Eastern Kingdom Gov't Changes

[Borys]

 The Empress hereby declares,

From now on she will not be the sole power in the Eastern Kingdom. She hereby declares that a Senate will be formed. Of exactly 300 members. Members will be elected from Clans. Which are based on the Japanese feudal tradition. However as modern form, they are non-military, solely political parties. So just think of them as political parties.

Shared power is the result.

   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 8 2007, 10:56 PM


Hegemon
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The Empress hereby declares the new government structure of the Eastern Kingdom:


The Consuls will call for meetings of the Senate. A Senatorial Quorum shall be defined as such: one Consul, the Praetor, the Imperator, and two Senators (other than the Magistrates already listed) must be present. The Tribune of the Plebs need not be present. However, all proposed legislation must still be ratified by the Tribune of the Plebs. All proposed legislation must be put in writing prior to a division. At the discretion of the Consuls, there will be meetings where all Japanese may attend.

The Senate is presided over by the Consuls. At the beginning of the meeting, auspices should be held by the Pontifex Maximus/Pontifex Shogun or the ranking Augur to determine the approval of the gods. The Consuls may then call the meeting to order. The Consuls shall introduce each topic. Only the Tribune of the Plebs may interrupt the Consuls (with a Veto). The proper order for the Consuls to call on other speakers is as follows: the Imperator, the Praetor, the Aedile, the Quaestor, followed by Consulars then other members of the Senate in order of their abundance of military awards. This is the appropriate progression. Non-Senators may be called upon to speak in open sessions, but have no actual right to speak. Of course, the Consuls may opt not to allow anyone to speak on a given topic: they operate the Senate and that is their right. A Consul, for instance, may propose a law and call for an immediate division of the Senate. ONLY Senators may vote on an issue, even in an open session. NO foreign kings may attend a Senate meeting (even as an ambassadorial representative), according to ancient tradition. Only a king's ambassador may appear before the Senate.

The choke point is the Arbiter. The Arbiter's, of which there are ten, all have line item veto abilities. They prevent deadlocks from occuring in the senate. But they have no power to put forth legislation. Only the senate or the represenative courts may.

Representative courts may not enact legislation. They merely draft it and pass it on to the Senate. The Senate however, can draft its own legislation when it chooses to do so.


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Further changes:

The government is divided into two tiers.

Higher and Lower.

Lower consists of governors who rule cities. (OCC: Think of it as a mayor). City states hold elections and put forth candidates for senate membership.

Higher consists of the Senate and the Empress herself.

Lower government can govern their own indidivual cities, but cannot enact national reforms. Only higher government can do that. The lower government however is responsible for putting forth representatives to the senate. They hold court in chambers outside the main senate hall. And they represent the cities and territories they come from.

A senator is elected via this method:

Cities hold elections on a national level.

They put forth their candidates.

Larger clan voting takes place to elect the new senator.

The representatives then apporve or bar the new senator from assuming their position in the senate. Some senators are senators for life, such as powerful aristocrats. However most (exactly 200), are elected officials.

   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 8 2007, 11:20 PM


Hegemon
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Clan structure is as follows:

-----------------------------
Crab Clan
Serpent Clan
Crane Clan
Lotus Clan
Dragon Clan
Lion Clan
Phoenix Clan
Scorpion Clan
Unicorn Clan

-------------------------

Features:

The Crab Clan is militaristic. Mostly interested in military matters. They rigidly oppose the Crane clan.

The Serpent Clan are radical and liberal. Very deceptive political party. They are most interested in their own city states rather than worried about the kingdom on a national level. A rather small clan for obvious reasons.

The Crane clan are highly liberal. Most interested in domestic issues and civil rights. Take a neutral stance in foreign affairs.

The Lotus Clan, regarded as pro-industry, but not so concerned with human rights. Staunchly opposes the Lion clan. They are communist in nature. And are technologists.

