Difference between revisions of "Laws and Government of Snefaldia"

Revision as of 14:59, 9 October 2007

The Law and Government of Snefaldia is a complext topic, with many confusing and seemingly contradictory pieces of information.

The Law

History

The laws of Snefaldia are based on the twin system of civil code and common law. The modern legal system was established in 1895 upon the formation of the Republic, with the promulgation of the Republican Central Law, the "constitution" of Snefaldia. This code established the basic principles of the short-lived Snefaldian republic, organizing elections, judicial appointments, and congressess. The code enshrined for the first time personal rights and liberties.

Upon the fall of the Republic and recreation of the Tuhran Bel, the Central Law was gutted and, set aside, and a replacement was created. The Bel of 1964 produced the Essential Law, a half-hearted attempt to appease the supporters of the old Central Law, and in 1966 the Bel was forced to return and produce another code. This second constitution was supported by almost all, and in 1967 the Tuhran Bel officially declared the Snefaldian Fundamental Law to be the paramount legal code of the nation.

Application

The Fundamental Law is nominally paramount, but deals mostly with foreign policy, national defense, systems of tax, and inter-region commerce. Each region largely manages it's own affairs, but because of the overwhelming influence of Aatem Nal these affairs are usually in line with the central government.

Government

The government is divided into two main sections: the Upper Government, composed of the Tuhran Bel, and the Lower Government, which encompasses all the secular bureacratic administrative ministries.

Tuhran Bel

Template:Main= Tuhran Bel The Tuhran Bel is the highest chamber of government in Snefaldia. They are responsible for passing all laws, administering the laws of the nation, and it is from the Tuhran Bel that Snefaldia's sovereignty comes. The Tuhran Bel excercises fiat.

Lower Government

The Lower Government is all of the ministries, bureaus, and government offices that administer the national government of the Centralized Mountain States.

Ministries

The various ministries are responsible for the administration of the government. Each Ministry is headed by a First Minister, who is assisted by various "secondary" ministers, who bear the title "Second Minister" "Fifth Minister" or "Tenth Minister" depending on the size and importance of the ministry. The importance of the ministry is dependent on the importance of the job they do- for example, the Ministry of Agriculture is the overall manager of farming and produce in Snefaldia, while the Ministry of Water is responsible for the maintenance of the Saard dikes, water systems, and distribution of water in the nation.

Each ministry may have appellate Bureaus, which are responsible for specific duties within the ministry. These may be headed by one of the Secondary Ministers, but the official title is "Secretary of the Bureau" The Ministry of War is divided into the four sections- Navy, Army, Airforce, and Borders

The Chancellery is nominally responsible for all the ministries.

Partial list of Ministries

• High Chancellery of Snefaldia
• Ministry of Commerce
  • Bureau of Trade
• Ministry of Finance
  • Bureau of the Census
• Ministry of Agriculture
  • Bureau of Farmers
  • Bureau of Research
• Ministry of Water
• Ministry of War
  • Office of the Navy
  • Office of the Army
  • Office of the Airforce
  • Office of the Borders
• Ministry of State
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs