Democracy in the Imperium?

[iamthey]

The Imperium has always been a progressive nation in terms of its public works, and treatment of its people, despite our apprehensions we have decided to modify the Articles of Order, our founding document and make some democratic reforms to the over all government. Presently our state is controlled principally by an Oligarchy which is dominated almost exclusively by the elite and already powerful. Sovereignty is derived from the potential coercive force of this entity. This will not change, however this body is only active when specially called to order by four of its six members. This only happens rarely and usually during a time of political crisis or dire need. What will change is the governmental structure that functions while this body is not in session. When not active the Oligarchy's power is transferred to a single individual known as the "Imperial Regent" who functions essentially as the autocrat, the remaining members of the Oligarchy serve as ministers under this individual. This position of Regent will be replaced with a three member Triumvirate. One member will be appointed by the Oligarchy, this will be the former Regent, and the other two posts shall be elected by the majority of Enfranchised individuals. Those elevated to these two seats will be permitted to serve a single term of ten years, one of the two seats will be up for election every five years. Considering no one is presently franchised besides the members of the Oligarchy an Enfranchisement Commission has been established under the Interior Ministry to manage the issue.

There will not be Universal Suffrage in the Imperium contrarily only individuals deemed competent to wield such a power as the vote shall be allowed to do so. This will be determined based on objective assessment of intellect, knowledge of present events, political theory, economic theory, history, and so forth. It will also only be afforded to those presently paying taxes into the income tax structure as they are the only individuals who's property is being staked in the greater system. There will be no discrimination based on race, gender, age, made as long as said individual is judged competant and contributing to the system they will be granted the power. As we have an extensive public education system as well as a majority of our subjects being in the upper to middle class range it is the hope that most of our people will be able to share in this privilege.

To fill the two open slots of the Triumverate while things are being set up, the Oligarchy has appointed two individuals to fill the slots; while Michael Deveraux the former Imperial Regent will be the permenant member representing the Oligarchy. The first individual appointed to fill the slot that will be up for election in ten years will be Stephen Othran formerly the Viceroy of Administrative Zone One (turkey). He has been deemed to be an effective administrator, and leader; as well as carries with him the experince to get the job done. The Second post which will be up for election in five years will be filled by Matthew Kaine, formerly Viceroy of Administrative Zone Two (Indonesia). Neither of these two indivdiual's term's will count against them as they were appointed not elected. Morgan Vars, and Richard Cremeax have been sent to replace these two individuals in their respective Viceroyalties.

Ordinance #2: Imperium Reform Addendum

Prelude:

Article I: The Executive

Prelude:

In the interest of pursuing more socially progressive political policies the Oligarchy has opted to modify the existing order, established in Article II of Ordinance #1. Said Article until a reversal shall be considered null and no longer in effect. Moreover its former function shall be substituted with the following article below.

Article I: The Executive

Section 1: Description

Clause 1: The Oligarchy while collectively the sovereign authority shall in the interest of prudence divide up its general subject jurisdiction and allot said jurisdiction to minor authorities. (These minor authorities shall be the six Oligarchs who’s privileges are granted to them directly by the Oligarchy. These privileges shall persevere all lesser law.) In doing so it will create five ministries each led by one of the collectively appointed oligarchs. This shall establish the bureaucracy of the state. These five ministries will be as follows. The Ministry of Defense, The Ministry of Finance, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Ministry of the Interior, The Ministry Internal Security.

Clause 2: Leading this group making up a collective executive there shall be a Triumvirate, the sixth Oligarch shall be an appointed member of this entity representing the interests of the Oligarchy; the remaining two seats shall be filled based on the decisions of the franchised voting majority. Individuals occupying the elected seats may serve for a single term of ten years, and one seat shall be up for election every five years. Any franchised individual is eligible to declare candidacy in these Elections. This entity shall reign and hold authority in the place of the collective. The Ministers (the other Oligarchs), shall be made to answer to them, unless acting as members of the Oligarchy.

Clause 3: The group of Oligarchs when under this structure shall exist and be known as The Directorate Committee. It is only when at least four of the six Oligarch’s have called a meeting that the entity would then be referred to as The Oligarchy. It is the only time that they are equal with the Triumvirate and as a group have the ability to supersede its will.

Section 2: The Powers of the Triumvirate

Clause 1: All of the powers below are the Triumvirate’s to exercise in so far as it has not been superseded by a majority plus one of the Oligarchy.

Clause 2: The Triumvirate shall have the power to effect its will in the form of writs. A writ like an ordinance may both mandate behavior, and restrict it. Writs shall be what comprises Administrative Law. An Imperial Writ holds the highest authority, ensuring that only a two thirds majority of the oligarchy may override it.

Clause 3: An un-contested Triumvirate functions as the head of state, head of government, and commander in chief of the military, giving it full jurisdiction over all functions of the government, and peoples subjected to it.

Clause 4: It is the responsibility of the Triumvirate to define the duties of the committee members. (Eg. While the Oligarchy selects the Regent, it shall in normal operation allow the regent to choose who fills the positions of the Ministry, and what the ministry itself does; the Oligarchy by not contesting it shall offer its approval.)

Clause 5: The Triumvirate may remove any Non-Committee/Oligarchy employee of the state, as well as appoint any one an employee of the state.

