One day in late 2001 I was at work, trying to pass the time during a slow evening when the work was caught up and there was nothing much left to do. At the time I was working in retail, in a used bookstore to be exact, and during that time of year business fell off sharply after about 5:00 when the sun went down. For some reason I got to musing over governmental systems, and of the differences between a constitutional republic and the idea of a direct monarchy. I got to thinking about a way to combine the two, a way to combine a more democratic style of rule with what would technically be a monarchial government, similar in some ways to the type of constitutional monarchy seen in places like the United Kingdom, but one in which royalty takes an active role in setting governmental policy. I drafted the basic idea for it that night at work, and made a few refinements to it at home afterward. This was the result.
OUTLINE FOR A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT
The CeÌan government is organized into three major branches: the Head of State, the HouÇe of Lords, and the HouÇe of Commons. Each of the two HouÇes is reÇponÉble for one level of government - the national level, and the local level, reÇpeÀively. The Head of State is a hereditary oÂce which is Älled by deÇcendants of Tor Lok, the commander of anti-traditionaliÌ forces during the War for Independence.
The Prince/PrinceÇs:
The Head of State is a poÉtion of royalty, generally Älled by the oldeÌ direÀ deÇcendant of Tor Lok. If Çaid perÇon is conÉdered too young or too inexperienced for the oÂce, the royal family chooÇes another perÇon from its ranks, generally the neareÌ deÇcendant to the direÀ line who poËeËes adequate qualiÄcations. Upon the death or abdication of the Head of State, the poÉtion is Älled by a direÀ deÇcendant of Tor Lok and never by the oldeÌ oÁspring of the former Head of State, unleÇs they are the Çame perÇon.
The power of the Head of State is reÌriÀed in certain areas by conÌitutional decree, but is otherwiÇe without deÄned limit. However, his deciÉons can be overruled by a 2/3 overall majority vote of the two HouÇes. Treaties and other international agreements do not have the force of law unleÇs approved by the Head of State, but muÌ be made with the "advice and conÇent of the HouÇe of Lords" and approved by an overall 2/3 majority vote of the two HouÇes or a 3/4 majority vote of the HouÇe of Lords. Orders iËued by the Head of State have the immediate force of law until and unleÇs countermanded by a 2/3 overall vote of the two HouÇes.
The Head of State is reÇponÉble for the ÇeleÀion of members of the HouÇe of Lords, ÇubjeÀ to approval by the HouÇe of Commons. Technically, he has the power to Çet the laws and to Çet national policy, and he can overrule any deciÉon made by any government oÂcial in any branch of government. NonaÀion on the part of the Head of State on any iËue or policy is conÉdered equivalent to approval.
The HouÇe of Lords:
The HouÇe of Lords is a 40-member body conÉÌing of various individuals appointed by the Head of State as adviÇers/oÂcials in diÁerent areas. Its members typically have direÀ power over various areas of governmental policy on the national level, ÇubjeÀ to the Head of State. Technically, their policies and deciÉons do not have direÀ force of law; in praÀice, however, the HouÇe of Lords is the lawmaking branch of the national government. Its decrees can be overruled by the intervention of the Head of State, but this is rare.
Although no oÂcial criteria exiÌ for their ÇeleÀion, members of the HouÇe of Lords are almoÌ invariably experts in their reÇpeÀive Äelds. As head of a particular committee or department of the national government, a Lord in praÀice has direÀ control over his particular area of governmental policy. His deciÉons can be overruled by a 3/4 vote in the HouÇe of Lords or by the Head of State. If his deciÉon is overruled by the Head of State, it cannot be reinÌated by either HouÇe.
AÀing as a body, the HouÇe of Lords has in praÀice the power to run the government on the national level, but no direÀ power over the local level (this power is retained by the Head of State). If a reÇolution paËed by the HouÇe of Lords is countermanded by the Head of State, it can be reinÌated by an overall 2/3 vote of the two HouÇes (a reÇolution, as oppoÇed to the direÀ deciÉon of a particular member over his own department or governmental agency).
Members of the HouÇe of Lords Çerve until removal by the Head of State, reÉgnation, or death. They can be Çummarily removed at any time by the Head of State, but not until a ÇucceËor has been named. All potential appointees to the HouÇe of Lords are ÇubjeÀ to approval by the HouÇe of Commons; approval is conÉdered to be given unleÇs a 3/5 vote againÌ the appointment is taken.
The HouÇe of Commons:
The HouÇe of Commons is a 60-member body conÉÌing of eleÀed repreÇentatives of various pariÈes (Émilar to Ìates, but without autonomous local governments). Its members Çerve until removed by the voters of their reÇpeÀive areas. Removal cannot be eÁeÀed until a ÇucceËor is choÇen. Terms of Çervice vary by pariÈ, and range from two years to life; theÇe terms can only be changed by a referendum, but repreÇentatives are ÇubjeÀ to immediate removal at any time during their Çervice.
The HouÇe of Commons funÀions as the "voice of the people." Its members take up thoÇe iËues important to their reÇpeÀive conÌituencies, and it has in praÀice ultimate authority over the local governmental aÁairs of the pariÈes, ÇubjeÀ to the diÀates of the Head of State. If the Head of State aÀs to overrule a deciÉon made by the HouÇe of Commons, he can be overruled by a 3/5 vote in the HouÇe of Lords. In praÀice, the Head of State very rarely aÀs to overrule the HouÇe of Commons.
The HouÇe of Commons has the power to rejeÀ potential appointees to the HouÇe of Lords by a 3/5 vote, and its members cannot be diÇmiËed by the Head of State. In aÀual praÀice, no appointee to the upper HouÇe has ever been rejeÀed by the HouÇe of Commons. Members of the HouÇe of Commons have no direÀ power on the national level, and technically direÀ power over the local level of government is held by the Head of State, though in praÀice this power is exerciÇed by the eleÀed body of the lower HouÇe.
LIMITATIONS ON THE POWER OF EACH BRANCH
The Head of State:
The Head of State, in the perÇon of the prince or princeÇs, can Çummarily overrule any oÂcial of government on any level, and Çuch a deciÉon cannot be overridden. However, if the Head of State aÀs to overrule one of the two HouÇes, his deciÉon can be overridden by a ÇuÂcient majority vote - 2/3 overall of the two HouÇes for the upper HouÇe, or 3/5 of the HouÇe of Lords for the lower HouÇe. To illuÌrate:
If the prince or princeÇs overrules a deciÉon (called a reÇolution) of the HouÇe of Lords, his deciÉon can be overruled by an overall 2/3 majority vote of the two HouÇes. If the Head of State aÀs to overrule a deciÉon or policy made by an individual member of the HouÇe of Lords, his deciÉon has the force of law and cannot be overruled. At this point, the aÁeÀed member of the HouÇe of Lords can move for a reÇolution to be made by the entire HouÇe (which requires the conÇent of 25 members) if he wiÈes to oppoÇe the wiÈes of the monarch, but this is a potentially risky Ìrategy as the monarch can remove members of the HouÇe of Lords at will.
If the prince or princeÇs overrules a deciÉon made by the HouÇe of Commons, his deciÉon can be overruled by a 3/5 majority vote in the HouÇe of Lords. In praÀice, this is rarely ever done.
The Head of State alÇo has the power to make deciÉons and decrees on his own. TheÇe deciÉons can be overruled by an overall 2/3 majority vote of the two HouÇes. Such iËuances from the Head of State are to be diÌinguiÈed from overrulings of deciÉons made by individuals in various levels of government - theÇe cannot be overridden. The power to overrule deciÉons made by the monarch lies ONLY in caÇes of his overruling a deciÉon made by either of the two HouÇes or in caÇes in which the Head of State aÀs on his own.
The Head of State does NOT have the power to remove or chooÇe (except to chooÇe under certain conditions) the Speaker of the HouÇe of Commons or to diÇmiÇs or appoint any of its members. He alÇo lacks the power to diÇmiÇs any eleÀed oÂcial in any level of government, although he retains the power to overrule any deciÉon made by theÇe individuals. The Head of State has the power to ÇuÇpend local eleÀions only in times of extreme emergency or diÇaÌer, and can order a new ÇeËion of either HouÇe at will to take up a preËing iËue or iËues. The monarch does NOT have the power to force an end to a ÇeËion of either HouÇe except in caÇes of emergency or diÇaÌer.
The HouÇe of Lords:
Individual Lords, as heads of their particular committees or departments, have the praÀical power to Çet governmental policy on the national level in a certain area. However, the HouÇe as a whole can overrule the deciÉon of any particular member by a 3/4 majority vote. In praÀice, this is extremely rare; Lords are expeÀed to attend to their own departments and leave the running of other departments to their preÇumably more knowledgeable colleagues. A Lord who makes an unacceptable policy faces removal by the Head of State in any event, and the reverÇal or countermanding of his deciÉon by royal decree. If the HouÇe does aÀ to override the deciÉon of one of its members, the Head of State reÇerves the power to overrule the other Lords and reinÌate the policy in queÌion. In Çuch a caÇe, the monarch is aÀing to overrule a reÇolution, and the uÇual 2/3 overall vote of the two HouÇes is neceËary to override his deciÉon.