The Dragon Clan, speaks in riddles and often take vows of silence. They are very traditional in belief and practice. However they are highly secretive as well. They are highly concerned with the enviroment and religion. They believe animals and trees all have spirits. They believe in ancestrial worship. And believe in reincarnation. So they assume that any animal might possibly be a reincarnated family member. Thus are strictly vegatarian and pro-animal rights.

The Lion Clan believes highly in honor. They wouldnt have approved of the recent Montego Bay air raid. They are conservative. They rigidily oppose the Scorpion clan.

The Phoenix clan is benevolent. They don't believe in taking hostile actions, and are pacifists.

The Scorpion clan members usually wear masks while carrying out political matters and activities. They are highly secretive and are chaotic in the stances they take. They are most interested with maintaining their clan power and putting the Eastern Kingdom's interests before the interest of other countries. They aren't afraid of wars, or of dishonorable acts. They believe honor is what gets the agenda done well. Very untrustworthy bunch. Not interested in human rights either.

The Unicorn clan believes in justice. They believe in taking part in international matters. And are very active in foreign relations and diplomacy. Honor is a strong issue with this clan. They rigidly oppose the Serpent and Lotus clan.

======================

Remember, clans are basically political parties.

They do have a champion speaker (for each clan). Who is responsible as a leader of the clan.
   
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P3D    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 12:00 AM


Hegemon
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Lot5R?
   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 12:29 AM


Hegemon
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oh....i get it.

legend of the 5 rings.

no it's not. it's D&D. which borrowed heavily from Lot5r.

funny thing, i've never played either of those...games. but i know about them.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 12:58 AM


King of Rohan
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OOC: Just a note that some clans and families are known to have left the Eastern Kingdom to settle in Rohan (and possibly other places West of the Mississippi River) to escape the various wars of the Kingdom. Some knows are the settlers of a place known as Samurai Creek, which included the Oyama family and also know is the Toyotomi clan, which started a company that supplies the Mark with swords of high quality. Others are possible, but that has not been fully explored.
   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 01:19 AM


Hegemon
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QUOTE (Ithekro @ Feb 9 2007, 12:58 AM)
OOC: Just a note that some clans and families are known to have left the Eastern Kingdom to settle in Rohan (and possibly other places West of the Mississippi River) to escape the various wars of the Kingdom. Some knows are the settlers of a place known as Samurai Creek, which included the Oyama family and also know is the Toyotomi clan, which started a company that supplies the Mark with swords of high quality. Others are possible, but that has not been fully explored.

I'd be curious to know what Rohan thinks of the 300 member senate.
   
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Ithekro    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 01:48 AM


King of Rohan
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Rohan has not seen if they are effective yet, so it reserves judgement.

Is it that the representatives are lesser in number than the senate or did I read that wrong in the election thread?
   
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P3D    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 01:49 AM


Hegemon
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Lot5R - Legends of the Five Rings is a CCG/Rolepaying Game in a mystical Japan-like settings, with accompanying novels. They have clans named after the same animals.
   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 09:03 AM


Hegemon
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QUOTE (Ithekro @ Feb 9 2007, 01:48 AM)
Rohan has not seen if they are effective yet, so it reserves judgement.

Is it that the representatives are lesser in number than the senate or did I read that wrong in the election thread?

Yes u read it wrong. Theres a rep for each settled area (city, town, village) in the EK.

which equals 735 currently. as opposed to 300 member senate
   
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Gabi86    
Posted: Feb 9 2007, 09:04 AM


Hegemon
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QUOTE (P3D @ Feb 9 2007, 01:49 AM)
Lot5R - Legends of the Five Rings is a CCG/Rolepaying Game in a mystical Japan-like settings, with accompanying novels. They have clans named after the same animals.

Not Serpent, Lotus.

And I don't have Mantis.

They do.

So not quite.
   
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swamphen    
Posted: Feb 11 2007, 11:00 AM


Großeadmiral Sumpfhühn
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Very interesting...

(As mentioned before...there is a sizeable Nipponese minority in the Bismarck Islands (a majority, in fact, on New Nippon (@ New Britian)), from the original migration from Nippon itself many moons ago. However I haven't explored that too much - beyond Ambassador Takeda anyway - yet.)