Government and politics of Greater Hulstria

= Cabinet Government Coalitions =

Cabinet Government Coalitions, including normal party coalitions, play a huge part in Hulstrian politics. They are often the main powers or the main legislative force in the nation in certain time periods. Some cabinet coalitions have been bi-partisan, including political parties from all idealogies, and others have been partisan, based around only for a certain few. However, Greater Hulstria has a strong tradition in unity cabinets; only a few cabinets have been highly partisan in recent history.

Past

 * FAP & PLP Alliance - Progressive Liberal Party of Hulstria, Fascist Authority Party. 2594-2600


 * Anti-Fascist Coalition - Hulstrian Nationalist Party, Kasierliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberal Party of Hulstria, Vereinigte Freiheit Allianz. 2642-2658


 * Right Coalition - Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian Reactionary Party, Patriciate Coalition. 2642-2658


 * United Hulstria - Hulstrian Nationalist Party, Kasierliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberal Party of Hulstria, Fascist Authority Party, Vereinigte Freiheit Allianz, Patriciate Coalition. 2658-2665


 * Liberal-Nationalists - Hulstrian Nationalist Party, Liberal Party of Hulstria, Christian Liberal Party. 2665-2673


 * Hulstrian League - Christian Liberal Party, Fascist Authority Party, Herrenclub Werffenberg, Hulstrian Nationalist Party, Liberal Party of Hulstria, New Komeito Party 2673-2690


 * Liberal-Nationalists - Christian Liberal Party, Hulstrian Nationalist Party 2690-2702


 * Imperial Pact- Christian Liberal Party, Fascist Authority Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Hulstrian Nationalist Party 2702-2717


 * Imperial Conservatives- Fascist Authority Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Kaufmännischer Anschluss, Konservative Völker Partei 2717-2741


 * Liberal-Radicalists - Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Radicalistische Bewegung 2741-2746


 * Liberal-Conservatives - Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party 2746- 2762


 * Falkenrath Faction- Christliche Liberalen Allianz 2762-2764


 * Bendtsen-Adenauer Grouping - Christliche Liberalen Allianz 2764-2772


 * Royal Coalition- Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party 2772-2774


 * Pan-Hulstria Alliance Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria, Hulstrian National Party 2774-2779


 * New Hulstria Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria, Objektivismus Partei 2779-2788


 * Centre Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria, 2788-2793


 * Left-Right Unity Alliance Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria 2793-2799


 * Conservative-Liberal Cooperation Pact Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Nationale Demokratische Union, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria  December 2799-May 2800 


 * Concordance Pact Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Nationale Demokratische Union, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria 2800-2807


 * Liberal-Conservative Royalist Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Nationale Demokratische Union 2807-2824


 * Gold Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian National Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria 2824-2837


 * Unitary Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Hulstrian Monarchist Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Socialist Party of Greater Hulstria, Verfassungsunabhängigkeit-Partei 2837-2852


 * New Concordance Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Fascist Authority Party, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Verfassungsunabhängigkeit-Partei 2852-2859


 * Unison Compact Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberal-Demokratische Partei Verfassungsunabhängigkeit-Partei 2859-2878


 * Congruence Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Christliche Zentrumspartei Hulsterreichs, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberal-Demokratische Partei, Verfassungs Unabhängigkeit Partei, Völker-Freiheitspartei 2878-2884


 * Alliance for Unity Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Christliche Zentrumspartei Hulsterreichs, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Nationale Party, Verfassungs Unabhängigkeit Partei, Völker-Freiheitspartei 2884-2887


 * Unison Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Christliche Zentrumspartei Hulsterreichs, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Nationale Party, Verfassungs Unabhängigkeit Partei 2887-2894


 * Unison Coalition II Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Nationale Party, Verfassungs Unabhängigkeit Partei 2894-2898


 * Hulstrian Collective Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Christliche Zentrumspartei Hulsterreichs, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party, National Party, Verfassungs Unabhängigkeit Partei 2898-2928


 * Büren Coalition Christliche Liberalen Allianz, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party, Imperial Order of the Knights Illuminate 2928-2933


 * Imperial Conservatives Ausgehenanlage der Luskismus, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party, National Party 2933-2935


 * Imperial Conservatives Ausgehenanlage der Luskismus, Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Imperial Hulstrian Party 2935-2951


 * Imperial Conservatives Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Imperial Knights 2951-2960


 * Imperial Conservatives Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei 2960-2995


 * Tieck Cabinet I Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberaldemokratische Allianz 2995-2999


 * Smaragdwald Cabinet I Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, Liberaldemokratische Allianz 2999-3030