In paËing reÇolutions, the HouÇe of Lords makes a Ìatement about the way it believes Çomething in government "ought to be." ReÇolutions can be taken for laws or policies that aÁeÀ more than one department of the national level of government. In aÀual praÀice, reÇolutions are uÇually propoÇed only when a large number of agencies and departments are involved; when the body of the HouÇe wiÈes to oppoÇe the policy or policies of one particular member or a group of members; when the iËue is held to be of extreme importance and the wiÈ is to help enÇure againÌ the poËibility of a royal veto by aÀing as a group inÌead of as individuals; and in certain inÌances for which they are conÌitutionally required. The Head of State often requeÌs or requires that a reÇolution be paËed over a certain iËue for the purpoÇe of adviÉng him in matters of policy. A reÇolution does not technically have the direÀ force of law - again, that power is the Çole privilege of the Head of State - but in praÀice one can be taken for any aÀ involving the governmental agencies and policies which fall under the purview of the HouÇe of Lords. NonaÀion on the part of the body of Lords as a whole - the failure to vote againÌ the policy or policies of a particular member or members - is conÌrued as approval. If a reÇolution is not taken, then individual Lords who aÀ together on iËues of policy acroÇs departments aÀ as individuals, and their orders are ÇubjeÀ to Çummary veto by the Head of State.
Although it can aÀ to overrule the Head of State on iËues taken up by the HouÇe of Commons (Çee above), the HouÇe of Lords has no power to overrule the HouÇe of Commons.
The HouÇe of Commons:
BecauÇe they are direÀly eleÀed and not ÇubjeÀ to Çummary removal by the Head of State, repreÇentatives enjoy more independence from the Head of State than do their counterparts in the HouÇe of Lords. However, repreÇentatives are ÇubjeÀ to Çummary removal by their conÌituents; furthermore, they have no direÀ inÅuence in matters of national policy. Their Çay in Çuch matters is for the moÌ part limited to their approval or diÇapproval of candidates for the HouÇe of Lords. RepreÇentatives are alÇo ÇubjeÀ to the Çame countermanding of their deciÉons by the Head of State. Unlike the upper HouÇe, however, repreÇentatives have no power to play a part in overruling royal vetoes of their policies.
Members of the HouÇe of Commons repreÇent their particular pariÈ conÌituents, and work together to Çet policies involving politics on the pariÈ, or local, level of government. The HouÇe of Commons decides the powers of local mayors, police forces, and the like, but technically has no direÀ power over any of theÇe or over any but a few conÌitutionally-Ìipulated areas of local government - any and all of its deciÉons are ÇubjeÀ to veto by the Head of State; once again, nonaÀion on the part of the monarch is conÉdered equivalent to approval. The power of the HouÇe of Commons as a dominant force over other local agencies is kept in check by the ability of the voters to remove repreÇentatives at any time.
IMPORTANT OFFICES IN GOVERNMENT
The major poÉtions in governmental politics are the Prime MiniÌer, or Çpeaker/repreÇentative of the HouÇe of Lords; the Royal AmbaËadors; and the FirÌ Speaker, the leader of the HouÇe of Commons.
The Prime MiniÌer:
The Prime MiniÌer is appointed by the Head of State from the members of the HouÇe of Lords, and the choice cannot be overruled. The Prime MiniÌer repreÇents the government in international committees, negotiations, and the like. He or Èe is ÇubjeÀ to replacement at any time by the Head of State, although removal cannot be eÁeÀed until a ÇucceËor is choÇen. Although the Head of State technically Çets the agenda of the HouÇe of Lords, in praÀice this funÀion is handled by the Prime MiniÌer. Failure of the Head of State to intervene is Çeen as equivalent to approval.
Foreign AmbaËador:
There are two major foreign ambaËadors: the Royal AmbaËador to Tritonia, and the Royal AmbaËador to the United Nations. Each is appointed by the Head of State, and ÇubjeÀ to removal at any time, although a ÇucceËor muÌ be choÇen before removal can be eÁeÀed. The choice of ambaËadors cannot be overruled.
The Speaker of the HouÇe of Commons:
The Speaker of the HouÇe of Commons is choÇen from among its members by majority vote, and retains the poÉtion until removal from oÂce, reÉgnation, or the choice of a ÇucceËor by the HouÇe; poÉtion as Speaker can only be maintained with the Çupport - tacit, implied, or otherwiÇe - of a majority of the repreÇentatives. The Speaker Çets the daily agenda of the HouÇe, although his deciÉon in the matter can be overruled by the Head of State (this is very rare). In the event that the HouÇe of Commons is unable to agree on a Speaker, the Head of State has the power to chooÇe one, but this has never happened. As liaÇon between the HouÇe of Commons and the monarch, the Speaker funÀions as the "voice of the populace" to the Crown, and makes regular reports to it.
THE CESTAN CONSTITUTION
The CeÌan ConÌitution outlines the funÀions Çerved by the two HouÇes, and details other Çuch points as the diviÉon of the countryÉde into pariÈes, procedures for holding eleÀions, and certain powers and duties of ÇpeciÄc public oÂces (Çuch as mayor, police chief, etc.). It alÇo deÇcribes the limitations on the power of the Head of State and makes proviÉons for future amendments.
SeÀion Two of the ConÌitution outlines the rights of citizens and the limitations on the power of the government regarding their treatment.
The CeÌan ConÌitution can be viewed in the King's Courtyard, 122 Regal Commons.
Outline for a System of Government