenged by the Emperor. The current Prime Minister is Xheng Li-Tang. His predecessor was Shang Kai-Sun. Under the Prime Minister, is the responsibility of the military, the Central Military Command.
The Regency Guard
The bodyguards of the Royal Family but are not protectors of the Politically powerful individuals. The Regency Guard conduct many ceremonial duties as well as official duties. They are trained in the use of ancient and traditional weapons as well as modern tactics and arms.
The Official Protectors
These are the protectors of the Prime Minister and the highest political figures in the Arch-Imperium. They often work in conjunction with the Regency Guard.
The Judicial system of the Arch-Imperium is responsible for the security of the state, and not necessarily to protect individual rights. However, the Liberal Movement quickly put scrutiny on judges who would sacrifice individual rights to protect those who are in power. Democratic reforms also quickly put into question what was seen as the safety of rights vs the state. Judges are appointed by the Prime Minister and other chief officials such as other local magistrates to assure judicial authority. The Emperor has never intervened on the appointment of a judge. The Judges cannot be removed, even by the Emperor. This is a constitutional practice that would never be permitted to be amended by a movement from the Royal Family. The independence of the Judicial Branch was a movement made by the Prime Minister and the Halls of Deputies and Councilors to assure that there was a balance of power. Judges are alligned to a heirarchy of order, from local town courts, to provincial courts, then to the Imperial Court.
There is a delicate balance of authority in the Arch-Imperium. The Emperor does hold significant more power than elected officials but they can in turn overrule his authority in some matters. There are effectively 800 elected representatives that can oppose an Imperial declaration. It requires a 3/4 majority in the Hall of Councilors and the Hall of Deputies to make this type of legislative order. This type of order effectively makes it immune to Imperial Declarations. The only issue that cannot be used to force through legislation is any regarding the monarchy. Thus the legislature cannot remove the monarchy by using these orders.
Grand Archon
The Grand Archon is the head of the judicial system, often a political officer appointed to oversee the justice system itself. The Grand Archon is final arbitrator of matters that find their way at the level of national interests. Constitutional affairs and illegitimate legislation as well as improper Royal acts may find their way to the Grand Archon who's power is checked by the Imperial Stratagem as well as the Emperor. The current Grand Archon is Xheng Sui-Lan.
Other Ranks
There are countless ranks of the Arch-Imperium that consist of military, quasi-military and political and even royal ranks that are used.
See main article, see Xheng Ranks
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