 * FGP-KHP-HLG-NNP Coalition Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, New National Party, Hulstrian Liberal League 3030-3032

Present

 * Imperial Conservatives Faschistische Gewalt-Partei, Kaiserliche Hulsterreichische Partei, New National Party 3032 - Present

=Overview of Greater Hulstria= The Imperial Crownlands of Greater Hulstria has a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy as a form of government. The Emperor of Hulstria, of the House of Rothingren-Traugott is the the hereditary Head of State and the nation's Monarch, the head of the Imperial Court. The Governor-General is the elected Head of State, representing the Monarchy in political affairs. The Staatsminister of His Imperial Majesty's Government is the the Head of Government of Greater Hulstria and presides over all domestic government activities and is the head of the cabinet. Greater Hulstria has a national legislature called the Imperial Diet, and this is the central legislative body of the Imperial Crownlands; the Diet, which it is also reffered to, holds more than 725 representatives from across the Imperial Crownlands; it is located in Kien, the capital of Greater Hulstria.

The three central positions of powers within the Imperial Government of Greater Hulstria are the offices of the Hulstria, Governor-General, and Staatsminister; all enjoy their own powers and rights guided by law passed by the Imperial Diet and the Constitution of the Imperial Crownlands. The Emperor of Hulstria himself maintains a strict rule of not getting involved in the partisan conflicts within the Imperial Diet and barely speaks in public on his opinions about political parties, opting to be the voice of unity and non-partisanship to the nation; this is a long standing tradition among Rothingren-Traugott Emperors. The Emperor has special powers; for example, the Emperor is the head of the Hulstrian Imperial Forces and can appoint "Imperial Mayors" though it is left to local governments to decide if they wish to have one. The Emperor of Hulstria can also pardon criminals after consent from the Ministry of Justice, among others. The Governor-General and Staatsminister, for example, have the right to nominate "Imperial Comissioners", the administrative head of the Eastern Territories, Greater Hulstria's colonial empire on Dovani, to exercise authority in the name of the Emperor. Though such a nomination this must be confirmed by the Imperial Diet and the Emperor may withhold royal consent. The Governor-General of Greater Hulstria is considered the political head of the nation and while they do represent the Monarchy, they are free to express political opinion and leanings; Governor-Generals serve a 3 year term with no term limits imposed. The Staatsminister of His Imperial Majesty's Government on the other hand is the head of the domestic government in Greater Hulstria and oversees all Ministrial activities; Staatsministers are usually highly-respected and highly regarded within the political community. Staatsministers do not have term limits.

Greater Hulstria is seen by most as having a "mixed-economy", as the nation's economic laws incorporate both free-market and centralized. While generally the parties in the Imperial Diet favor capitalism, regulations are still put in place to prevent abuse and exessive risk taking in the market, thus the "mixed-economic" status the Imperial Crownlands receives. Socialist political parties however tend to take regulation a bit further, instead advocating often nationalization. Hulstrians enjoy a vibrant economy and a high GDP with over 14 trillion crowns and generally large surplus; citizens also enjoy their flat income tax rate of zero, one of the lowest rates on Terra. In modern Hulstrian history, Hulstrian political parties have opposed tax increases on corporations, food, and luxary; Hulstria is one of the few countries that maintains a 0% on all those 3. Leftist parties tend to not propose tax increases but will vote on one if put up in the Imperial Diet in Hulstria while communist and republican parties (when they do show up) are the general advocates of tax increases.

Monarchists and royalists have dominated the Hulstrian political scene since the 3rd Restoration of the Imperial Crownlands in 2551 abolishing the republican "Hulstrian Union", following the Congress of Kien, thus restoring Ferdinand I of Hulstria to the throne; never has the Imperial Diet seen less than 2/3 of the parties supporting monarchism since 2551. The Hulstrian nobility in fact have got themselves involved in government; several nobles have got themselves elected to political office since the 3rd Restoration, growing the royalist influence in government. Politicans like Isolde von Smaragdwald, Frederick von Labsburg, Julius von Anderinch, and Hieronymus von Büren for example all were nobles and high ranking government officials.

