Imperial Senate
Overview
The Senate is the legislative body for the Empire. It also acts as the executive when the Throne is vacant, ensuring a steady hand on the governance of Empire. The Senate is a representative chamber. Senators are chosen by each nation according to their customs in line with the number of territories they hold. In the absence of an Empress, it is the most important and powerful institution within the Empire.
Role within the Empire
The Senate is responsible for the creation of all Imperial Law and for the amendment of the Imperial Constitution. The Senate also declares the state of external nations, whether they are recognised as Foreign Nations or Barbarians. Declaring an external nation as "Barbarian" automatically places the Empire at war with it.
When there is no Empress the Senate also takes some of the powers of the Throne upon itself.
Entry Requirements
Senators are appointed by each nation according to their own traditions and laws. It is normal for each territory to be represented by a Senator.
History
The Senate structure comes from the traditions of the Winterfolk. It was created at the start of the Empire to give all particpating nations a voice within the political structures of the Empire and to ensure their control over the laws that governed them. It is broadly the same as it was when established, although some minor tweaks have been made constitutionally to increase the power of the Senate in the time of a weak Throne and some traditions in procedure have grown over the ages.
Structure and Dynamics
Functionaries from the Civil Service are responsible for maintaining civil debate and procedure within the chamber.
All motions, of whatever type, to be placed before the Senate are to be passed to the Speaker of the Chamber, who is appointed for each session from the available Iron Voices, before the session begins.
Each motion is announced by the Speaker with the name of who has proposed it and that proposing Senator may then speak on the motion. There follows a short debate, and then a vote.
Any Imperial Citizen is allowed to enter the Senate but those who are neither Senators nor civil servants are expected to remain silent and observe.
Powers and Functions
- Creation and amendment of Imperial Law, by majority vote.
- Amendment of the Imperial Constitution, by majority vote of every nation’s senators (absent senators count as NO votes).
- Declaration of War by assignment of Foreign Nation and Barbarian status of external nations.
- Such powers of the Throne as fall to the Senate if the Throne is vacant.
Resources
The Senate controls various resources, which it can grant to citizens of the empire, and more information will be forthcoming later.
Icons and Imagery
A pair of Pillars between which is the Imperial Horse.
Children and the Senate
Children are often used as messengers in the Senate.
It is also common for those who near their tests of citizenship, and can do so, to attend a session or two to see their government in action and decide if they have political ambition.