Imperial Consul

The first Imperial Consul was appointed in Summer 379YE

Overview

The Imperial Consul is an Imperial title appointed by the Senate. It was created by the Senate during the Summer 379YE summit, and sparked considerable controversy leading to a clash between the senators and the civil service over the recommendations of the Constitutional Court.

In Summer 382YE the Imperial Senate voted to provide a stipend to the Imperial Consul. They further amended during the Spring Equinox 383YE to make them a member of the Senate - again with a certain amount of controversy.

In Winter 383YE the title was further modified when the Senate chose to construct the Imperial Consulate in Tassato following the suggestion of the Merchant-Prince of the Featherwick Guild, granting additional benefits including briefings on the Empire's diplomatic position and equal respect as any regular ambassador.

Prior to the Winter Solstice 387YE, the Consul was able to purchase goods from merchants and those seeking favour from the foreign nations with which the Empire had an embassy. This was changed, along with the rest of the ambassadors, when the Senate voted to amend the embassies to end the practice, removing mercantile support and the upkeep costs at the same time.

Responsibilities

The Imperial Consul is expected to liaise with Imperial ambassadors and similar positions and report back to the Senate. The Imperial Constitution is clear that authority for negotiation with foreign powers lies with the appointed ambassador- the Consul has no legal right to direct the ambassadors in their work - their role is to liaise with the Imperial ambassadors and help keep the Senate abreast of diplomatic developments.

The Imperial Consul is however responsible for handling diplomatic relations with any foreign and barbarian power with which the Senate has not created a separate ambassador. The Imperial Constitution grants the power of authority for diplomatic relations to the Imperial Senate - by creating this title, the Senate divests itself of their remaining authority in this area to the Consul. When dealing with such a nation, their responsibilities are similar to those common to an ambassador

Foreign nations have agendas of their own, and may seek to draw the Empire into their intrigues. The existence of the Imperial Consul does not automatically mean that a foreign nation will engage with them - most nations are disinclined to deal extensively with the Empire while there is no embassy. The civil service and the Secretary to the Diplomatic Corps will do their best to appraise such nations of the role of the Imperial Consul.

Limitations

The Imperial Consul can only represent the Empire in dealings with foreign or barbarian nations where there is no existing Imperial ambassador with responsibility for doing so. If an embassy for a foreign nation has been completed then the legal powers of the Consul do not cover dealings with representatives of that nation - even if the ambassador is absent or the post has not yet been filled; the existence of such a title is sufficient.

Powers

Right of Address

The Imperial Consul has the right to make a Senate address once per summit. This is intended to allow them to present important information for the senators consideration. To make an address, the Consul must inform the Speaker for the Senate of their intention, so that the Speaker can add the address to the agenda for the next Senate session.

Member of the Senate

The Imperial Consul is a member of the Senate. They are entitled to enter the Senate chamber at the start of a Senate session and participate in the debates. They do not have the power to raise motions or to vote on a motion.

Representative of the Empire

The civil service provide support to help an ambassador to represent the Empire when dealing with foreign dignitaries from any nation where there is no existing ambassador. They have all the available legal powers of an ambassador; the power to receive a delegation and compose a treaty when dealing with a foreign or barbarian nation.

The Consul receives a unique briefing every summit, containing information about the various barbarian and foreign nations the Empire has no existing ambassador to deal with. They also receive a broad overview of the relationship between the Empire and all nations with which it does have an Embassy. Although these briefings are not as in-depth as those received by the individual Ambassadors, they serve to assist the Consul in discharging their duties as a liaison between the ambassadors and the Senate.

Stipend

The Imperial Consul receives a stipend of 5 thrones each season from the Imperial treasury.

Vitore's Mightiest Weapon

The Imperial Consul bears Vitore's Mightiest Weapon, an artefact of unknown power. It is the legal property of the title. If the Consul loses their position, then the item must be given to the new Consul with all appropriate haste. The Imperial Consul is encouraged to take all appropriate precautions to keep this item safe.

Appointment

The Imperial Consul is an Imperial position appointed by the Senate. Any Imperial citizen can hold this title, and the consul serves for a year. They can be revoked by the General Assembly and by the Assembly of the Nine.

Summit	Nation	Elected
Summer Solstice 387YE	Wintermark	Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason
Summer Solstice 386YE	Dawn	Jarrigk Silktongue
Summer Solstice 385YE	Dawn	Jarrigk Silktongue
Summer Solstice 384YE	Dawn	Jarrigk Orzel
Summer Solstice 383YE	Imperial Orcs	Fal
Summer Solstice 382YE	Imperial Orcs	Fal
Summer Solstice 381YE	The League	Aureliana Perpetua Nicasia Saverio di Sarvos
Summer Solstice 380YE	The League	Aureliana Perpetua Nicasia Saverio di Sarvos
Summer Solstice 379YE	Wintermark	Kellua Itsepainen

Recent Elections

This title is currently held by Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason; it will be reelected at Summer Solstice 388YE. The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.

Imperial Consulate

Refurbished from an old four-storey building a stone's throw from the University of Tassato, the Consulate is an impressive edifice on the eastern banks of the river Vassa. The expanded private docks allow dignitaries and merchants from a wide variety of foreign powers to visit the Consul in private to discuss matters of import - or merely import their goods. The building also features fine apartments for the Consul's exclusive use, allowing them to host guests from within and without the Empire's borders and impress them with the accoutrements of state.

Around a dozen staff also reside in the building, hand-picked by the Civil Service for their diplomatic acumen.

Constitution

During scrutiny by the Constitutional Court several significant issues were raised with this title. These issues included concerns about the use of the Right of Address, the implicit authority of the title to command other Imperial citizens, and the use of the word "High" in the original title.

The Constitutional Court returned the motion creating the title to the Senate with a series of proposed amendments, leading to extensive and energetic debate between the Senators and Magistrate Karkovich. After spirited discussion, the administrative motion suggesting changes to the presentation of the title was accepted by the Senate.

Further Reading

Core Brief

• Senate session
• Senate motion
• Senate powers
• Senator

Additional Information

• Commission
• Senate address
• Senate announcement
• New Imperial titles
• Appointment by the Senate
• Appointments to the Senate
  • The Throne
  • Master of the Imperial Mint
  • Conscience of the Senate
  • Imperial Consul
  • Imperial Magus
  • Advisor on Orc Affairs
  • Speaker for the Senate
• Imperial treasury
• OOC design