The Monarchy
In the Imperial Crownlands of Greater Hulstria the Head of State is a hereditary monarch from the Rothingren-Traugott Family. This Monarch is styled as Kaiser, Emperor in Hulstrian. While the Staatsminister, as Head of Government, and Governor-General, as the elected representative of the Head of State, hold most of the power, the Kaiser retains special and executive powers in his court. For example appointing the Kaiser has the sole power to appoint Imperial Mayors where applicable, meaning towns, and cities can choose to be governed by an imperial representative of the Crown. The Kaiser is also the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces and holds considerable weight in the military circles of the nation. The Kaiser additionally can pardon criminals, appointing judges to the Imperial Tribunal Court, and chairing his own Diplomatic Office, along with chairing several of his own special councils on colonial and domestic affairs. The Emperor of Hulstria as well has the power to withhold consent for an Imperial Commissioner for the Hulstrian Empire that has been approved by the Imperial Diet. If the Kaiser does so, the Imperial Commissioner is restricted to take office, and may result in the candidate to be removed though the Emperor to date has not done this.

The Kaiser generally has the ear of the people on an issue or cause he should choose to champion. The Monarchy is known to very generous patrons and the imperial family is active all year round. The Emperor remains a strict apolitical figure, even when the political atmosphere is overly royalist in the Imperial Diet, acting as a symbol of unity and confidence among the Hulstrian people. This though does not prevent close communications between the Kaiser and His Imperial Majesty's Government; the Staatsminister, other than the Kaiser's private secretary, for example is considered to be the closest to the monarchy. This unique relationship between the monarch and the head of government spans all the way back to the Dual Monarchy of Henrietta & Balthazar in the mid 1700s.

Imperial Diet
The Imperial Diet is the national parliament for the Imperial Crownlands of Greater Hulstria and it is located in the capital of Kien. After the fall of the Hulstrian Union in 2551 and the Congress of Kien, which restored the monarchy, the new parliament was named the "Imperial Diet", to solidify Hulstria as a royalist country. The Diet is the center of all political activity within the nation; currently, the Imperial Diet has over 725 representatives from across Greater Hulstria. The Imperial Diet Building, which houses the parliament, is the largest parliamentary building on the continent of Dovani and is considered one of the landmarks in the city of Kien. Elections are held every three years in Greater Hulstria for both Governor-General of Greater Hulstria and the Imperial Diet.

The Imperial Diet, including the national cabinet, is headed by the Staatsminister of His Imperial Majesty's Government, and is the main voice for the legislature. The Staatsminister attends almost, if not all, Imperial Diet sessions, and voting times. The Head of Government is looked upon as being the "veteran" of the Imperial Diet since Staatsminister are choosen for their experience and seniority; the position is also one of the more closely connected to the Monarchy. As for cabinet formations and position choosing, parties are choosen in Hulstria to lead respective Ministries based on experience, respectability, and quality of the political party.

Inside the Imperial Diet chamber there are many statues overlooking the hall; the statues were not built in the first construction of the Diet building but built in 2720 after debate on renovating the hall. The statues represent people who are of great importance to the Hulstrian Monarchy or society, they include from left to right: Klemens II, Rudolph V, Christopher Dove, Rudolph III, Heinrich I, Franz I, and Klaus Gustav III. In the overall Diet office building, there is the "Imperial Statuary Hall" with over 80 statues ranging from Hulstrian Emperors, political party leaders, and other significant peoples from Hulstrian history. Current Political Parties

National Government/Ministries
HLG-FGP-KHP-NNP Coalition Cabinet Government


 * Staatsminister of His Imperial Majesty's Government - Walburga von Strauss


 * Minister of Foreign Affairs - Frederick Aldegrever
 * Minister of Internal Affairs - Eduard von Strauss
 * Minister of Finance - Franz Truban
 * Minister of Defense - Ludwig Schnatzler
 * Minister of Justice - Franz-Rudolf von Oskarhäust
 * Minister of Infrastructure & Transport - Ulrich Janoska
 *  Minister of Health & Social Services - Stephen Greiner
 * Minister of Education & Culture - Leonard-Cornielus von Stauffengart
 * Minister of Science & Technology - Russell von Korneuschlag
 * Minister of Food & Agriculture - Wilhelm Rasch
 * Minister of Environment & Tourism - Eva von Rapen
 * Minister of Trade & Industry - Karl Jesser

Judicial System
In Greater Hulstria, each Crownland has is permitted to operate its own judicial system and have its own regional laws; it though co-exists with Hulstrian National Court System that deals with national law. Every Crownland has circuit courts and circut court of appeals with each behind headed by a judge; these courts are under the a Crownland Supreme Court, which is headed by a Chief Magistrate. The Ministry of Justice oversees almost all judcial issues and is in charge of the national judicial system. Crown Commissioners, who are appointed by the Emperor, on the other hand oversee their respective regional court system as the monarch's representative. The Monarchy itself is involved in the judicial system; the Emperor of Hulstria may pardon people in the prison system but only after a sentence has been thrown down and if the Ministry of Justice gives consent the application, ensuring a checks and balances system.