Clause 6: While the Oligarch’s are entitled to the holdings of their offices, their authority to reign does not stem from the Oligarchy but rather from the committee, and more specifically the Triumvirate. Therefore the Triumvirate shall have the authority to intervene in the functioning of any province.

Section 3: Power’s of the Ministers (Committee Members)

Clause 1: Each Committee Member may issue writs within their own jurisdiction in so far as those writs are not countermanded by the Regent’s.

Clause 2: Each Committee Member has total authority to manage their Ministry without intervention from other members of the Committee with exception to the Triumvirate.

Clause 3: Each Committee Member is responsible for the staffing of their ministry, and may subsequently remove anyone within their jurisdiction on a whim.

Clause 4: Each Committee Member may grant authority within their jurisdiction to anyone they judge competent to do so.

Section 4: Executive Ministries

Clause 1: The policies of the State shall be carried out by five ministries each represented by its minister on the committee. Each Ministry is bound to the will of the Triumvirate, and should, though they are not bound to do so, act upon reasonable requests made by Provincial Administrators. It is the duty of the Triumvirate to more clearly define the jurisdiction of each ministry and may at any time intervene in their operations or issue orders to them, however as a general Guide to clarification the Oligarchy here establishes the vague ground of each ministry.

Clause 2: The Ministry of Defense shall be responsible for the raising, training, equipping, and overall management of the nation’s military forces, defensive structures, military relevant assets and both long-term and short-term strategic military aims. It is also responsible for gathering external intelligence on foreign entities.

Clause 3: The Ministry of Internal Security shall be responsible for the raising, training, and equipping, and overall management of a national police force which shall be used to enforce the law, protect the state, keep public order, and maintain internal security. It is further responsible for the gathering of intelligence on domestic subjects, and the management of assets controlled by it.

Clause 4: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs shall responsible for managing the nation’s diplomatic relations with foreign nations, and shall be the public representative of the nation to the world. Furthermore it shall be responsible for advising the Triumvirate in decisions pertaining to Foreign Relations. Finally it shall be responsible for managing all assets held in foreign nations that pertain to its own affairs.

Clause 5: The Ministry of Finance shall be responsible for the management of the nation’s economy. It may engage in the creation of monetary policy, establish a national bank, establish market regulations, establish market mandates, create tariffs, establish tax code, manage the state’s funds, manage the nation’s resources, seize assets held by private individuals, and effect its will in matters pertaining to the economic state of the nation.

Clause 6: The Ministry of the Interior shall be responsible for the management of the nation’s national infrastructure, the management of public lands, and the management of all public programs which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the other ministries. All areas of jurisdiction not allotted to the other ministries shall be presided over by this ministry.

Ordinance #3: Enfranchisement & Elections Addendum

Article I: Subject

Article II: Election Commission

Article I: Subject

Section 1: Establishment

Clause 1: Flawed notions of voting in the past have determined such a power to be a right; this is not in fact true, voting is not a right but rather a power either claimed up or granted by another sovereign entity. No vote operates in a vacuumed and as such to vote is to effect those around you. Therefore to be a voter is not to exercise something inherent to your station as a subject but rather to operate as a piece of the greater Government. As we would expect individuals wielding authority to be competent in their exercise of power so to must it be expected that a voter is to be competent in their exercise of the franchise.

Clause 2: Thus the right to vote shall not be inherently universal, or perhaps even wide spread but rather issued based on whether or not the voter who is given said vote is qualified to hold such a power. Such qualification shall be determined based a number of criteria specifically intelligence in terms of reasoning skills, awareness of domestic and international issues and theory regarding it, political science, economic theory, historical understanding, education level, and other general knowledge. This limitation will ensure that legitimate votes by informed competent individuals are themselves not diluted by a greater pool of ignorance influenced by tools of manipulation. Moreover it will be required that only those contributing to the system through the income tax structure will be enfranchised as their property is what makes up the over all revenue used by the Government and as such they ought to have some say as to how it is allocated. Individuals not contributing to this pool have staked nothing and thus are not at risk to have their property misallocated. All Subjects of the Imperium may apply to be enfranchised.

Clause 3: Only an Active Oligarchy may choose to defer to the populace by referendum, and the only set matter that will be decided through a democratic process will be the office holders of the two rotating seats of the Triumvirate.

Article II: Election Commission

Section 1: Establishment

Clause 1: An Election and Enfranchisement Commission shall be established under the purview of the Interior Ministry. It shall be the duty of this commission to receive applications and grant or deny said applications based on an objective investigation of competence; as well as plan, manage, and oversee Triumvirate elections, and non-planned referendums.

Clause 2: This Commission will be supervised by the Interior Ministry and it staff shall be chosen by that Minister. The Minister may remove any member of this staff at any time for any reason.

Section 2: Commission Powers

Clause 1: The Commission shall have the power to set standards of examination, testing, investigation and so forth to determine competency based on the criteria provided in article I.

Clause 2: The Commission shall have the power to approve or deny applications for enfranchisement.

Clause 3: The Commission shall have the power to plan, and execute Triumvirate Elections, and Unplanned referendums.

Clause 4: The Commission shall be responsible for tracking, vetting, and approving applications for Triumvirate candidacy. While they may deny applications said power should not be exercised out of political interest but rather concerns for the safety of the public, integrity of the law, and stability of the state.

Clause 5: Votes do not have to be equally weighted the commission may determine the weight of an individuals vote based on a set standard of determination that they shall be responsible for setting.