Government and Politics of Selucia

Politics of Selucia takes place in a framework of a diarchic representative democratic republic, whereby the two Consuls jointly serve as both head of state and head of government. Selucia has a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Magistrates. Legislative power is vested in the Selucian Senate. The judiciary is partly independent of the executive and the legislature, while the Senate has judicial power in cases of high treason and crimes against humanity. Selucia's 3838 constitution proclaims Selucia as functioning under the principles of collegiality, equality under the law, democracy, and civilian rule.

Senate
"Deliberandum est saepe, statuendum est semel. One must considering often, decide however only once"



The Selucian Senate (Senatus Selucianus) is one of the major bodies to govern the Republic. Though the ministers of the government are on the top of the ladder, laws and treaties can only be ratified by this group.

The members of the Selucian Senate are called Senatores/Senatrices. A single member is called a Senator/Senatrix. The Senators' most used venue for campaigning is the rostrum, a traditional concession to the time when modern communication tools were not present. Modern tools as well are used to contact voters, like TV shows, blogs, mail advertising, posters, and websites. An election campaign can be expensive, so most candidates have a comfortable family background. But from time to time Selucian citizens come together to form a new party and collecting money for their stance.

Heated debates and funny little stories are always part of a discussion here. The Selucian Senate is often the place of international meetings as well as the annual new year's celebration, to which the Selucian citizens are invited by the government. For a while, famous debates between VBS and IBS were held here, and the Imperator was seen to be amused while sipping Uleroth's finest whisky. But the people have spoken that the riches once given to legislators must not occur any further. Thus, the Democratic Green Party of Selucia has gained a foothold in the government.

The people of the continent of Majatra regard this place as one of the major powers that others cannot deny to listen to from time to time. The Southern Oceanic Treaty Organization was founded here and subsequently spread across the Majatran continent.

In the rich history of Selucia important decisions were made here, deciding between war and peace, aid and pressure, and common free trade and government control.

The Senate's major importance for the Republic is well known in the myths and tales of Selucia. Every first of January, the government thanks the gods for their leadership, inspiration and wisdom.

Each town and city has its own Curia, where elected and appointed magistrates handle the tasks of daily life. The villages and rural districts are mostly connected to governmental structures of neighbouring towns and cities.

It is common in Selucia to dress in traditional clothes during daily work due to the archipelago's tropical climate. Though in modern times ballots can be handled electronically, Selucia went through several crises with this system. As a result, Selucia returned to an easier and more traditional way. Now the voters tick the box next to the name of their favored candidate and drop the ballot in a box. Two members of each party then count the ballots. This prevents cheating. The Selucian citizens are proud to combine modernity with traditional elements in Selucia.

Consuls
The executive of the Republic is divided into two collegial magistratures, called Consuls. In order to balance the two sources of legitimacy in the Republic, namely the People and the Senate, one Consul (unofficially known as Consul Popularis) is elected by universal suffrage, and the other (known unofficially as Consul Senatorius/Senatoria) by the Senate. Apart from their different method of selection, the two Consuls have fully equal rights and responsibilities. They both jointly serve as Head of State and Head of Government, as Commanders-in-Chief of the armed forces, and both have the right of receiving and sending ambassadors. They are the supreme executive magistrature, and they also enjoy immunity from prosecution during their term in office, but can be held to account for their actions once their term in office has ended. In order to limit the possibility that one Consul can have too much power as a result of this system, one Consul can veto the actions of the other, and one Consul's actions can be appealed to the judgment of the other. The Consuls consequently have to work together.

Dictator
In cases of extreme emergency, the Senate can elect a Dictator/Dictatrix with full power over the armed forces, unaccountable to any body. The Dictator is elected by a constitutional majority and only serves for four years. Unlike the Consuls, the Dictator may not be called to answer for their actions even after the end of their term in office. During rule by a Dictator, the Consuls and Senate continue to operate, but they are subordinate to the Dictator's imperium maius.

Imperator
Selucia's Head of State was known as the Imperator (literally "General"). The title originates from the official name of the first elected Head of State of Selucia after Unification, which in turn was derived from the name of the unofficial leader of the Selucian League in Antiquity. Although the League was a military alliance, it was later seen as the first time Selucia was united under a single government, and subsequent nationalist governments derived much of their symbolism from the imagined or real symbols of the League.

The full title of the Imperator before the abolition of the office was Imperator/Imperatrix Omnis Seluciae, Fidei Defensor/Fidei Defensatrix, highlighting the supremacy of the Selucian Patriarchal Church during the late days of the Imperium. Before the ascendancy of Hosianism, the Imperator's official title was Imperator Caesar Augustus Pontifex Maximus, as the office also had a leading position in Selucian Paganism.

Magistrates
"Ut corpora nostra sine mente, sic civitas sine lege. Like our bodies without spirit is a country without law"



Those whom the Senatus elects form the government of the Selucian Republic. A wide spectrum of political leanings exist within the cabinet, but all offices are intended to be filled with the best possible persons. One of the differences in comparison with other nations on Terra is the power of each office. Some of them have more power than others or share power with the Consules. But all are responsible for their office alone and have to give a vindication speech after their turn. They can't get punished as member of the cabinet but later when they are just senatores again their illegal acts can be punished. Nevertheless it is a high honour to be elected to hold an office and most, if not all, Senatores work hard toward this goal. It offers high reputation and influence and their descendants are proud to have well known if not famous family members within their ranks.