The Imperial Tribunal Court is the highest judicial body within Greater Hulstria and it deals with only the most highly important cases like treason or terrorism; the judges on the Tribunal Court are soley appointed by the Emperor.

Regional & Local Government
The Crownlands in Greater Hulstria are governed by Chief Ministers and Landtags elected at the same time as the national Imperial Diet, as established by the Crownlands Legislative Powers Act. Crown Commissioners are appointed by the Monarchy to serve as a unifying figurehead and superviser in the crownland, representing the authority of the Kaiser by locally pocessing special powers. Mentioned above, Crown Commissioners oversee regional judicial issues, and are usually apart of many judcial boards in their respective Crownlands. The position was created under the reign of Heinrich I of Hulstria; a private yet immensely popular man, he used Crown Commissioners as a key tool in keeping the Monarch in touch with the citizens while he tend to other thrones he held on Terra. Crown Commissioners usually work closely with the Governor-General of Greater Hulstria as well but have also grown closer to the rest of His Imperial Majesty's Government.

Regional Governments are responsible for handling laws passed by the Imperial Diet and have a good share of power in Greater Hulstria, but many responsibilities in the nation are left up the central government in Kien. Local municipals councils have the power to decide how mayoral power is exercised. For cities that opt out from having a popularly elected mayor, they can either have a council or Crown Commissioner appointed mayor; or the municipal councils also have the option of collectively acting as mayor. If the mayor is appointed by the Crown Commissioner, then the city must hold elections for a Municipal Director to administer the policies and actions of the municipal government.

Historically, when the Monarch was brought back in its 2nd restoration, monarch-appointed mayors were applied but however in its 3rd restoration in 2551 after a short period out of power, the appointed-mayor policy was not inacted again until the 2780s where the Hulstrian Monarchist Society passed the "Imperial Mayor Association Act" that allowed the Emperor to appoint Imperial Mayors to towns and cities. That Act though was repealed by the "Local Choice for Local Government Act", which established the current system where towns can decide to have an Imperial Mayor or not.

Regional/Local Governments are permitted by to undertake these responsibilities:


 * Alcohol beverage regulation
 * Sports club funding
 * Gambling regulation
 * Local police funding
 * Police power regulation
 * Police presence regulation
 * Establishing testing policies
 * Operating libraries and museums
 * Overseeing domestic pet registration
 * Regulation of exotic aninal ownership
 * Operating Forestry Agencies (Crownland Forestry Agencies)
 * Forest Protection
 * Setting plantation policy
 * Regulation of wild animal ownership
 * Farm size regulations
 * Commercial fishing regulation
 * Maintaining the power grid
 * Operating local highway systems

Local governments are also responsible for carrying out several other duties covered by the central government in Kien but are not listed; Ministries have programs that often delegate work to local government.

=Heads of Government=

Staatsminister of Greater Hulstria
The Staatsminister, formally known as the "Staatsminister of His Imperial Majesty's Government", is the head of government in the Imperial Crownlands of Greater Hulstria. The Staatsminister is the presiding officer of the Imperial Diet and chairs the cabinet government, as a result the Staatsminister is involved at almost all levels of the legislature. The Hulstrian head of government is also one of the few cabinet positions that is close to the Monarchy; every Tuesday and Friday of the week the Staatsminister and the Kaiser meet, often in closed quarters, to discuss the important matters of the Imperial Diet. Historically, the Staatsminister has played a vital role in the workings of the government, and is seen as a trusted, senior statesman. In most recent times, Staatsminister Bartholomäus, Duke of Strauss, played a key role in during the Reding Plight of 2873, where the Diet removed then Governor-General Friedrich Reding, and installed a non-partisan transitional government which the Duke of Strauss led. Bartholomäus was a ranking member of the decorated Imperial Hulstrian Party, a party with a long history, and connection to this post. The Staatsminister office has also had a long tradition with nobility in general, with noble men, and women occupying the office throughout Hulstrian history.

=Heads of State=

Kaiser of Hulstria
Kaiser is the Hulstrian title for Emperor and has been held by 23 different men all from the Rothingren or Rothingren-Traugott families. Kaiserin is the feminine vision of Kaiser, it, obviously meaning Empress, has only been held in a position as Head of State once by Henrietta I. The wife of a Kaiser is also refered to as Kaiserin, however she is actually an Empress-Consort. Kaiser is originally believed to be traced to the Dundorfians who also settled in Hulstria and whose culture was combined with the the Luthori Colonists' own to create the foundation for modern Hulstrian culture.

President
Laura Burgess was the first and only President of Gishoto. She was elected to preside over the interim government during the period between the Great Dark Period and the formation of the Holy Gishoton Empire following the Unification Congress. She abdictated when Klaus Gustav Traugott was chosen to assume the position of Holy Gishoton Emperor.

Holy Gishoton Emperor
In 2198 the Imperial Hulstrian Party and Lutheran Nationalist Party decided to bring back the old Hulstrian Monarchy. As the most direct descendent of the last Hulstrian Kaiser, Klaus Gustav was coronated Holy Gishoton Emperor, taking the Hulstrian title for Emperor which is Kaiser. He reigned for 50 years and shortly before he was able to abdicte in favor of his eldest son, he was assassinated by Communist Agents during a parade as the beginning of the Glorious August Revolution. His motorcade was attacked with RPGs killing the Kaiser, his wife, and his two other 2 sons. His eldest son was not in the motocade, thus allowing the Rothingren-Traugott line to continue.

Following the assassination of Klaus Gustav III, a communist republic was formed out of the Glorious August Revolution, and the Monarch was abolished, as was Lutheranism; Comrade Premier replaced the Head of State title of the Holy Gishoton Emperor

Comrade Premier
The Position Comrade Premier was established following the assassination of Klaus Gustav III. Communist Party Chairman Grigor Stoyanvich, assumed the position until elections were formally called called. However national outcry ironically elected Philip of Hulstria, the heir to the throne, as the 2nd Comrade Premier. After six years of popular Monarchist domination, communist agents forced the collapse of the IHP and Stoyanvich reassumed control. In an attempt to hide the curtailing of political and civil liberties "Hospal" an unknown member of the Intellectual Revolution Party was elected to replace Stoyanvich. He quickly returned power to the CPG. In 2272, Tiberius Gracchus was elected to replace Hospal. In the following election his successor Haruhi Suzumiya was elected. Under the first Christain Communist Party's adminstration the Lutheran Church was returned and made state religion. The Election of 2282 was the begin of the end for the Communist Republic in Gishoto. Philip of Hulstria was elected at nearly 80 years old and began restoring Gishoto to a non-communist society. His work was continued by both Konsort of Hulstria and Bliar Edwards for the next 15 years, and even with the relection of Haruhi Suzumiya the days of Communist Gishoto were dead in all but name. The Title Comrade Premierwould surivive through 7 more Heads of State, if only because no new title could be agreed upon. In 2328, along with all other remaining communist titles it was retired.

Archon
The title Archon was created to replace the Comrade Premier in Post Communist Gishoto. The title refers to someone who is directly elected by the people and was a agreed upon by a 2/3 majority of the Center Diet after nearly 20 years of heated debate. The Archon has very limited power and therefore serves largely as a figurehead with the real power resting in the Chancellor. This is used to support Royalist cries for the return of the Monarchy as they would have no real power without a political party in the Diet supporting them.

Kaiser of Greater Hulstria
The title Kaiser came into use a second time following a constitutional amendment proposed by the Imperial Hulstrian Party in 2374 which restored the Rothingren-Traugott monarchy. On 4th April, 2375 Rudolph III was coronated Kaiser of Greater Hulstria. In June of 2396, Kaiser Rudolph III died complications resulting from rapid onset Alzheimer's. His son was coronated Rainer IV, and began serving as emperor. Rainer IV's reign thus far has been marked by the fall of any real liberal front in Hulstria, by Monarchy's silence on most issues, and by Greater Hulstria's defence of Hutori's right to independence.

Lord Protector of His Imperial Majesty's Government
The office of Lord Protector was the elected position to represent the Emperor of Hulstria in legislative and general affairs; this was established after the Congress of Kien and the following resortation of the Monarchy under Ferdinand I of Hulstria in 2551. In 2607 is was decided that Greater Hulstria would disband the Lord Protector position and allow the monarchy to fully encompass the Head of State position; the move was highly supported and popular amongst not only citizens but lawmakers as well. Until 2647, the Emperor of Hulstria held the Head of State title fully before opening it up as a representative post again.

Governor-General of Greater Hulstria
The Office of Governor-General of Greater Hulstria was created as an elected representative of the Emperor of Hulstria in 2647, while still keeping the nation as a monarchy. The official title of the office is, "Governor-General, elected representative of His Imperial Majesty Leopold I, Emperor of Hulstria".